November 10, 2025 • 36 mins
Mon County Delegate David McCormick, R, District 82 announced a plan to distribute 100 turkeys through the Scott's Run Settlement House for those not receiving SNAP banafits or federal workers that are not being paid due to the government shutdown.
Assistant Dean of the Assistant Dean of Production, Presentation, Operations, and Cultural Engagement Jamie Whoolery on holiday programing at the Creative Arts Center.
Executive Director and Monongalia County commissioner Tom Bloom on local food distribution efforts.
Assistant Dean of the Assistant Dean of Production, Presentation, Operations, and Cultural Engagement Jamie Whoolery on holiday programing at the Creative Arts Center.
Executive Director and Monongalia County commissioner Tom Bloom on local food distribution efforts.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Kluksburg.
If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call the show
toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two fivey five. Now Here is your host for the
Talk of the Town, Mike Notlting.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good Monday morning.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
It is nine oh six clouds and thirty three degrees
snowsquall moved through the area just prior to going on
the air, and right now I seventy nine northbound remains
closed in the Star City area, and we do know
that that accident does contain a single fatality. Chaplin Hill
Road also a mess people getting off the interstate, So
(00:47):
Mecha nine one one Executive director Jim Smith is asking
folks to just flat out avoid.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
That area if you can.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Once again, I seventy nine closed in the Star City area.
That accident now contains a single fatality.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Well, welcome to Talk of the Town. Mike Nolting.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
You'll find me out on x as your news guy
producing the program. Today, we have Sophia Wasick. You'll be
able to get Sophia at eight hundred seven six five
eight two five five. And of course the text line
it's available for you three oh four Talk threeh four. Now,
the holiday Season's upon us is a full slate of
(01:27):
events over at the Creative Arts Center. We're going to
learn about those later on in the program, but right now,
we've got a pressing issue, and that pressing issue has
been food insecurity. It's overtaken the community in recent weeks.
And in studio, i've got mon County Delegate David McCormick
and David, Good morning, sir, how are you.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Good morning, Mike Kyle. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
It's a pleasure to have you in. David.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Now, let's see, I think you wanted to make an
announcement this morning.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Well, yeah, we you know, in live of what you
just said. With all the turmoil in our country right
now and the SNAP benefits being temporarily cut off and
government workers also not getting paid, we decided to go
(02:19):
out and buy one hundred turkeys to try to help
some folks through the holidays. This is especially tough time
of year, you know, with with with the holidays coming
up for this kind of the thing to happen. So
we've bought one hundred turkeys and we're gonna give them
away to SNAP recipients and and or government workers that
(02:43):
have not been paid.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Okay, we've got delicate David McCormick with us, and he's
just announced the donation of one hundred turkeys.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Now, David tell us, how will this donation work?
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Okay, So here's how this works.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
So at Scott's Run Settlement House at seven fifty fair
Chance Road, that's out eight fifty seven in the cheat
Lake area. It's a mile from the cheat Lake Animal Hospital.
It's it's in the old cheat Lake United Methodist Church.
Scott's Run Settlement House. You go there, you get a card.
(03:23):
You present your Snap card or government ID and they'll
give you a card which is a coupon. You take
that coupon card to Price Cutter at Glenmark right right down.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
The road, get a turkey.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
So you go to Scot's Run Settlement House, show your
Snap or Government ID, get a coupon. You take it
to the grocery store Price Cutter, go to the customer
service desk right inside the door. There they'll give you
a turkey. And between is today, tomorrow and Wednesday. From
(04:03):
nine to four is when you can pick the card up.
It's got your run.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
So today tomorrow and Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Okay, Uh, let's see, are you challenging any of your
fellow elected leaders?
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Hey, you know I kind of yah, you did, Yeah,
I did. We didn't get that in advance.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Uh so.
