New Director to begin August 11

(AUGUST 2008)   The Executive Board has selected  Chris Mullett to be our next Executive Director. Chris comes to the Mission from World Vision - Appalachia. Look for more information about Chris in our September newsletter, and here.

Web Site Redesigned - Check us often

(JULY 2008)  The Clarksburg Mission's web site has been redesigned to provide you more information in a more user-friendly layout. Ultimately we will have monthly newsletters posted online, as well as other documents you may download, print, and use to promote the work of the Mission.  You may email us from here, and shortly, be able to donate online. Please bear with us as we work out the last few kinks in the operation. This site will be monitored daily and updated as circumstances dictate. We feel confident you will enjoy our new look. Thanks, Rockstar Designs!

The Mission C.A.R.E.S - Enlisting the Community

(JUNE 2008)  Back in April when the Harrison County Commission gave their unanimous support to the Mission with a large donation, they also gave the Executive Board an idea.  "We were shocked, and we were thrilled," says Executive Board President Maggie Fisher. She called the event a wake-up call to do a better job connecting all to serve the homeless and working poor in our area.

So in June, Clarksburg Mission launched C.A.R.E.S. (Connecting All for Recovery, Enlightenment, and Spirituality). The Board hopes C.A.R.E.S. will boost the number of volunteers, increase the number of organizations providing assistance, and strengthen everyone’s spiritual commitment.

C.A.R.E.S. is the brainchild of Melissa Loder, past board president and present advisor to the board. The goal of C.A.R.E.S. is to help connect all groups - churches, other community groups, government entities - and together, to address the devastating problem some of our neighbors experience with physical, emotional, and spiritual bankruptcy.

"Most of the problems our clients have originated from alcohol, drugs, mental illness and a lack of love," says Loder. "That’s why recovery, enlightenment, and spirituality are our focus. Such solid recovery does not occur overnight. It requires the support of the entire community."

Many know that Clarksburg Mission provides clothes, shelter, and food: most don’t know it takes us about $10,000 a week to do so. "People can’t recover alone. The Mission can’t do this work alone. That’s why we want to connect all," says Fisher.

Another component of C.A.R.E.S. is to offer regular training and spiritual support for Mission employees. According to John Vash, Board Vice-President, high stress and high turnover are very common in the social service field, and can impact an organization’s bottom line. "We have good, productive and caring employees. We need to do everything we can to protect them and give them strength for the difficulties they encounter working in this field every single day."

To get involved in the C.A.R.E.S. initiative, contact the Clarksburg Mission at 304-622-2451 or send an email to: TheMission.CARES@hotmail.com.