Mountain Heart celebrates 60 years of community action

BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) – Mountain Heart Community Services is celebrating 60 years of the Community Action Network.

Beckley’s Mountain Heart location welcomed the community for a potluck as they read proclamations from the governor and Beckley’s mayor. Two of Oak Hill’s city council members were also in attendance to express their gratitude.

Oak Hill Councilman Terry Van Buskirk commented, “I’ve actually seen a lot of what Mountain Heart does for the community, as far as some of the elderly with the weatherization. I also have grandkids that are in the childcare part of it. So, to me, everything that they are doing for this state is a plus.”

The Community Action Network has been responsible for helping people in need with childcare, home weatherization, disaster relief, after school programs, and resources for new parents, among other services.

Mountain Heart Supervisor Donna England told 59News, “Childcare is very essential. Since Covid, it’s made it really hard to keep enough childcare providers to cover the people that needs services. We have waitlists at some of the childcare centers and family home providers. Our services, what we do is we help low-income families pay for the childcare services, so that they can work and go to school.”

Another Oak Hill councilman Roger Evans also commented, “I think that a lot of Oak Hill would struggle to have stuff that they need [without them]. Whatever we could do for a kid or a family is tremendous.”

The Community Action Network began in 1964 as part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty”. The celebration will continue, as Mountain Heart celebrates its 60 ^th anniversary next year. Mountain Heart Community Services covers around half of the counties in West Virginia.

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