How to Help

Cost of Services

Six ways to help...

Call Me List - You may want to provide a particular service or skill under certain conditions (for example, eye exams for two residents per year, or plumbing on call). Just call Claudia at 622-2451 and tell her what you’re prepared to offer. When we need your help, we’ll give you a call.

Cash Donations - Always helpful. Give by check or phone Claudia at 622-2451 to give by credit card.

Thrift Store Donations - We sell donated clothing and household goods, and we do pick ups. Think of us when you clean out your attic, closets, and garage.

Bulk Up the Baler Soft Goods Recycling - We bale and sell unusable rags, clothes, shoes, purses, pillows, blankets, belts and stuffed animals for recycling into other products. Hold a collection event at your church, work, or club: we’ll bring a truck and pick it up. Call Odie, 629-9245.

Cooks and Servers - We need church and civic groups to provide, prepare and serve one meal per month. Call Rev. Virginia White at 745-5806 or 669-3555 to be placed on the serving schedule.

Jobs - Short-term or permanent work for our residents at your business. Phone Claudia at 622-2451 to discuss the possibilities.

 For churches, pastors, and all obedient Christians...

A practical way to obey Christ - You probably already know, the Clarksburg Mission is a community institution in care of the needy. For some 38 years, we have chosen to honor the Lord as He requests we do in Matthew 25: 34-40. For most of those years, we have had the support of the area church community, for which we are very grateful. In fact, Clarksburg Mission has been a partner with the church in fulfilling that biblical obligation, largely because consolidation of this function is practical for all concerned.

 Times change, so does the need - Recently the Mission has been able to expand  residential capacity (nearly 9,000 overnight stays in 2007). We are feeding more than  ever, nearly 3,000 meals per month. Of those living in our Temporary Housing in 2007, 23% were children, average age 7. It might surprise you to know that in 2007 we also provided the following, aside from food and housing:

  (1) Some form of material assistance to 871 people in Clarksburg, 200 from elsewhere in Harrison County, and 34 from 10 other counties and out of state

  (2) Successful parole supervision for two young ladies from Wood County

  (3) Jobs for 37 people through our Employee Initiative Program

  And at mid-summer 2008, needs served are even greater than year-to-date last year.

 Nothing challenges like success - We believe these facts indicate a laudable record. But  with success comes the requirement to do even more. In any successful enterprise, there are expenses. As our services grow, it would be helpful to us if we were able to rely upon a consistent flow of donations from fellow Christian groups, no matter how small.

 If the Mission has blessed you -  We simply ask that if the Mission has been a blessing to  your congregation in any way, please consider establishing a line item of your annual budget for us. A regular donation, on whatever schedule you prefer, would be put to very good use for the Kingdom of God.

The Mission C.A.R.E.S - Enlisting Government, Business, Community Groups and Individuals

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.