CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A block-party style fundraiser event at Appalachian Power Park Tuesday night combined entities to continue raising money toward flood relief.
The “Neighborhoods Helping Neighbors” event featured music, vendors, beer and food with proceeds to benefit Mountain Mission and its Helping Our People Along the Elk (HOPE) project.
“All of these vendors, they came up with the idea to be able to come together, sell some food, some drinks; be able to come in here have some live music,” said Mountain Mission director John Roberts. “At the same time, raise a little money to help the HOPE project, which is helping folks with building supplies all across the Elk River.”
Several local leaders attended, and Del. Mike Pushkin was playing the guitar and singing in the band on stage, one of three live bands that performed.
“I came out to support the cause. The flood relief effort is not going just happen overnight,” said Charleston Councilwoman Mary Beth Hoover. “We’re going to have to keep doing these events, keep raising money because a lot of people need help and there’s still a lot to do.”
Roberts said that since the June 23 flood, Mountain Mission had been extremely busy, and would remain so throughout the rebuilding process.
“The cleanup process is pretty much over with, and now we’ve moved on to the rebuilding process,” he said. “Right now it looks like supplying building materials to these folks–it’s going to go on for probably 18 to 24 months.”
Almost all of Charleston’s neighborhoods were represented at the event, Hoover said.
“This got all the neighborhoods, West Side, East End, Kanawha City, South Hills–it got everybody involved, and everybody’s getting together for a cause that’s near and dear to all of us.”
An auction at the event featured various donations from city businesses, art work from local craftsmen and artisans, and a number of sports memorabilia pieces.
A portion of the food and beer proceeds and all of the proceeds from the silent auction will be given to the flood relief effort.