MARTINSBURG, W.Va.—Catholic Charities West Virginia (CCWVa) Promise House Family Resource Center (CCWVa-PH) is collaborating with various community organizations to provide the Fit Kids Berkeley running/walking healthy lifestyles initiative in Martinsburg. The program will be launched this summer during an eight-week camp run by the Martinsburg Boys and Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle.
The program incorporates the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets® through the use of adult walking and running mentors for kids ages 5-18. Individuals from CCWVa Promise House, Martinsburg-Berkeley County Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle, The Wellness Center at Berkeley Medical Center, Berkeley County Schools, West Virginia University Extension Service Berkeley County, Change the Future WV, The Women’s Ministry of Destiny Baptist Church and West Virginia’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth have been collaborating and developing the program over the past two months. CCWVa received two full-time VISTA summer associates who will implement the program’s components and organize other activities.
Fit Kids Berkeley is recruiting active adults to serve as mentors to kids ages 5-18 who are participating in the Martinsburg Boys and Girls Club Summer Program. The mentors will be running or walking with the young people on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday mornings from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Each day the mentors will be given conversation starters based on the 40 Developmental Assets and use the time they are working out to talk to one or more kids about the Asset of the Day. Mentors may participate one day a week or every day if that is their preference.
CCWVa Promise House in Martinsburg provides access to programs and services for families through collaboration with community organizations, to help those families improve their circumstances. “Developing strong community partnerships is a key component of the CCWVa Promise House in order to address all the needs and reduce duplication of services,” CCWVa Eastern Director Trina Bartlett said.
Visit www.CCWVA.org for more information or follow Catholic Charities West Virginia on Facebook or @CCharitiesWVa on Twitter.
For more information, contact Kathie Campbell, CCWVa Promise House coordinator, at (304) 267-8837 or kcampbell@ccwva.org. To find out how to become a mentor, contact Robin Truax at (304) 263-3044.