Speaker 5 (04:26):
Yes, I mean, you know, I'm not going to single
anybody out, but anybody that can help I would challenge
to do that. You know, there's uh hopefully an end
in sight with this stalemate in Washington, as we learned
late last night early this morning. But you know, this
is a when people can't uh aren't aren't able to
(04:49):
buy food.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
That's that's a pretty nonpartisan issue in my book.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
So uh, I would challenge anyone to to help or
donate uh to any of our food pantries, Mountain Food Banks,
Culture and Salmon House anywhere in mont County that gives
away food. So that's a blanket challenge to the community,
(05:15):
I suppose.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Okay, perfect Now, Back on Friday, David, we held a
Cans for the Community WVRC Media Cares event. We were
able to raise more than one thousand dollars from one
hundred and three donors. That's just about just about one
hundred bucks a person over seventy six hours, with thirty
one volunteers. We collected thirty four hundred items, roughly about
(05:41):
forty three hundred pounds of food. And I can tell
you I was there in the morning and the stream
was steady, and there are a lot of people with
big hearts out there at this time.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
There are and you know, that's the great thing about
our area in West Virginia in general. I think that,
you know, people in our state have always it's true,
in the military, you know, per capita, you know, more
West Virginia's have served in the military than any other state.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Uh. That's a fact. We've uh we've had our share of.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Natural disasters with floods and ice storms and ratios and whatnot.
And and it seems that you know, we've got a
pretty resilient uh population in our state, pretty tough people
and and and and and very generous people that can't
afford it, give what they can and help. And and
(06:40):
we've seen it with floods time after time, loading up
trucks and sending supplies.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
And it's not just here.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
When it happened in North Carolina, I know that there
was a lot of effort from our state, uh to
help the folks in North Carolina and and you know
it's it's just a human element to to to the
cuntre we live in, in the state we live in,
that this special. What's it's what makes America great and
what makes West Virginia great, and and uh, you know,
(07:09):
all politics aside, you know that, you know, it's just
it's just people helping people.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Got delicate David McCormick in studio And now David has
announced the donation of one hundred turkeys. However, there is
a process and it is time sensitive.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
If you could, David, yeah, one more time, let me
go through that.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
So first of all, you have to be a SNAP
recipient or a federal government employee that has you know,
not been paid. You take your ID in either one
of those instances to Scotch or Unsettlement House at seven
fifty Fair Chance Road. That's the old Cheat Lake United
Methodist Church. You go there and there's no sign it's
(07:53):
the old church.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
So just and it's one mile.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
From the Cheat Lake Animal House. Most people know where
this is that live in the Cheat Lake area. So
but this isn't just for Cheat Lake folks. This is
anybody in the area.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Take your ID.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
SNAP or government ID to scotch Roun Settlement House at
that address.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Present it. You'll get a card. You take that.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
Card to Price Cutter Grocery Store at Glenmark present that
they'll give you a turkey. And there's one hundred of them.
It's today, Tomorrow and Wednesday. You can go to scotch
Unsettlement House between nine and four. Somebody will be there
to give you your coupon for a.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Turkey and we'll continue to get the word out. David.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Thank you absolutely certainly appreciate your generosity and hope you
have a great Monday.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Appreciate it. Mike, thanks for having me on as always.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yes, sir, Clouds and thirty three degrees.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
When we come back, we have got the assistant the
assistant Dean of Production, Presentation, Operations, and Cultural and Engagement
at the Creative Arts Center.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Jamie Woolery.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
We're gonna be talking about their slate of upcoming events
over the holidays.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
That's next on Talk of the.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Town AM fourteen forty f M one oh four point
five w AJR.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
We are talking about your town. Now back to the
Talk of the Town.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Well, good Monday morning, Clouds and thirty three degrees in
the University City and welcome back to Talk of the Town.
On the phone, We've got the assistant dean over at
the Creative Art Center, Jamie Woolery.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Good morning, Jamie. How are you, sir?
Speaker 6 (09:45):
Good morning, doing well this morning.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Thanks for having me, absolutely, it's a pleasure to have you.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Let's see, we're going to be talking about some events
coming up at the Creative Arts Center over the holidays.
Maybe this is an opportunity for you to lay out
some plans for you and your family to enjoy some
of the programming that comes annually to the Creative Arts Center.
