At 63 years old, Ms.T and her longtime partner had already weathered more than their fair share of storms—literally. In April 2024, a powerful tornado destroyed their mobile home, leaving them with nothing. Thanks to support from FEMA and WV VOAD, they were able to rebuild a small, one-bedroom cinderblock house—a place of peace and...
Catholic Charities West Virginia (CCWVa) is proud to announce it has received a generous grant from Catholic Charities USA to support outreach and disaster case management efforts for individuals and families affected by Hurricane Helene, primarily in Mercer County, with outreach extending to surrounding areas. This grant enables Catholic Charities West Virginia to deepen its...
On September 27, 2024, the winds of Hurricane Helene swept through Mercer County, leaving behind a trail of destruction—and a call to compassion. For Mark, whose home of more than 30 years was struck by a falling tree, the storm marked the beginning of a long and uncertain road to recovery. What began with homeowner’s...
February 15, 2025, began as an average Saturday for Jimmy and Melanie Dover. “It had been raining, but I was just watching tv and didn’t think nothing of it,” said Jimmy. “Then water started coming in. By supper, Melanie was yelling ‘we got to go!’” The Dovers and thousands of other people fled their homes....
Catholic Charities West Virginia is honored to announce the recipient of the 2025 Charity in Action Award: the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley (CFOV). This esteemed award recognizes individuals and organizations whose dedicated commitment to service and partnership profoundly impacts our communities. “Charity is love in action. We seek organizations that truly reflect that...
On a seemingly ordinary day, Will’s life was turned upside down when a tornado touched down, sending a massive oak tree crashing down on his house. “If I would have been home in bed, along with my nieces and nephews, we all would’ve been killed instantly,” Will reflects, still shaken by the thought. Instead, a...
On March 21, 2024, life changed drastically for Ms. P., a dedicated grandmother raising two grandchildren in her cherished home of 23 years in Hardy County. That afternoon, wildfires erupted in the woods behind her house. “I called 911 twice,” Ms. P. recalls, “They said if we needed to evacuate, they would let us know....
In the spring and summer of 2022, West Virginia experienced four flood events spanning nine counties, resulting in over 800 reports of damage to homes and bridges. Unfortunately, these individual flood events did not meet the federal threshold for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), leaving the burden of recovery and rebuilding on...
“Jane” was home with her family as flooding began in her community in March 2021. She and her family did what they could to elevate their belongings; however, they were forced to evacuate as waters continued to rise. Jane, her husband and their three children hiked the mountain behind their home to safety. Three and...