Salvation Army to host Grand Opening event, new community center announced

BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The Salvation Army of Beckley will host a Grand Opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday for the new location on Robert C. Byrd Drive.

After nearly 90 years at its current location serving the Raleigh, Fayette, Nicholas, Webster, Pocahontas, Greenbrier, and Wyoming County areas, the Salvation Army of Beckley will able to utilize a more expansive facility from which to provide services.

“The Salvation Army has been at its present location on South Fayette Street since 1938 and has worked in the community since 1925,” said the Salvation Army of Beckley in a statement. “With limited space and a growing need for services, new space is desperately needed.”

The new location, which can be found at 2871 Robert C. Byrd Drive, will provide special services and recreation opportunities to the aforementioned counties.

The Grand Opening ceremony and ribbon-cutting event is scheduled to take place on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 10:00am.

The opening of a brand new community center along Robert C. Byrd Drive which will serve as a central location for The Salvation Army’s social services to the area has also been announced.

“The Salvation Army is grateful to the Carter Family Foundation, the City of Beckley, Raleigh County, the State of WV along with anonymous donors who made this project possible,” said Jay Quesenberry, Advisory Board Chair for The Salvation Army of Beckley.

“On December 26th , West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced the distribution of $6 million in CARE Funds designated for health, education, and welfare to this project.”

“We continue to see a growing need among individuals and families for food and emergency assistance, such as help with utilities and housing,” said Major Ronald Mott of The Salvation Army of Beckley.

“The pandemic touched the lives of all of us and we continue to see its impact. Families who never needed help with food or rent are having to make difficult choices. We are grateful for the support of donors that allows The Salvation Army to step in to get them the resources they need to survive and thrive.”

The center will also provide a gym, commercial kitchen, space for ministry, and a warming station for the community. The community center will be product of support from West Virginia CARES Act funds and local donors.

Additional information on the Salvation Army of Beckley can be found at the Salvation Army of Beckley website , while additional LOOTPRESS coverage for the Raleigh County area can be found here .