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Be the change you wish to see!
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!
Current News:
Kellogg Leadership for Community Change Diversity Day Dinner & Celebration Was a G-R-R-REAT Event! By: Marsha Timpson
G-r-r-reat displays! G-r-r-reat costumes! G-r-r-reat food! And really G-r-r-reat people!!! All this led up to a really G-r-r-reat event as Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger would say! Big Creek People in Action’s Kellogg Leadership for Community Change (KLCC) hosted a Diversity Day Dinner & Senior Citizen Celebration on April 19, 2008 and everyone truly enjoyed the day’s events. The day began with everyone walking around the gymnasium of the Caretta Community Center looking over all the displays that represented different cultures. The guests received trinkets such as a starfish and seashell from the Hawaii and Jamaica tables, chopsticks or fortune fish from the China display, and beaded necklaces from New Orleans. Several of the KLCC fellows were dressed in outfits to represent the country they were representing.
This was followed by a warm and hearty welcome by Granny Hagy
(aka Marsha Timpson). Granny Hagy told a story about what it was
like for her growing up in a coal camp and how diversity definitely
played a part in her life. Granny was accompanied by a young
performer by the name of Bonnie Muncy (who is also a KLCC fellow).
Bonnie softly pla The KLCC fellowship used hand puppets of children from different countries to put on a skit about diversity and to convey the message that even though we may look or sound different on the outside, we are all the same inside. There was definitely G-r-r-reat food for everyone. Lasagna, spaghetti, shrimp stir fry, Jamaican Jungle Bread, Irish peas, potatoes, and pearl onions, Hawaiian Pineapple Banana Bread, Mexican Seven-Layer Dip, and cabbage rolls were some of the foods offered at the Dinner. The KLCC fellows worked hard to make this event happen for the community. They spent hours putting displays together, collecting artifacts from different cultures and finding costumes to wear to represent the country they chose to talk about. The food was prepared by the KLCC fellows and BCPIA staff and was certainly an enjoyable part of the event. KLCC’s honored guests for the event were the senior citizens from McDowell County. Last year the KLCC held the Diversity Day Dinner in February and held a Senior Citizen Dinner in May. This year we decided to combine those two events in the hope that more of the senior citizens would be able to attend and enjoy the Diversity Day event. The KLCC fellowship is an adult/youth partnership that works on strategies for community change and is sponsored by the Kellogg Foundation and Big Creek People in Action. I have been a part of this fellowship since it’s beginning in 2005 and the most enjoyable part of the experience has been watching the adults and youth build trust, friendship and a true partnership among themselves.
When the fellowship first began I thought I would be witnessing
the adults mentoring the youth. Well, let me tell you, I was
mistaken. The youth have mentored and taught us as much or more
than we have taught them. When we started planning for the
Diversity Day Dinner, one of the first decisions we made was the
country we would choose to represent.
We have started this equal partnership in our fellowship and it is not only working - - it is working G-r-r-reat!!!! If it works in our fellowship, it will work across McDowell County. We need to develop more of these adult/youth partnerships across the county and across organizations and across the decision-making groups. Everyone’s voice and everyone’s input can only strengthen the work we need to do to bring about community change.
Family Fun Literacy Night
Spiderman, Raggedy Ann and Spongebob helped to greet and
congratulate students from War Elementary School who participated in
the Reading Challenge issued by the AmeriCorps and VISTA member 30 students participated in the reading challenge with 532 books read from March 15 to April 15. Ms. Lockhart’s entire Pre-K class got in on the action and read 15 books each. Her class won a new set of 30 library books. Ashley Kennedy received a special prize for reading 32 books, the highest number in the school. Every student who participated received a gift, new book, bookmark, etc. Thanks to all of the students who took the challenge!
