Following the Thread of Gratitude
When we reflect upon 2024, there is so much to be thankful for: our volunteers, staff, sponsors, patients, and each of you that support the vital work of WV Health Right. We’re proud to look back on the impact we’ve created together in West Virginia this past year. Follow the thread of gratitude below and read our year in review!
East End Clinic Expansion
On June 26th, we cut the ribbon on our East End Clinic Expansion—a major milestone in our mission to improve access to healthcare for everyone! This update includes expanded vision and dental clinics, increased laboratory space, an expanded on-site pharmacy, improved behavioral health services, a new health education teaching kitchen, and additional offices for volunteer medical specialists and administrative staff. This $12 million project was made possible with your generous support!
Watch the Facebook livestream of the East End Expansion Grand Opening.
Chef Paul Prepped to Serve Program Launch
Things heated up and got cooking on October 7th, when we launched our Prepped to Serve Appalachia program in partnership with Chef Paul Smith! This one-of-a-kind food service certification program prepares 10 motivated West Virginians per quarter (40/year) for a career in front-of-house or kitchen work. We’re so proud to partner with Chef Paul, the first West Virginian to receive the honor of a James Beard Award, in offering this new opportunity. The second cohort will begin January 7th, and applications are open now!
Check out a few photos from our program launch here.
#WeCareWV Day
One of the biggest moments of our year was #WeCareWV Day on October 18th—a free, all-day pop-up clinic at our East End clinic! We came together with our remarkable staff and volunteers to serve over 500 patients with vision, dental, and medical care—totally free of charge. It was a huge success, and we couldn’t have done it without you!
Watch our CEO Angie Settle share more about the day and highlight our sponsors in the video here.
Inheriting the Legacy of Shape Shop
For over 40 years, Millie Snyder has been a pioneer in West Virginia’s health community, leading the way with fresh, nutritious, and accessible options at her Charleston-based Shape Shop Cafe. Known for “Smart Eats & Treats,” the Shape Shop Cafe has become a trusted spot for health-conscious locals, offering diabetes-friendly, freshly made meals that prioritize wellness. This fall, Millie took her dedication even further by donating the Shape Shop Cafe’s West Side space to WV Health Right. This generous gift will strengthen our ability to serve even more people on the West Side, continuing Millie’s legacy of care and support for healthier lives in our community. Thank you for your legacy and generosity, Millie!
Watch Millie’s interview with WV Health Right here.
Sizzling All Year Long on the West Side
One of the highlights of our year was seeing families come through the doors of our West Side Clinic and CommUNITY Wellness Center for our class offerings! Our Sizzle Sprouts cooking class for children ages 5 and over continued to be an awesome way for families to spend quality time learning about nutrition together. We also offered ballet and modern dance/hip hop dance classes to youth ages 3–10! We’re so grateful to the staff and volunteers at our West Side CommUNITY Wellness Center for their hard work and dedication.
Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Every year we come together to celebrate our community with our Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. On December 8th, we celebrated 42 years of West Virginia Health Right and honored our incredible volunteers, including Volunteer of the Year Dr. Steven Ghareeb. It was a heartwarming and inspiring evening, and we want to extend a special thank you to each of our sponsors for making it possible.
Last Chance for NIP Credits
Make your donation go further with Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP) credits! When you give to WV Health Right, you not only help provide critical healthcare to those in need, but for a limited time you can also receive a state tax credit in return. It’s a win-win! Call 304-414-5931 or email [email protected] and learn more about how you can claim your NIP credit!
Thanks to our grantors, sponsors, and volunteers!
Our thread of gratitude leads us to this moment, reflecting on each of you who make West Virginia Health Right the force for good that it is. We want to extend a hearty thank you to the grantors, sponsors, and volunteers who have given of their time, talent, and resources who make both our daily impact and our special events so possible. Here’s to 2025!
