Charleston Nonprofits and Charities

Being overseas away from family and friends is tough. It takes a toll both mentally and physically. Being away it's very easy and common to feel isolated and abandoned however, MWDTSA does an amazing job at letting us know that our sacrifices are worth it by making it clear that we are not only appreciated but not forgotten about. The care packages are more than just snacks, trinkets, toys and shirts. They are a reminder that even though we are gone there are those that love and support not just us but our four legged partners. Thank you MWDTSA for everything you do for us!

ZERO stars! I emailed the shelter for help with a stray. I was emailed back the same day, stating to bring the stray in that day or the next. I drove over an hour with a sick dog and when I arrived - I was told the shelter was full I explained to the lady, who was extremely rude and condescending that I had received an email stating to bring the stray to them. She told me I have been “misinformed” and told me to take the dog and leave. She stated they only accept injured animals. I offered to show her the email. She stated for me to get the dog and leave and seek help with a rescue. I would NOT support this group. This woman was rude and never even bothered to even look at the stray. Had she evaluated her, she would have seen she needed help! I told her I could show her the email and she refused to even look at it.

If it hadn't been for these wonderful people I don't know what I would have done. They go out of their way to help us in need. I wasn't able to come one Wed bc I didn't have the gas and what to my surprise they brought it to me. Love these giving people. <br><br>Joyce

R.I.P. <br>It's a shame that this had to close. Kids Love these type of places.

We love and appreciate the great work of this team at the Fixem Clinic! Rachel, Ada, and all the team work hard everyday to advocate the importance of fix and wellness for the animals! They truly care and always quick to jump in and help! They need more supporters and funds to reach more areas and do more fix! Please volunteer, donate and support these great humans who make a positive difference in our community!

This organization helps so many! I volunteered here and was amazed at the thoughtful care the chefs and other volunteers took to help and give with all their heart.

Usually take the grandkids to the Madison,WV store, thankfully on Sunday the 13th I didn't. Was in the store and started hearing someone cussing and screaming outside. When we looked we realized it was the manager cussing and screaming at another employee. The manager then comes in the store cussing and screaming at the other employee. The manager then went into the work area and started cussing and screaming at the employees back there. At this time myself and a few others left the store. Seeing and hearing what I did, the manager will be lucky if she is not charged with assault. No exaggeration on that. People it was bad. Don't see returning to this store for awhile.

Great music venue, great children’s museum, great art museum and studio and great planetarium!! A true gem in our Region and city!! Come see for yourself

"Thanks! Plain and Simple" opened a new door for me. The organizer, Anne Montague, is the daughter of a Rosie the Riveter from World War II. In retirement Anne wanted to tell her mother's story, and from that grew her interest in the Rosies. She started making connections in West Virginia to locate other Rosies. Her purpose was to tell their their stories and develop that history permanently. It has been an astonishing trip to see the diversity and importance of what the Rosies accomplished.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern WV provided a warm and welcoming place to sleep and eat a warm meal while our child was sick in the hospital.

About 3 years ago I helped foster five puppies for SSKF. They were great making sure my foster experience was successful and fun. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to foster again for personal reasons.<br> SSKF go over and beyond to rescue dogs and puppies in need. They are genuinely concerned in getting the dogs and puppies first of all the medical they need. If they get a dog who needs medical treatment they do it right away! Every dog that comes to them gets all the medical care they may need. When they go to their perspective forever home they are medically sound at time and have all their yearly shots and have been altered. <br>Everyone that helps at the foster knows what job they need to do to get these fur babies into their forever home. They are the best and they LOVE what they are doing for all the unwanted pups, because in the end they know it’s their labor of love that is going to get these pups into their forever home. <br>

As a teacher who has been a champion of reading-aloud for over thirty years, I have a story to tell about Read-Aloud West Virginia (RAWV). I was born and raised in West Virgina yet I have lived in Massachusetts for decades. When my childhood friend died and asked that donations be made to RAWV I learned about this wonderful organization. Many places give books, but few to none instill a love of reading. RAWV trains volunteers to go to schools and read, among other things. I organized my preschool in Massachusetts, Groton Community School, to have a major fundraiser and book drive. We collected hundreds of dollars, and more importantly hundreds of books ~ quality hardcover books. I drove over 500 miles to make the delivery in person. Meeting the folks who run this incredible non-profit confirmed their quality, kindness, and good work. Reading-aloud to a school class of children was the icing on the cake for me. Since then, I have been an unofficial ambassador, as Read-Aloud West Virginia has changed my life. I now have an important mission! Thank you!

