The Shinn’s Run CEOS (Community Educational Outreach Service) Club of Shinnston/Bridgeport just completed another successful year of philanthropy and community service.
The year began with the members making plans for the year’s activities and community service projects.
Throughout 2023, the members studied topics such as Pollinators, Crazy Quilts, Home-Grown Appalachian Folklore and Point Pleasant: History Meets Mystery.
Gifts were donated to local community organizations: Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center, Elison Independent & Assisted Living of Maplewood, Mustard Seed, local libraries, and UHC Hospice.
As for the holidays, members gathered to create gifts for members of the VA Nursing Home, and the local hospice as well as made ornaments for the upcoming Christmas season at the Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center.
For the past few years, club members have decorated the foyer of the theater with handmade ornaments and draped the entrance with Christmas cheer. This year, 3 new ornaments will be added to the main tree with photos of Robinson Grand’s staff members and friends. On Wednesday, November 29th, the group met again after Thanksgiving to continue this annual tradition.
In addition to being holiday heroes, the club would like to share its year in review for 2023.
- January: members made plans for 2023 community projects
- February: hosted a flag folding ceremony held by Lincoln High School NJROTC students in Shinnston
– Three members viewed the movie “A Man Called Otto” which was based on a book that is on our Purposeful Reading List
- March: collected photos, history, and memorabilia from various sources in support of the Robinson Grand tribute
- April: Donated clothing and houseware items to the Mustard Seed and recycled printers and toner.
- May: donations and toiletry items gathered to donate to incoming female veterans at the VA Medical Center in Clarksburg
- June: Participated in the International Tea which honored our international student Maria Azkir
– Participated in the county photo contest.
- July: donated a WV-made wind spinner that was engraved with the CEOS lettering as a memorial garden ornament located at Ellison Independent & Assisted Living of Maplewood, Bridgeport.
– Provided cleaning supplies that were donated to local charities.
- August: donated money to a local teacher to supplement the art program at South Harrison HS
- September: the club welcomed 3 new members: Nancy Weaver, Louann Hawkinberry, and Patty Coffield.
- October: put together 100 brown bags for our Veterans who travel to Pittsburgh, PA for medical visits
- November: created Christmas gift sets of candy and socks to be delivered by our members in December to the veterans at the WV Veterans Nursing Home.
- UHC Hospice: packed 50 tray favors for our friends at UHC Hospice. The tray favor program is designed to brighten the day of someone struggling through difficult times because of their illness
- December: handing out Christmas gift sets while spreading holiday cheer to our Veterans in Clarksburg
The Shinn’s Run CEOS Club is an affiliate of the Harrison County CEOS and the WVU Extension Office in Morgantown. The Extension Service came into being with the Morrill Act which was signed July 2, 1862, by President Abraham Lincoln. This established a land grant college in each state. West Virginia was founded in 1867 as a land grant college. As of 1999, the Extension Service is now known as The West Virginia Community Educational Outreach Service.
Members of the Shinn’s Run CEOS Club include President, Patty Rummel; Vice President, Jean Ruckman; Secretary, Pam Kane; Marketing, April Lanham; Treasurer, Melanie Thomas; Continuing Education, Carmen Robinson; Family Committee, Sandra Griffin; Donna Light; Betsy Thomas; Helen Turnell; Patty Coffield; Evelyn Harris; Louann Hawkinberry; Pam Kane; Karen Morgan; and special junior member, Charles Hinton-Lanham.
The club meets the second Wednesday of every month, February – December, 10 am til 12 noon at the Elison Independent & Assisted Living of Maplewood, Bridgeport.
For membership information, contact John Wickline at 304-624-8650 – or visit The Community Educational Outreach Service website, https://extension.wvu.edu/community-business-safety/community-educational-outreach-service.