Volunteers Honored at Luncheon
AmeriCorps and VISTA members held their annual Volunteer Appreciation Day Lunch on Saturday April 26. All of the volunteers received gift bags filled with wonderful goodies and a certificate. This year’s volunteers served over 600 hours. BCPIA, AmeriCorps and VISTA are proud to honor each and every one for their time they give to make our programs a success and to help the families of McDowell County. The AmeriCorps and VISTA members rely a great deal on support from their volunteers to bring fun literacy activities to families and children, hold service events, and to help with family times activities. Those honored for their service are: Scotty Perez, Ray Goodman, Ollie Snead, Jesse Rose, Angie Hash, Danielle Wolfe, Becky Wolfe, Jeremy Pruitt, Ron Pruitt, Rita Pruitt, Marsha Timpson, Shayera Spriggs, Dyanne Spriggs, Mary Ann Justice, Brenda Foley, Nadine Short, Kathy Hearn, Mike Hearn, Greg Jones, Catie Short, Samantha Woody, Shelia Muncy, Ashley Tiller, Amber Tiller and Kenny Tiller. Special Congratulations to Ashley, Amber and Kenny Tiller for giving over 100 hours each and receiving the Presidential Service Award for Volunteering. This recognition comes from Washington DC and a person must volunteer over 100 hours to qualify. Big Creek People In Action/AmeriCorps/VISTA would like to thank each one of the volunteers for giving of their time so freely.
A wonderful book donation! By: Annetta Tiller/VISTA
Lynn Ryan, a schoolteacher from Winston Salem North Carolina contacted me at BCPIA several months ago about holding a book drive for the AmeriCorps and VISTA program. I was more than glad to receive this offer because our program gives away over a thousand books every school year and finding good quality used books in such a large quantity is often hard to do. Lynn organized the book drive at her school, Union Cross Elementary in Kernersville, NC. The students were more than willing to help bring reading enjoyment to the children of McDowell County and began immediately to donate their gently used books. After a couple of months had passed, Lynn contacted me to say that she was ready to make the delivery to Big Creek People In Action. Not saying exactly how many boxes of books that she had collected, I figured “Well, probably a couple hundred books will really help our program out”. But lo and behold, Lynn, her father, and brother pull up at BCPIA on Saturday April 26 and start unloading…and unloading…and unloading. Of course, me being the reader that I am, I was ecstatic to receive this huge load of books. As soon as hello’s, thank you’s and goodbye’s were exchanged, Lynn and her family were on their way back to NC. I, on the other hand, was browsing through children’s books. I came across many classics, current characters, and book sets. All of the books were in wonderful shape and quite a few were still wrapped in plastic. I
really wanted others to know the goodness and generosity of these
students, teachers, and especially Lynn and her family. (This is not Ly
Ladies attend Supper In A Sack Program
On April 14th, eight women attended the first week of the Supper In A Sack Program sponsored by VISTA and WVU Extension. The ladies enjoyed learning nutritious recipes, valuable kitchen tips and ideas, getting to know one another, and of course, TASTING THE GOOD FOOD! Supper In A Sack is a six week nutrition education based program taught by Shelia Muncy, WVU Nutritionist, and organized by Annetta Tiller/VISTA at Big Creek People In Action. All of the ladies look forward to the next session which will be held April 24. Attending the program is: Tina Blackwell, Crystal Kennedy, Rhonda Jones, Ashley Tiller, Erin Pruitt, Daphany Pruitt, Jessica Rose and Mary Ann Justice.
New Logo
Big Creek People in Action is proud to present our new logo, which is now on our website. In designing our logo, the staff wanted to include mountains because we are located in the middle of the Appalachian Mountains and are proud of our mountain heritage. We also wanted a unique design to help build our identity.
Our logo will now be included on our website, letterhead, envelopes, business cards, and brochures so that people will begin to instantly recognize our organization. In the past we have used various letterhead designs among departments. We will now consistently use our logo on all marketing materials so that we will present a unified picture of who we are, and people will begin to associate our logo with the positive work that we do in the community.
Spring Carnival a Great Success
We had 160 people attend our Spring Carnival on Saturday,
April 5, 2008 and have a great time playing games like basketball, gold
fish, Wheel of Fortune, Cake Walks, and more. People seemed to be happy
that spring is finally here and took advantage of the opportunity to get
their children out for a day of fun and games.
