CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association (OMEGA) launched its sixth annual “Every Child Deserves a Loving Home” fundraising campaign at the Governor’s Mansion Monday.
The campaign, which benefits the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia, aims to put children into long-term adopted care.
“The (society) helps children throughout West Virginia,” said OMEGA President Jan Vineyard. “They have 13 homes and they provide children to be adopted into forever homes, they work with foster care. Last year, they assisted over 13,000 children in locations across West Virginia.”
The campaign is partnered with convenience and grocery stores throughout the state, which encourage residents to donate. Vineyard said they eventually decided to grow it into a statewide effort.
“We took under a statewide campaign that would be in every community,” Vineyard said. “Since then, we’ve raised over $2 million that have gone directly to children.”
Singer Landau Eugene Murphy Jr., a board member of the Children’s Home Society, sang to children at Monday’s ceremony.
“You don’t just want it to be a fly by night thing, or here’s my drop in the bucket and then I’m gone,” Murphy Jr. said. “No, I want to represent the state until the day that I’m gone. And then be able to pass that same love and integrity on to the kids and the youth coming up after me.”
Vineyard said the Governor’s Mansion serves as a great symbolic location for kicking off the event.
“No better place than to do it at our home of West Virginia, our First Lady and the governor’s home,” she said.
She said the event couldn’t happen without so many sponsors participating, and trying their best to encourage donations.
“You want to work with people who are partners, and this group is the best partner we’ve ever had,” Vineyard said. “They have a great group of volunteers, they come into our stores; they encourage our clerks. I’ve had some wonderful stories about the partnership they’ve done with our people. They’ve made a difference in our lives.”
The campaign will run from Monday, April 11 through Mother’s Day, May 8.