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Please consider a gift to Big Laurel this Christmas Season

This Advent and Christmas season, we want to thank you for being part of our Big Laurel family. We are constantly humbled by your faith and generosity. 

Please consider making a gift to Big Laurel this Christmas. Your donations allow us to continue promoting healing and social change by providing education, outreach, and spiritual renewal, in solidarity with the people of southern West Virginia.

With peace and gratitude,
Grace Williams

Make a Gift

Mountain Community Update

     Grace Williams began serving as director this past August when Ian Noyes transitioned out. She spent four months over the spring and summer shadowing the director position.
     Grateful for the time to ask questions and solidify procedures, she is now feeling at home in the position.
     Grace is working to plan and implement new and existing programs, organize visiting groups, and manage financial and administrative tasks.
     Jacob Zondag, former AmeriCorps member, completed his term in August. He is teaching seventh grade math at Lenore Middle School. He lives in Kermit and remains a dedicated volunteer and part of the Big Laurel community.
     RJ Flinn joined the mountain community in September as a Notre Dame AmeriCorps member. He is currently serving at Big Laurel and Tug Valley High School, where he guides students in hands-on experiments in the science and agriculture departments.
     RJ hopes to help students gain the skills necessary for science based careers, and teach them to always be curious about the natural world.
     Sister Kathy is working part time as the Notre Dame AmeriCorps site director and maintenance coordinator. She ensures that all buildings and facilities are in good condition by hiring and coordinating maintenance work.
     Kathy provides outreach in the community, including emergency food assistance for hungry families, especially around the holidays, and mentorship and fellowship with people in addiction recovery at Serenity Point in Williamson, WV.
     Sister Gretchen is continuing to serve in a supportive role. As director emeritus, she maintains excellent relationships with donors and serves as sounding board, proof reader, and mentor for the current director. She is also happy to bake fresh bread and whip up her famous butter whenever the occasion arises. 
     Rebecca Hooker is on the advancement committee for Big Laurel and on the Board of Directors. Rebecca also serves as an excellent cook and host for visiting groups.

Meet RJ Flinn, 2018-2019 Notre Dame AmeriCorps
     R.J. is serving as the Notre Dame AmeriCorps Volunteer for the 2018-2019 school year. Having grown up on his family farm in LeRoy, West Virginia, R.J. is a native to The Mountain State.
     He graduated from Ravenswood High School in 2014 where he was very active in his community and the FFA. He plans on continuing his education next year at Ohio State University.
     R.J. hopes to make an impact on young people by teaching them the value of nature and the pride that comes with being a West Virginian.
     In his free time, R.J. enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, painting, and practicing his cello or ukulele.
Keeping the Legacy Alive
Big Laurel in 1991     Big Laurel began in 1976 and operated as a mountain school for 12 years. After the school’s closing, we transitioned into Big Laurel Learning Center.
     Since 1988, Big Laurel Learning Center has hosted 30 years of summer camps, retreats, and service immersion trips, impacting thousands of young people along the way!
     In the coming year, we plan to facilitate five summer camps, 18 service immersion groups, and four retreats.
     Throughout the year we will also provide emergency food assistance to families in need; cultivate an interest in gardening through weekly agriculture lessons with local middle and hGirls at summer camp 2018igh school students; tutor elementary students in critical reading and writing skills; and provide support and fellowship for individuals in addiction recovery.
     We need to raise $70,000 for our 2019 programs. Join us in keeping Big Laurel’s legacy alive! Click here to donate today!
Thanks for a great 2018!
Thanks to these and countless other generous individuals, visitors, and donors for a successful year!
  • Calvin College – community outreach and service at Big Laurel
  • Charleston Catholic High School – woodcutting at Big Laurel
  • Cincinnati ND AmeriCorps – woodcutting at Big Laurel
  • Live the Good Service Group – home repair in the community
  • Loyola University of Chicago – medical community immersion
  • Molloy College – summer camp facilitation at Big Laurel and generous donors
  • Project FACTS – maintenance at Big Laurel and outreach
  • Shepherd University – outreach
  • St. Ignatius Catholic Church – community home repair, service at Big Laurel and generous donors
  • St. John’s Jesuit High School – built Gaga ball pit and summer camp facilitation at Big Laurel
  • St. Ursula Academy – summer camp facilitation at Big Laurel
  • University of Dayton ETHOS – service at Big Laurel
  • Wheeling Jesuit University – maintenance and woodcutting at Big Laurel and outreach

Don't forget to smile!

Amazon Smile, that is :)

Anytime you shop online, go to smile.amazon.com, log in, and select Big Laurel Learning Center Inc. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase directly to Big Laurel!

 

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biglaurel.org | biglaurel.director@gmail.com

PO Box 266 Kermit, WV 25674 | 304-393-4103 

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Big Laurel Learning Center · PO Box 991 · Kermit, WV 25674 · USA

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