Big Creek People In Action, Inc. was founded in 1990 by
citizens of McDowell County, West Virginia. Since that time, this
nonprofit organization has been serving the community of McDowell County
in the realms of education and literacy, leadership development,
volunteer service, service learning, arts and culture, housing,
recreation, and collaborative partnerships. BCPIA's vision of McDowell
County is one of empowered and self-sufficient people living in
communities that are economically vibrant, democratic, and socially
just. To learn more about the history of Big Creek People in Action,
please Click Here!
“Volunteers
don't get paid, not because they're worthless,
but
because they're priceless”
(Sherry Anderson)
We are
blessed with many volunteers that come to our Center to make a difference
in people’s lives. In the past
few months, we have had groups from several colleges including St. Mary’s
University, Loyola University Chicago, Southeast Missouri, George
Washington University, Tusculum College, Centre College, University of
Notre Dame, Union College and Ithaca College.
Church
groups that have been here or will be here this summer include Hope Force,
Upshur Helping Hands, Sidwell Friends, Mercy Home, Saints Peter & Paul
Catholic Church, Convent Baptist Church, Lexington Baptist Church, Red
Bank Baptist Church, York Pennsylvania Christ Church, and Unitarian
Church-Roanoke.
In addition
to the funding we receive from the groups for work projects, we also
received funding from Equitable Resources Foundation and from Americans
Helping Americans to help us serve more families in need of housing
rehabilitation.
In addition
to housing rehab, our groups are also involved with service learning
opportunities and youth education.
While the volunteers are accomplishing a much-needed service, they
also are introduced to our Appalachian culture.
NEW STAFF POSITION
Through the
support from Work Force West Virginia’s Employment Subsidy Program, Big
Creek People in Action was able to hire Laura Crabtree as our Receptionist
in May. Laura had worked here
under the Department of Health and Human Resources volunteer program and
was such a good worker, she was chosen to participate in this new program.
18th
Annual Mountain Music Festival Held in McDowell County
Talented musicians filled the stage as Big Creek
People In Action held their 18th Annual Mountain Music Festival
on Saturday, June 5. This annual event, held
at the Caretta Community Center, draws hundreds of people from several
different states each year to hear the traditional sounds of Appalachian
music from performers like Ramblin’ Grass and more upbeat country by Brock
Whitt, Joe Ford, and Charles Thomas.
Two newcomers to this year’s
festival were Mountain Thyme and Glen Shelton. Mountain Thyme is an
all-women musical ensemble from West Virginia. The group performs folk
songs and tunes in a musical style that is often described as Appalachian
Celtic. Glen Shelton, the main act for the festival, has shared the stage
with many well-known recording artists such as Randy Travis, Lonestar,
Leanne Womak, Ricky Van Shelton, and others. He won the Colgate Country
Showdown in 2002. Glen’s first national radio release was a self-written
Top 40 hit on the country charts in 2004. His latest album includes two
Top 10 songs which were on the nationwide Christian Country Top 100 in
2009. Glen is also an ICM (International Country Music) Artist of the Year
nominee and International Country Gospel Music Association Male Horizon
and Crossover Artist Nominee.
The 18th Annual Mountain Music Festival,
themed “Country In The County”, began at 3:00 PM with local gospel talents
Kay Christian and Jean Beavers. Jean writes her own songs and performs
locally at many events and churches accompanied by Kay. Charles Thomas, a
favorite from Gilbert, WV entertained the crowd with a mixture of rock and
country from 3:30-4:30. At 4:30, we introduced musical guests, Mountain
Thyme, to McDowell County for the first time. Joe Ford, always a favorite
with his laid-back style of country and rock, took the stage at 6:00 PM
followed by the flat-footin’ sounds of ever-popular Ramblin’ Grass from
7:00-8:30 PM. On the stage at 8:30 PM, Southern WV’s own Brock Whitt had
the crowd up moving while performing many rock and country tunes.
Headlining the festival, Glen Shelton took the stage from 9:30-11:00 PM
with some of the most popular Top 10 Country Chart songs today.
