If you are interested in building your family through adoption, the time to start is now. The Society's Registry List is open until further notice. You can get more information from the Adoption/Adoption Resource Center office nearest you. Click here to see the Locations page.

The Logan Area We Can Program would like to thank the following individuals for serving as this year’s Celebrity waiters and waitresses during the 14 th annual Celebrity Dinner Event held on November 1, 2007 at the Earl Ray Tomblin Convention Center. Entertainment for the evening was provided by the Daddy Rabbit Band. Bob Noone served as Master of Ceremony for the evening.
This year’s celebrities included the following individuals:

The three teams earning the highest tips this year included: Massey Coal Services Team, International Coal Group, and James Rice, Wally Thornhill and Kenny Atkins.
Corporate Sponsorship for the evening included: Atkins Jewelry, Best Western Logan Inn, Cecil I. Walker Machinery Co., Continental Conveyor, Empire Consulting Service, Everett Hannah, Hatfield’s Market & Deli, Holden Machine & Fabrication, James Funeral Home, International Coal Group, International Industries, Logan Motorcycle Sales, Logan Regional Medical Center, M & S Hydraulics, Massey Coal Services, Mike Ferrell Toyota, Mining Repair Specialist, National Armature & Machine, Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group, R & L Rental, Reno’s Roadhouse, Tim Marcum & Son, Inc., TOPS Dinner Club, Tri State Mine Services, and White Armature
The WE CAN program would like to graciously thank the following businesses who contributed items for the live auction:

The evening boasted of an entertaining night full of great music, good food, a feeling of anticipation as the live auction was spirited by Bob Noone and Denny Frost. The winner for the evening was the We Can Program of Children’s Home Society of West Virginia. The fund raising event was a success providing funds in the amount of $50k to continue the program within the county. The WE CAN (Working to Eliminate Child
Abuse and Neglect) Program strives to promote the well-being of children by protecting and nurturing children while helping to enhance, preserve, and strengthen families through the use of well-trained volunteers and staff.

The Innovation Grant project being conducted by the Parkersburg Partners In Prevention team is off to a wonderful start. The after school program at McKinley Elementary School has provided care for 35 different children so far. An average of 18 students currently attend the program on a daily basis. We have been able to provide 2 positions from within our agency and have partnered with other community agencies to provide three more. Some teen volunteers help out occasionally as well.

Children are receiving assistance with homework completion, are being provided education in social skills and some have participated in special topic groups on drug and alcohol prevention, recycling, and healthy nutrition. The partnerships with Girl Scouts and 4-H have become a reality. We have 9 girls who attend the after school program participating in the scout troop that meets in our community center. 8 youth have attended 4-H meetings, held in the center as well.

Relationships are being built with the families of these youth and many have attended our monthly family night activities, which originated last year with our PIP mini-grant. The most recent event, held in November, began by sharing a pasta meal with 29 guests, representing 9 families. This was followed by a “shopping spree” in our clothing closet, choosing free Christmas decorations and “building a jar of cookie mix”, a child and parent activity. To further reduce stress and encourage family togetherness during the holiday season, families were given a “baking bag” to take home with them. Many items, such as vanilla, food coloring, baking chips, peanut butter, etc. were included in the bag. Families were very appreciative and look forward to the next event.

Already, one parent has been identified as being eligible for Right From the Start services and has been referred to an early childhood worker from the Society.