Bay Six delivering to those in need
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MINGO JUNCTION -- The Bay Six Project in Mingo Junction has been looking for ways to help the community for more than three years.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has adapted its efforts to get meals to those in need.
According to Bobby Westfall, one of Bay Six's founders, the organization is now delivering more than 3,000 meals per week.
"We started out to help feed the children who cannot be in school eight weeks ago," he said. "After seeing parents losing their jobs as well, after the first week we made it to feed families as well as students themselves.
"It has been something that has been growing each week. We serve over 215 people breakfast and lunch seven days a week."
Bay Six's Brown Bag Diner project, which launched not long before the pandemic closures began, is at the center of the initiative.
"In February, we had launched what we call the Brown Bag Diner, which was an after school feeding program," Westfall said. "That launched in February, and in March the schools closed down. We went from feeding a couple days a week to Monday through Saturday, and on Saturday we give a meal for Sunday with the Saturday meal.
"As the need has grown, we have continued to grow with it."
According the Westfall, the service will continue as long as the need is there.
"One thing we want to convey is that we will be serving daily meals to students and their families for the indefinite future," he said. "When other schools stop serving on May 22, we will continue serving Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. until there is no longer a need. Then, we will go back to our normal summer or after school feeding program."
He said the service is not limited to just Mingo Junction residents or Indian Creek Local School District students and families, it is there to serve everybody. He said the program delivers to distribution hubs in Wintersville, Steubenville, Yorkville and more.
Bay Six is a nonprofit 501(c)3 charity founded in 2016, which Westfall said has been serving the community in various ways for the past three and a half years.
Among Bay Six's other projects are a Christmas program to deliver kids with incarcerated parents gifts working with the Angel Tree program, live music and community events.
The current focus, though, has shifted to feeding those in need.
"Our mission, our goal, aims to do basic, practical things for people in the community.
"We find ways to serve the community," Westfall said. "Right now everything has shifted to the Brown Bag Diner. That is where the biggest need is."
According to Westfall, Bay Six's goal is simple --let people know they have value.
"Our goal is to remind or tell people that they have value, that they are worth something," he said. "We don't just want to serve people to serve them, we want to do it well so they understand that they have value. Through basic, practical service projects we aim to restore individuals, families, and the community."
Bay Six operates through donations, and during the pandemic, Westfall said the community support has been there.
"It's been an outpouring of love from the community," he said. "People getting behind us and supporting us. There are so many people that have gotten involved in some way or another.
"It has been wild to see the outpouring of community support in the face of adversity."
Westfall said the project has close to 20 volunteers who help on a daily basis.
Some of the local business, individuals and organizations that have supported the efforts are the Impact Church in Weirton, Kolmont Community Church in Mingo Junction, Rob Parissi, Team Automotive, Indian Creek school district, J.D. DiCarlo Distribution, Dollar General in Benwood, Drew's Shutzen Club, Dominos Pizza and Mingo Social Services.
He said there are several other individuals and businesses that have also been involved.
Those interested in signing up to receive a meal or to volunteer can visit Baysixmingo.org for information and how to contact Westfall.
Individuals looking to donate are encouraged to visit baysixproject.org.