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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:
Grant
Received from George Cruise Foundation Big Creek People in Action received a grant in December in the amount of $2,000 from The George M. Cruise Foundation of Bluefield, West Virginia. This funding will be used to support our family literacy program. This program served 876 youth and 398 adults last year through in-school literacy projects, after-school tutoring, adult literacy services, and parent workshops.
Big Creek People in Action’s KLCC Fellowship Wins Trophy for Homecoming Float
by Marsha Timpson
Big Creek
People in Action’s KLCC Fellowship were invited to enter a float in the
City of War’s Homecoming Parade in October. We were quite excited about
designing and planning the float and were thrilled
w The Fellowship had purchased Kellogg brand hats and wore T-shirts designed by Bonnie Muncy (one of the Fellows) with the Kellogg logo emblazoned across the front. Our mascot, a big stuffed Tiger presented to us by the Benton Harbor Boys and Girls Club at the National Gathering in Mt. Olive, Mississippi, proudly rod e on top of the cab holding a box of Kellogg Fruit Loops and wearing his very own Kellogg hat. Kellogg brand fruit snacks were purchased and thrown to the audience which may have contributed to us winning a trophy!! We definitely had the best treats! The participants on the floats were asked to stop in front of the judges and give a brief description of who we were and what we did, so we spoke about our adult/youth partnership. The trophy winners were then invited to ride our floats on the football field the next night before the Homecoming Game began and this time we were asked to say a quick cheer. We were quite a hit as we proudly chanted, “Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger says the Big Creek Owls are Grrrreeeaaatttt!!!!! The night ended splendidly with the Big Creek Owls trouncing St. Paul with a score of 42 – 7. The Fellowship was so excited about our Float that we have decided to enter floats in the upcoming Veteran’s Day Parade in Welch and the Christmas Parade in the City of War. The audience got such a kick out of seeing the big Tiger on the cab, so we intend to have him there for the upcoming Parades, dressed appropriately, of course. Our Tiger will soon have his own wardrobe and a grrrreeeeaaaattt collection of trophies.
A Success Story
Jennifer came to
volunteer at Big Creek People In Action two years ago through a DHHR
program. Not only did she come to us as as a divorced mother of two just
trying to support her children and make en
Wanting to see
Jennifer’s quality of life improve,
the staff at Big Creek
People In Action took her under their wing. She received tutoring to
get her drivers
permit, and successfully
passed her drivers test recently. Jennifer also has been mentored in
job preparedness training and has been hired through the local Board
of Education as a substitute cook.
Jennifer is now actively involved in her children’s education by participating in BCPIA’s after school family literacy program. She has attended literacy workshops and trainings, nutrition and budgeting workshops, and now is now a community volunteer for various events. Jennifer is working toward finding permanent employment, and is interested in attending college in the future. BCPIA staff will continue to mentor and be a support for Jennifer in any way possible.
GO JENNIFER!! YOU ARE A TRUE SUCCESS STORY
A Spooktacular Halloween!!
Children from Raysal and War Cove Headstart Centers enjoyed a visit to Big Creek People In Action on October 27 and 28. The scene was set for a spooky good time with ghosts, witches, and plenty of Halloween fun. The children enjoyed craft activities, a Halloween story and, best of all, trick or treating the employees in the building. The project was organized by new AmeriCorps and VISTA members: Erin Pruitt, Maria Frazier, and Medina Silva.
Bonner Foundation Awards BCPIA $15,000 Grant
Big Creek People in Action received a grant from The Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation in the amount of $15,000 through their Crisis Ministry program. Since it was activated in 1989, the Bonner Foundation has become one of the nation's largest privately-funded service scholarship programs and a philanthropic leader in the anti-hunger movement.
The story of the Foundation is the story of Bertram and Corella Bonner and their desire to "give back to the Lord what the Lord has given [them]." They wanted their gifts to provide a lasting and meaningful impact on society and approached the creation of both the Crisis Ministry and the Bonner Scholar Program deliberately and thoughtfully.
Their Mission Statement is “Through sustained partnerships with colleges and congregations, the Corella and Bertram F. Bonner Foundation seeks to improve the lives of individuals and communities by helping meet the basic needs of nutrition and educational opportunity.”
This funding will be used by Big Creek People in Action to help provide meals and other services to those involved in activities in the Community Center to help reduce poverty in children and families.
CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
The Kellogg Leadership for Community Change (KLCC) Fellowship will sponsor a Christmas Bazaar at the Caretta Community Center on Saturday, November 15, 2008 from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. Crafts and merchandise will be available for sale. There will be concessions, cake walks, Door Prizes, and Pictures with Santa Claus.
Donations Needed For 9th Annual Christmas Party
Dear Friends:
Staff and volunteers at Big Creek People In Action are preparing for our 9th Annual Christmas Party to be held Friday December 4, 2008. This is a special project that is dear to everyone involved because we reach out to children, families, and senior citizens who may not be able to have Christmas gifts under the tree or enough food to last through the holidays due to limited income. We will purchase gift bags and a treat bag for approximately 200 children. We also buy small gifts and each child will be allowed to choose something for their mother and father. The children and families are invited to a nice holiday meal, they get a large box filled with lots of food and a ham. Of course, no holiday party is complete without Santa Claus himself. The children are enthralled with the holiday affair and the parents are extremely thankful to receive the much needed gifts and food which will make the holidays brighter. We also have a Christmas dinner, gifts and food boxes for local senior citizens. They are just as excited as the children to be invited, as most are widows, disabled, live alone, and rarely get out of the house. Of course, they also enjoy a visit from Santa and get a special treat bag. We hope to make the holidays a joyful time for families in the Big Creek District, but we need your help. With the deteriorating economy and the already struggling hardships of the people in McDowell County, this is the time that we must reach out to those in need. We are appealing to friends and supporters of the work we do at Big Creek People In Action to make a donation of any amount. Please send your contribution to the address below:
Big Creek People In Action Attention: Holiday Party HC 32 Box 541 War, WV 24892
On behalf of the children, families, and seniors who will attend this year’s party, the staff at BCPIA want to thank you for your generosity.
McDowell County Board of Education, Coalfield Community Action Program, and Big Creek People In Action sign collaboration agreement
In an effort to increase children’s literacy skills and parental involvement in education, Big Creek People In Action’s Family Literacy staff drafted a plan for expanding the Family Literacy and tutoring program offered by the AmeriCorps and VISTA members. The agreement, signed on September 2, 2008, states that AmeriCorps and VISTA members will provide in-school literacy tutoring to fifteen or more students each week, make home visits and offer Family Night workshops and activities on a bi-monthly basis for all Headstart and Elementary students. In addition, parents will be offered workshops with such topics as: Reading aloud to your child; Learning Fun With Cat in the Hat; and Nutrition. The AmeriCorps and VISTA members are part of the Board of Education sponsored PRISM (Parents Reading In Schools Monthly) program and provide read alouds and acivities to every student at the new Southside K-8, Raysal, War Cove and Endwell Headstart centers. If you would like to know more about this program or if your child needs tutoring, please call the AmeriCorps office at Big Creek People In Action.
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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meet, she also came with no drivers license, no vehicle, no employment,
and low self-esteem.
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