Christian Help's Mission

To respond to situations of emergency and need with immediacy and simplicity, respecting the dignity of all persons in the spirit of Jesus Christ.

Who We Are

History of Helping

Christian Help Inc of Mingo County serves the low to no income population in the heart of Appalachia, specifically Mingo County, West Virginia and Martin County, Kentucky. Founded in 1994 by Sister Brendan Conlon, Christian Help Inc provides emergency relief to people struggling with the burdens of extreme poverty. Sr Brendan started as a one-woman agency with little more than a mission statement in hand.

We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, unaffiliated with any church or denomination. Today, we have 8 full time employees and a plethora of volunteers. Our programs include financial help, free store, food pantry, and on demand transportation team.

Our Services

  • Food Insecurity

    Hunger doesn't sleep. Our Food Pantry is the only pantry in the tri-state region open Monday-Friday, with emergency access on weekends. We do not limit visits, as we know access and availability are vital.
    Christian Help receives monthly donations from Feeding America. As this donation is only meant to provide 10% of our inventory, Christian Help supplements the pantry on an as needed, rotating basis. Relying on community donations is simply not an option, as this area is devastated by extreme, generational poverty.
    We also hold pop up markets throughout the year. In 2022, literally tons of fresh fruit and vegetables were distributed to our community.

  • Brick and Mortar

    We operate a bright, clean, large building. Our free store is always bustling with activity. As all items are donated, on intake we ensure each piece is clean and neat. Stocking our store is a fulltime responsibility, maintained by our amazing staff and volunteers. Christian Help is committed to offering a welcoming environment, as all people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
    Inside the store, we have a separate room containing all manner of hygiene, incontinence, and baby products. Here you will also find quality kitchen appliances, dishes, and linens.
    Next to our main facility, we have a separate building which houses furniture, appliances, building materials, etc.
    Store hours: Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm

  • Transportation Services

    One of the major barriers to success in this region is lack of transportation. Christian Help's Transit Department is the only public transportation in Mingo County. Established in 1998, we have clocked over 4,500,000 miles in service to our community. Our team covers the majority of Mingo County and is free service for our residents.
    Scheduling is easy, simply call 304.393.4251. We request 5 days advance notice, so we may best utilize our resources.
    Did you know?
    In 2022, Christian Help began a pilot program delivering food to our most vulnerable seniors. We have the organizational infrastructure and partnerships to combine our food and transit programs. As Mingo County is a food desert, access to quality foods is paramount for our elderly community. While participating in the national Senior Box Program, Christian Help supplements the 60 pounds of shelf stable items with fresh meat and vegetables.

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  • Emergency Financial Assistance

    With the unwavering support of our donors, Christian Help has helped thousands of less fortunate friends and neighbors who faced financial emergencies.
    There is no red tape, and funding is immediate. Most of our requests are for neighbors facing utility disconnects or terminations. In addition, we help pay for funeral costs, car repair, medication, eyeglasses, dentures, propane and kerosene, relocation for domestic abuse, wrap around services associated with addiction recovery, and various costs associated with domestic animals.
    Did you know?
    Christian Help has provided over 250 sets of complete dentures! We also advocated with the state of West Virginia, and effective January 1, 2021, a bill was passed to include a 1000.00 dental benefit for Medicaid recipients. A similar bill was passed in Kentucky, effective January 1, 2023.

Hospitality House

Our new volunteer house is now open! We are delighted to have a comfortable space for groups to stay while in the community. Located on the Tug River, our home is ½ a mile from Christian Help. The home has 18 beds and can sleep up to 25 (no need to bring linens, as these are provided.) The large kitchen is fully equipped, and the dining room and kitchen have table seating for 20. The home has internet access, cable, and phone. For information regarding reserving the home, please call 304.393.4251.

We love our community to the moon and back! Our transportation department has driven over 2.5 MILLION miles, which is equivalent to over 5 round trips to the moon.

Donate Today

Volunteer

Volunteering is an integral part of our operations. As we reinvent our current programs and services, we will be inviting more like-minded individuals and groups to give service. From sorting at intake, to stocking our food pantry, each piece plays a specific role in serving our community. Central Appalachia is one of the poorest regions in the nation, with both Mingo Co, WV and Martin Co, KY, holding dubious distinctions of being in the top 20 worst counties to live in America. Christian Help is the only social services agency in our area that provides wrap around services for our most vulnerable population.

Our Staff

Meet Christian Help Mingo's faithful staff

In length of employment order…

  • Bernice Dillon

    Transportation and Senior Food Delivery Coordinator

    August 2001
  • Kathy Spurlock

    Outreach and Public Relations

    March 2007
  • Amanda Spurlock

    Operations and Food Pantry Management

    August 2014
  • Rosemary Jeffrey

    Transportation

    November 2014
  • Marian Krom

    Administration

    February 2014
  • Rebecca Hooker

    Director

    December 2021
  • Melinda Pack

    Transportation

    July 2022
  • Larissa Blevins

    Operations Apprentice

    November 2022

Contact Us

100 Lincoln St
Kermit, WV 25674