Before we cover those events, tell us a little bit
about the venue, please, sure.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
So, most of the events that I'm going to share
with you today are happening at the Kennedy Creative Art Center,
which is wu's performing arts center right in the middle
of the or at the edge of the Evansdale campus,
right across the street from the WU Coliseum. In this building,
we actually have five separate venues. Our largest is the
Clay Concert Theater and that holds about fourteen hundred and
(10:34):
then a lot of our student productions happen in the
spaces that are a little more appropriately sized for student performers.
The Davis Theater is also another space that we'll talk
about today.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Okay, good now, we just wanted to kind of, I guess,
lay out some differences. You brought up five different venues
inside of the Creative Arts Center. Maybe for example, this evening,
it looks like there will be a saxophone performance, and
that event I would assume would be held in one
(11:04):
of the smaller venues.
Speaker 6 (11:06):
It is that event, I believe is in Block Hall,
which is our recital hall that a lot of our
faculty and guest recitals, student recitals. It's perfect for that
kind of an unamplified sort of space works really well
for classical music in particular.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Okay, great, now, Okay, some events, Jamie. What do you
have planned for the holiday season?
Speaker 6 (11:32):
Well, for the holidays in particular, we've got four big
things going on. The first one of those is the
Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet. That's a Broadway level touring production.
They'll they'll hit one hundred cities over the course of
their season, and they'll be in Morgantown for one night only,
that's on December first, and then just a couple of
nights later. We've got the WU Choirs is presenting their
(11:54):
holiday special that'll have all the choirs the WVU offers
from community choir on up to the top auditioned choir
for the university. Lots of fun holiday tunes there. There's
even an opportunity for some singalongs as they shuffle choirs around.
And after that, we still have one more big holiday
(12:18):
thing that's part of the University Arts series. That's the
Champions of Magic Holiday Spectacular. That's on December twenty second,
So we're celebrating right up until Christmas.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Okay, go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 7 (12:30):
Go ahead.
Speaker 6 (12:31):
I just want to get one more out there. That
is a holiday show. We partner with West Virginia Public
Theater is a partner of the College of Creative Arts
in Media, and they'll be presenting It's a Wonderful Life,
which is also performing in the Sorry the Play Theater,
and that runs December thirteenth through nineteen.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Okay, now, what about getting tickets for these events?
Speaker 6 (12:53):
Jamie, sure, So you can always get tickets online. They're
available twenty four to seven main events page. To get
to that, you go to go dot WVU dot edu
slash CCAM dash Events now get you to all of
our offerings which you would also be able to see
(13:14):
things like the Saxophone show tonight. You'd be able to
see all of the events that require tickets. Everything is
right there on that page. You can also call the
box office. The number for that is three O four
two nine three show and that box office is open
for in person ticket purchasing Monday through Friday, ten am
to five pm.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
We've got Jamie Woolery with us from the Creative Art Center.
He is the assistant Dean of Production, Presentation, Operations, and
Cultural Engagement. Now, give us some details about the choirs
that will be performing.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Their students.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Are they music majors or they have they been recruited
to come to WVU to sing.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
The choir program over all offers something for everyone, So
the community choir those that is primarily a non student group,
so members of the Morgantown community come in and participate
in rehearsals weekly. They prepare works just like our students
who are here studying for it. It's just an activity
that they like to participate in, so we offer that
(14:20):
for them. They will be a part of this concert.
Mountaineer Singers is the top auditioned ensemble most of those students,
if not all, are music majors, so that would be
the top level singing ensemble. But then there are other
choirs that are not auditioned that any WBU student is
eligible to participate in. We have Mountaineer Chorus and Mountaineers. Sorry,
(14:43):
Chamber Singers is our top group. Mountaineer Singers and Mountaineer
Chorus are to non audition groups that are open to
all WVU students.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Okay, perfect, And one last time on the way out,
go through those four main events and give us those
dates again.
