Volunteers help assemble the food bags to be given by the Esther Crumbley Fund. (Photos by Miranda Stokes)

With this year’s Esther Crumbley food drive, Wetzel County fed roughly 450 families in need. In addition to food items for a holiday feast, the drive raised money to provide around 350 presents to children. At the collection event on Oct. 20 Klug Hall was packed with mounds of food and presents, along with mittens, hats, and scarves, as volunteers assembled down a line to sort together holiday food bags.

The following morning by 11 a.m. the hall was nearly emptied of its collected goods. However, the space was filled with people of all ages gathered to help one another and children made yummy noises over the delicious food items and hugged their presents with curiosity over what was inside.

Along with generous donations from the community, the New Martinsville Ministerial Association was aided by around 70 volunteers at its collection night on Oct. 20 and around 40 volunteers the following morning for the item distribution.

Due to Wetzel County Schools being closed due to the weather, volunteer attendance was a bit down. Additionally, people were lined up by 8 a.m., an hour before the drive was planned to begin.

Even with such setbacks, volunteers opened the doors early and the event ran in smooth order.

Gifts are ready to be given out.

RadioShack in New Martinsville donated a 26-foot U-Haul truck to haul and store food from fellow contributor Witschey’s Food and Pharmacy to Klug Hall. Also, as in past years, McDonald’s in New Martinsville donated food for the volunteers.

Ephram Wade, chairman for the New Martinsville Ministerial Association Esther Crumbley Fund board of directors, thanks everyone who contributed to this year’s drive. The event was a huge success as always and it was so wonderful to see the community take in the true holiday spirit.

Planning for next year’s drive will be underway in no time at all. For anyone interested in helping plan next year’s event, contact a member of the New Martinsville Ministerial Association or call Joe or Barbara Powell at 304-455-2058.

Volunteers unload food from a U-Haul donated for the cause.

The New Martinsville Ministerial Association’s Esther Crumbley Fund Chairman Ephram Wade accepts a generous donation from WesBanco’s Wetzel and Tyler County branches. Pat Lilkendey, a Paden City WesBanco branch employee, is pictured presenting Ephram Wade with the check for $500 toward the Esther Crumbley Fund.

In Witschey’s continued support of the Esther Crumbley Foundation, Store Manager Rose Wichterman presents a $450 gift certificate to Witschey’s Crew Leader and New Martinsville Ministerial Association Esther Crumbley Fund Chairman Ephram Wade. This generous gift certificate is in addition to Witschey’s regular yearly donation.