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WHEELING -- Ten charities across West Virginia will receive $5,000 each in donations from the Health Plan to help with food distribution drives, with five of those organizations located in Wheeling.
The Health Plan announced Monday that $50,000 would be donated to help those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donations are slated to become available by the end of the month.
Locally, Catholic Charities, the Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling, House of the Carpenter and St. Luke's and St. Matthew's Episcopal churches, all of Wheeling, each will receive a $5,000 donation to enable their food bank programs.
"These organizations serve the most vulnerable right here in our own backyard," said Jeff Knight, president and chief operating officer of the Health Plan. "The current COVID-19 situation and the subsequent economic downturn have put a tremendous strain on local food banks, pantries and community kitchens. Our goal with these donations is to assist these local organizations in acquiring additional food and distributing those resources as quickly and efficiently as possible."
At House of the Carpenter, Executive Director Mike Linger said its food bank donated nine tons of food in March, and its outreach continued through April.
"People were suddenly without jobs, the grocery stores were running out of food and the kids were out of school," Linger said Monday. "We distributed food through our food bank by doing curbside delivery. We also provided weekend food bags for students that needed assistance, and we continue to take those weekend food bags over to Madison (Elementary School) every Friday. We're also working with (the Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless) and Project HOPE to make sure they have food to distribute to those who are homeless at this point in time."
He added that the money they receive will go entirely toward food purchases.
Beth Zarate, CEO of Catholic Charities West Virginia, said she was grateful for the support of the Health Plan.
"Families are under stress and uncertainty; donations such as this are critical in providing stability. Catholic Charities West Virginia is committed to staying present and working through this health crisis with the vulnerable populations we serve," Zarate said. "The work we do is essential -- without it, people go hungry."