The Rainelle Community Development Corporation and the Town of Rainelle were each granted two of Governor Earl Ray Tomblin’s Day of Service mini-grants. Each grant is for $500 to be matched by cash or in-kind, and each promotes the use of volunteers for community improvement.
“Last year, volunteers planned and participated in more than 400 service projects throughout our state’s 55 counties,” Governor Tomblin said. ‘This year, I’m asking all West Virginians to, once again, offer your time and talents in an effort to build upon last year’s success.”
One of Rainelle Community Development Corporation grants is for continuing the Boy Scout work begun last summer at Rainelle Cemetery. The mini-grant will purchase deer-resistant permanent plantings and mulch. Volunteers and Town of Rainelle workers will supply the labor.
“The Scouts were wonderful and really improved the cemetery,” Rainelle Mayor Andrea J. Pendleton said. “Threatening weather cut short two of their days, so we hope now to complete the project.”
The RCDC’s second mini-grant was secured with the help of Shelby Bryant and Susie Mintern of the Greenbrier Hills Golf Club Association helped secure RCDC’s second mini grant, which the association matched with cash. This project will plant a tree and shrubs at the parking lot side of the Greenbrier Hills Golf & Tennis Club clubhouse.
The Town of Rainelle also received two Day of Service mini-grants of $500 each. These grants will be supplemented in part by a donation from the Rainelle Centennial Committee. “We will work with the Rainelle Elementary School to plant two trees,” Mayor Andrea Pendleton said. “We are also cleaning some of the bricks salvaged from the Rainelle High School for re-use and hope to use them at the school and in other projects.”
“The old high school holds fond memories for the thousands of its alumni and the bricks are also excellent for other projects,” Mayor Andrea J. Pendleton said. “We are just so very proud to have our new elementary school and the Town joins the School Board in every effort to make it even more appealing.”
Plans are to create green spaces and parking in front of the new school, on the space where the former high school stood.
“The Golf Course volunteers have fully staffed their projects, but the other three projects need lots more volunteers,” Pendleton said.
Governor Tomblin wants a list of names and addresses of all volunteers so that he can thank them for participating in the Governor’s Day of Service.
“By volunteering in our communities, we each have the opportunity to experience immense personal growth while preserving our state’s long-standing tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, Governor Tomblin said. “Through our collective efforts, we will provide much needed assistance in our hometowns and ensure a brighter future for West Virginia.”
To volunteer or for further information contact: RCDC Executive Director and Mayor of Rainelle Andrea J. “Andy” Pendleton, email andypen241@msn.com, telephone 304-667-9233 or RCDC President Joan C. Browning, email oma00013@wvnet.edu, telephone 304-645-6799.