Leadership classes learn about community needs

By Erienne Greene / Journal Staff Writer

KEARNEYSVILLE - Officials with local human-services agencies spoke about the need for assistance within the community at the Leadership Berkeley and Jefferson classes that met Wednesday, in hopes of providing some insight on the role each agency plays and how they, too, can help.

The all-day classes were held at the West Virginia University Tree Fruit Research Center.

Vicki Shean, director of resource development at United Way of the Eastern Panhandle, explained that the purpose of the day's presentations was to outline the current status of local requests for emergency assistance, and to highlight the community's ability to be able to meet the influx of needs.

Jan Callen, UWEP executive director, reminded the audience of a common misconception that many people have about individuals who seek services from the state Department of Health and Human Resources.

"We're not talking about drug addicts or criminals - we're talking about someone's grandmother," he said.

Kathy Bradley, community services manager for the local DHHR offices, said that in her 34 years of experience in the field, the current recession probably is the worst she has seen.

"There are faces that we've never seen before coming into DHHR for services. People who have never even stepped foot in the center, let alone asked anybody for help," she said.

There has been a great increase in the number of adults in their late 40s and early 50s who have become unemployed and are seeking assistance after having exhausted their savings and/or retirement funds, Bradley said.

"These people have worked all their lives - they didn't plan to be five years before retirement and to have their company close," she said.

Bradley said that while DHHR is "the last place in the world where anyone wants to be," it's often the place that many believe will be the answer to all their problems.

"We do what we can to help people through a crisis, but sometimes, we're a drop in a bucket," she said. "We cannot eliminate crises all the time."

She explained that DHHR coordinates with other local agencies, such as UWEP, and community partners, such as the Salvation Army and Dollar Energy, to ensure those seeking services get what they may need by referring them to the proper regional resource to meet that need.

"None of these agencies could do what they do themselves - it's truly a collaborative effort," Bradley said. "But, I cannot stress enough that this year, the need is greater, while the giving is less."

She said a "domino effect" ensues within local agencies, when charitable giving throughout a community lags.

Callen briefed the leadership classes about how UWEP's annual campaign of giving is doing this year.

"The campaign is down this year," he said. "When our campaign is down, it has a direct impact on Kathy and what DHHR is able to do. We do the best with what we have, but we all here today have an obligation to - as we say at the United Way - to give, to volunteer, to advocate."

Callen said UWEP doesn't need a few people to give a lot, but exactly the opposite.

"We need a lot of people to give just a little bit," he said. "Out of the approximately 60 medium to large

companies within the Eastern Panhandle, we estimate that only about half of those have given to the campaign and it would make such a difference if all 60 of them did."

Callen said UWEP officials are not "closing the books" on this year's campaign until April 30, so there is still plenty of time for those interested in getting involved to do so.

More information about how to help is available by contacting the UWEP at (304) 263-0603 or at www.uwayep.org.

- Staff writer Erienne Greene can be reached at (304) 263-8931, ext. 183 or at egreene@journal-news.net