Trending
ELKINS -- The Randolph County Commission approved a funding request from the West Virginia Autism Supportive Center during its regular meeting this week.
Volunteers Denise Campbell and Michelle Phares spoke on behalf of the WVASC, giving an informational presentation to Commissioners Cris Siler, David Kesling and Chris See.
Campbell told the commissioners about the center's Garden Program, which allows children with autism and their families to learn how to plant and take care of a garden.
"They learn what to do from planting the seeds, all the way through the growth," Campbell said. "They work on the garden throughout the summer and take on the responsibility of watering and caring for the plants. Then at the end of the summer, we have a dinner where we prepare all the food that they grew."
The WVASC is located at 200 Weese Street Extension in Elkins, on the site of the old Darby School. A high-tunnel greenhouse, which was donated and built by volunteers, sits on the 100-acre property and is where children and their families learn to grow fruits, vegetables and herbs.
Campbell told the commission that all the employees at the center are volunteers, and that the organization came to the commission seeking help so that it could expand the garden program.
"We pay our own electric bills, our own heating bills, our water bills, and we even put a new roof on the barn," Campbell said. "We've had to put a new furnace in the building and install new water tanks. We really try to be self-supportive."
Campbell said the WVASC also partners with AmeriCorps, and is hoping the commission can help with funding for the Garden Program.
"We feel that we have room to grow on what we have going with the Garden Program," Campbell said. "To do that we will be increasing our hours and the amount of support we received from AmeriCorps."
The non-profit organization pays its bills through money it raises from donations and a host of different fundraisers.
"We do a lot of fundraising and we will continue to do a lot this year," Phares said. "But many of our opportunities come later in the year, so we were looking for a donation up front to get our summer program started."
Phares said funds are needed to purchase supplies to get the garden started next month.
"We want to help with this project, it's a great thing for our community," Kesling said. "We are happy to be able to support the West Virginia Autism Supportive Center."
The commission unanimously agreed to provide $5,000 in funding for the WVASC.
The money will be taken from the courthouse contractual line item of the county's budget.
For more information on the West Virginia Autism Supportive Center, which offers an array of activities and programs for children and their families, visit the center's Facebook page or call 304-940-1791.