What is the PWA?  What does the PWA do? 

 

These are two of the most asked questions when we approach individuals about supporting the PWA.  The PWA is the Progressive Women’s Association whose mission is to empower individuals to contribute and help to those of need in our community. 

 

The PWA was formerly the YWCA and was associated with the national organization but several years ago the members voted to become an independent organization operating locally and serving our community with all funding staying here.  A young group of girls and boys are also a part of the PWA with their own community projects.

 

The PWA operates a food pantry and a pet pantry that serves those individuals in need of food and assistance with their pets.  Many local organizations donate to the pantries.  The PWA works with local nonprofits to make available our building for free or for a small donation.  We sponsor a Women of Distinction program honoring 30 women every year who continue to volunteer in our community.  We sponsor a cancer survivors’ dinner.  We promote cultural activities by promoting art shows.  There are numerous activities we support but recently we sponsored a lifesaving project for a local family.

 

We had been introduced to a sponsor, Deep Well from Buckhannon, who was joining us in several of our projects by financial donations.  Justin Brummage handled the public relations for Deep Well and he contacted me to set up a meeting.  In this meeting he advised me that Deep Well had a trailer that they had been using for business, but no longer had a need for it and they wanted to donate it to us.  It was a beautiful trailer that would make a nice home for some family.

 

The board decided to accept the donation.  We discussed at length what we might do with the home.  We could go into the rental business, or we could sponsor a raffle as a fundraiser for our organization or we could find a deserving couple that needed a home. We decided to do the latter. 

 

I interviewed seniors, homeless and several other groups of individuals.  I came to see that the individual who received this would need to get funding for a lot and handle a relocation as well as have to be able to have the means to move it to the lot purchased and the ability to have it hooked up to utilities. Immediately, this eliminated the homeless and retired individuals on fixed incomes. 

 

So, this put me back on first base and I started setting up meetings with. Several nonprofit directors who could offer ideas in helping me find a family.  My meeting with the late Lou Aragona turned out to be successful.  After several meetings with Lou and Mr. Brummage, we were able to find a family that fit what we were looking for.  I took the name to the PWA board, and they approved that we pursue this family. 

 

We called a meeting and invited the family to attend.  After an explanation the family agreed to talk it over, explore their possibilities of getting funding for a lot and hook up of the trailer.  They contacted us back and said they felt they could move on with the project.

 

For those who may have been a little critical at first, they did not give any thought to the seed money that would be needed and the work that getting a lot, getting the trailer moved and getting hookups entailed

 

Our first meeting was in April of 2018 and the family spent their first night in their home on October of 2018.

 

Four years later here is a statement from the family spokesperson:

 

“Our family’s life was changed within minutes after coming home to a fire and having to go live with family members and try to readjust.  We searched for months for a home and were getting discouraged until we had been notified that the PWA wanted to offer us such an amazing opportunity and the gift of a home. 

 

“I have always felt that this was a blessing in disguise and that today we are where we were meant to be. The PWA has played such a huge and life-changing role in our lives, and we cannot thank them enough. The PWA invests in doing good things in the community and plays a significant n role in our community in helping others.”

 

The father in this family is disabled due to a work-related injury and their daughter has completed her college education.

 

A fairy tale ending to a local story.

 

Now you know what the PWA is and what they do.

 

Also, a happy 66^th wedding anniversary to Virgil and Joan Smith. And birthday wishes to Vincent Smith and Cathy Fisher.

 

Take care and until next week “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”