There were sounds sure to please everyone at this
year’s festival, along with twenty-five cent carnival games, great food,
many doorprizes and a variety of other activities. Admission is always
free so the whole family can come for an evening of singing, dancing, and
a great time in a family-friendly atmosphere.
Plan to attend next year’s festival the first
Saturday in June!
Local Moms Attend Community Baby Shower at the Caretta
Community Center
Big Creek
People In Action held an informational fair for expectant moms and mothers
with children up to age 5 on Tuesday, May 18 at the Caretta Community
Center. This event, funded and sponsored in part by Unicare Health Plan of
West Virginia, drew in over seventy-five people.
As part of
the program, WVU Extension held a nutrition workshop and many local
organizations gave valuable information to the mothers. Those attending
were: SAFE, WIC, Tug River Health Center Maternal Infant Health Program,
Southern Coalfield Tobacco Coalition, DHHR, UniCare, Coalfield Community
Action Partnership, and War Public Library. Each program offers services
in McDowell County and had information beneficial to new moms.
The purpose
of the event was to insure that mothers know these programs and others
exist and to have a positive impact on the choices the new mothers make
regarding their children. Another aspect of the event focused on direct
needs of each infant or toddler. Parents had specific wish lists which
included items such as crib beds, car seats, high chairs, etc.
Annetta Tiller, organizer for the event, talked
personally with parents about car seat safety. She is quoted as saying,
“Purchasing the car seats for infants and toddlers was a main goal for
this event. We want the children to be riding as safely as possible on our
roadways. Many times, car seats will be handed from one child to the next.
Sometimes recalls are made on these seats and it gets overlooked. We
wanted to ensure that the moms attending had their child in a new, safety
approved seat if at all possible”
In addition
to the larger items, parents also received diapers, blankets and/or
comforter sets, baby hygiene items, bottles, and many other items donated
by Americans Helping Americans and Christian Appalachian Projects. Both
organizations play an important part in providing in-kind support to Big
Creek People in Action each year with product donations.
Both
Unicare and Cliffs Natural Resources Foundation made considerable
donations to purchase twenty-eight car seats, two crib beds, five high
chairs, countless digital thermometers, and many other large items.
Funders helping to purchase diapers, hygiene, and other items included:
Family Dollar Foundation, Bob Payne with Nationwide Insurance, Philip A.
Reale Law Offices, and Laney’s Boutique.
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Cliffs
Natural Resources Supports Moms and Babes Fair
Jim
Kosowski, a representative for Cliffs Natural Resources
of the Pineville, WV
operations, recently made a trip to Big Creek People In Action to
present Annetta Tiller, Special Projects Coordinator,
with a considerable donation. This money
went toward the purchase of car safety seats for infants and
toddlers in the local area. Cliffs Natural Resources is one of the
supporters of this year’s Moms and Babes Fair which served over
one hundred children. Items distributed included: carseats,
diapers, baby hygiene items, infant and toddler bedding sets, crib
beds, and so much more.
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“Saluting Those Who Served” Luncheon held at Big
Creek People in Action
In
observance of Veterans Day, Big Creek People in Action
paid tribute to local men and women who have served in the
military with a luncheon on Friday, November 13. The event
was attended by Congressman Nick Rahall and Delegate Clif
Moore. Both gentlemen greeted veterans and gave out
certificates as each name was called. Staff at Big Creek
People in Action collected pictures, articles, and other
memorabilia; including bayonets from WWI, Coalwood
newspaper articles and a “Fighting Seabees” uniform from
WWII. Staff also transformed the gymnasium into a picture
of true patriotism with red, white, and blue displays. One
of the highlights of the program was a powerpoint
presentation which included pictures of local veterans
from Iraq and going back as far as WWI.
Another addition to this year’s program was a visit from
the Mobile Vet Center. This mobile van is equipped with an
abundance of information for veterans and other services;
including counseling and medical consultations. All
veterans attending the program visited the Mobile Vet
Center and some requested services.
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Here for Upcoming Events!
Contact Information:
Big Creek
People in Action, Inc.
HC 32 Box 541
War, WV 24892
Ph. (304)
875-3418
Fax: (304)
875-3518
Email:
bcpia3418@netscape.net