West Virginia Land Trust is an accredited land trust. Accreditation means West Virginia Land Trust meets national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. West Virginia Land Trust has demonstrated to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission its commitment to excellence. Accredited land trusts meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. These land trusts demonstrate their commitment to excellence by adopting Land Trust Standards and Practices, the ethical and technical guidelines for the responsible operation of a land trust, and meeting the accreditation requirements drawn from them. Learn More: http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/about

I can't say enough good things about the Tamarack Artisan Foundation & its staff! As a new participant in their Rural to Urban Markets program, I have witnessed their determination to help West Virginia artisans flourish. They provide access to an incredible network of support, from accounting to professional photography. With their financial assistance, I now have an opportunity to enter the wholesale market with a new level of professionalism, well-prepared to grow my small business. <br> <br>(I believe in the organization so I became a member of the Tamarack Artisan Foundation, too!)

"Let's Celebrate West Side" $3500.00 profit 2014 - <br>First Clean up - Huge Impact 2014 <br>Planning Second Clean up Fall 2014 <br> <br>

I serve on the Board of Directors for Direct Action Welfare Group because I want to contribute my time and energy to an organization that is making real change in people's lives in my state. Instead of focusing only on immediate need and being a band-aid type of organization, Direct Action Welfare Group looks at the big picture and asks why are people hungry, why are people poor, and why are there no jobs.

The Hub's unofficial operating approach is 'turf suppression', which is something WV desperately needs. The Hub's goal is to provide communities with tools, resources, and support for whatever local needs are identified, and they do it extremely well by bringing together a wide array of partners and service providers to work on a solving a problem in a collaborative and engaging way. They have no interest in 'owning' their solutions - any successful work they do is spread as far and wide as possible.

Union Mission is the best non-profit in the state. The food they give is always free of charge. Their Store is also the outlet for the Family Services clients to receive clothing, furniture and household goods also free of charge. One of the greatest attributes of Union Mission Ministries and the main reason I financially support them is traditionally 80% of income goes directly to services for the community.

I have been honored to serve alongside some of this community's best and brightest on the CAMC Foundation's Board since 2010, as we have worked to provide support to the CAMC Health Systems' healthcare facilities. As the father of a special needs child, I am acutely aware of the benefit the CAMC family of healthcare facilities provides to our community and I am proud to provide assistance, in my own small way, to CAMC's operations as a member of the Foundation board. The Foundation's fundraising efforts provide funding for a number of worthwhile services, including services to many needy children in our community. Additionally, through the Foundation's efforts, in large part, CAMC will soon have a state of the art cancer center that will alleviate the need for our neighbors to drive significant distances for cancer care.

The Rea of Hope Fellowship Home and New Life Apartments has had it's growing paind since it opened it's doors in May, 2005. The place is a clean, bright, cheery home that teaches personal responsibility as a step on the road to recovery from alcoholism and/or drug addiction. From the inception, we learned how sneaky alcohoics and drug addicts can be, and how some used unique ways of getting over on their drug testing. We learned how hard it is for 10 women to live in harmony, and we learned how most women with these problems had multiple other issues to work through, if they are to stay sober. 85% have been sexually and/or emotionally abused and many come from families with substance abuse problems. We also saw successes, with women becoming re-united with families and children, returning to school, getting full time jobs, speaking in front of state policiticans and community members. We learned about fund raising and including the women in "sisters in sobriety" luncheons, 5 K walk/runs, annual fund raising dinners, that gives them exposure to many persons, build confidence and community. Rea of Hope and New Life is a testamont to Betsy Fletcher Rea, a long time member in a recovery program, who opened her home to many women in need. She was a shining example of service, humility and caring. The staff at Rea and New Life exhibit these same qualities and many of the staff have their own recovery story to share. The community has embraced our efforts and we continue to receive visits and accolades for the work we are doing. We have not solved the problem of substance abuse however, and are finding an extreme need for assistance for pregnant addicts. Our work goes on, but it so rewarding to see the women who are experiecning sobriety, a connection with God and community, becoming more confident and self supporting and enjoying life once more. I highly recommend support with any resources you might have, from buying household supplies, donations of time or money, referring women who need a safe place to stay, or prayers for our success.