We included a Canned Food Drive this year so that people would earn tickets for extra prizes for each can of food they brought in. We collected 244 cans of food for our AmeriCorps program's Food Drive, which will be donated to an area mission to be given out. This was so successful that we plan to continue partnering a food drive with our Carnival We are very thankful to receive financial support from Emory and Henry College from Emory, Virginia to help purchase the game prizes and toys. They also send a group of college students to help run the games. We would not be able to offer such good prizes and games without the help of Emory and Henry College, who is a great supporter of Big Creek People in Action.
Although this is a fundraiser for us, people get a lot
for their money and all leave with lots of prizes. You are always a
winner at our Carnival games; you either win a prize at the individual
game or collect tickets to turn in for bigger prizes in our Prize
Store. We have prizes for children and adults because both old and
young alike enjoy playing the games and having fun.
Over the years, we have built several good carnival games from wood such as Wheel of Fortune, Plinko, Balloon Darts, and the Race Car Game. For the Race Car Game, we built an oval track out of plywood and two people race remote control cars around the track to see who gets five laps first. This is always a lot of fun. We also set our Carnival games up at our Mountain Music Festival, which will be June 7, 2008 and set up some of the games at the War Fall Festival in September.
The staff spends a lot of time purchasing the prizes and setting up all the games, but it's worth it when you see so many smiling faces and hear the laughter of people that are glad winter is over and happy to come out and enjoy a spring day of fun.
Coal Mining Job Fair
On Friday, March 28, 2008, a Job Fair was held at Big Creek People in Action's Community Center by Brooks Run Mining Company, a subsidiary of Alpha Natural Resources, which is a leading coal producer in Central Appalachia.
A total of 68 people attended and completed applications and were interviewed on site for jobs in the coal mining industry in McDowell County. A representative of Brooks Run Mining Company said he was pleased with the turnout and the interest in their company. It is exciting to see new jobs come to McDowell County.
Grant Received from Americans Helping Americans
We were informed in March that we were approved for a $10,000 grant from Americans Helping Americans in Alexandria, VA for our Housing Rehabilitation Program. We have college groups and church groups that visit our Center from all over the country to help with this program.
Through housing rehabilitation, BCPIA assists people in providing safe, warm and dry homes for their families while at the same time allowing groups to gain teamwork and leadership skills and learn about the importance of volunteerism and cultural sharing.
We appreciate the support of Americans Helping Americans and agree with their motto, which is "Together We Build and Strengthen Our Communities."
Click Here for News Archives!
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
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yed
guitar in the background during Granny’s story and then she sang
Amazing Grace for the audience. Granny Hagy told how people poured
into McDowell County from all over the world to work the coal mines
and when they came they brought their rich heritages with them.
They brought their stories, their music, their culture and their
recipes and this rich melting pot of society learned to work
together, live together and love one another.
I
scribbled everyone’s name and the country they chose on a note and
later typed it up. As I was typing the list I realized the adults
and youth had automatically paired up with each other. It wasn’t a
planned thing - - it was just a good happening. I thought about
this and I can’t tell you how much it pleased me. I felt it
represented where we are in this fellowship. The adults and youth
truly value and trust each other and want to work together and have
fun together. 
s,
Young Leaders Action Council and Big Creek People In Action on
Friday April 25 at BCPIA. In March, students were asked to read at
least 15 books over the period of one month. All students who read
at least fifteen were invited to attend our family reading night at
Big Creek People In Action. The event was kicked off with volunteer
readers (Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2) visiting Raysal, War
Cove, Berwind and War Elementary Schools for Dr. Seuss/Read Across
America Day. Students did activities, crafts, received activity bags
and new books and parents attended workshops all as part of the
month of activities. .JPG)
nn’s
first trip to BCPIA. She came in January bearing several vehicle loads
of baby items for the Moms and Babes Fair. In July 2007, she brought 105
new bookbags with school supplies for local children). I counted all of
the books that were delivered. 1,692 BOOKS!! I will have such a great
time distributing these books at McDowell County Drug Free Day,
Headstart signups at War and Raysal and to students at the new Southside
School. I will also be telling everyone of the good people who made this
book donation a success…Lynn Ryan and family, and the students and
teachers of Union Cross Elementary School. The AmeriCorps and VISTA
members want to say a big THANKS to our newfound friends in Kernersville
and Winston Salem, North Carolina.
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