Speaker 6 (14:58):
Please absolutely so. Nutcracker the Magical Christmas Ballet is going
to be on December first. W Choirs will be performing
on December third. Champions of Magic Holiday Spectacular will be
on December twenty second. That's another Broadway quality touring event,
Big stage illusions with that one. And then West Virginia
(15:19):
Public Theater will present It's a Wonderful Life running December
thirteen through nineteen.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Okay, perfect, Jamie Woolery. He is the assistant dean of Production, Presentation, Operations,
and Cultural Engagement. Jamie real quick. There's a saxophone concert
this evening with Jeff Siegfried.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Tell us who that.
Speaker 6 (15:41):
Is Jeff is our saxophone professor, so his full time
gig is being here teaching our students everything he knows
about saxophone, helping them explore their artistry. In that tonight,
he's presenting his faculty recital, which is a part of
what the faculty is expected to do. They don't want
to just tell them in the classroom. He's actually going
(16:01):
to show them tonight how he would present a.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Public performance and that is open to the public.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
Absolutely, yep for that one. It is a free, non
ticketed event.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
It sounds awfully interesting, Jamie.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Well, absolutely, lots of stuff going on here. There's something
for everybody. We also feel that experiences are the best gift,
so now would be a great time to pick up
maybe an early Christmas gift for someone as well.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Okay, that's a great idea, Jamie. Really do appreciate your
time here today. Thank you very much.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Absolutely you take care of yourself, and once again, you
can take a look at everything Jamie and I talked
about online at Creative Artsanmedia dot WVU dot edu. That
will take you to the website where they've got the
list of events and for example, the saxophone recital this evening.
(16:59):
That is a free event. So there are several free
events that are mixed in with the paid events as well.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
And once again just.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
To let folks know, Delegate David McCormick has announced the
donation of one hundred turkeys. These turkeys will be exclusively
for SNAP recipients that have not received their benefits or
possibly government workers that have been affected by the government
shut down having a hard time putting food on the table.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Now, the way that this program.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Works, you go out to the Scott's Run Settlement House
and you present your documentation there and they will then
give you an.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Orange gift card.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I've seen a picture of the gift card, and you
take that gift guard over to the price Cutter at
the Glenmark Center just right down the road from the
Scott's Run Settlement House there on Fair Chance Road, and
they will then hook you up up with the turkey. Now,
not trying to put words into the mouths of the
(18:04):
people over there at Scott's Run, but it would seem
to me that that makes a lot of sense to
distribute those turkeys from a food distribution organization like that,
because likely maybe they might have a couple of trimmings
or maybe some sides to throw in there for those
families in need now coming up next. As we said
(18:27):
prior during our conversation with David McCormick, thanks to you
the listeners. On Friday, we collected about forty three hundred
pounds of food that was just that was more than
thirty four hundred items. We had thirty one volunteers that
helped us that put in a total of seventy six
(18:48):
hours and one hundred and three donors then contributed another
one fifty five dollars and that was the WVRC Media
Cares for Community cans for the community event that we
had at the University Town Center on Friday from six
am until six pm. Certainly do appreciate all the folks
(19:11):
that came out to drop things off. And you know,
there was one lady in particular, a Pennsylvania resident that
came through the drive through. She declined an opportunity to
enter the drawing for the one thousand dollars cash prize,
but insisted that she dropped off some Marie Calendar's soup
(19:33):
and she said that much much better than the more
recognizable competitor. I can't speak to that, but she took
the time to go out and buy something that she
enjoyed in order to pass that on to those less fortunate.
That's the point, and that's what's been happening all across
north central West Virginia during this government shutdown.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two fivey five. This is the talk of
the town.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Good Monday morning, clouds and thirty three degrees now, West Virginia.
Five one one is reporting a mess on I seventy
nine northbound in the Star City area. One fatality has
been confirmed by Mecca nine to one one.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
That crash reported just before seven a m. Today.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
We're working on getting some details and we'll pass those
along just as quickly as we can. On the phone,
we've got mont County Commissioner Tom Bloom. Tom, good morning.
Speaker 7 (20:45):
How are you, sir, Good Monday morning. How are you doing.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Yeah, I'm doing fine, Thank you very much. Now, let's see, Tom,
while we were busy collecting food on Friday, you were
busy handing it out.
Speaker 7 (20:59):
Yes. First of all, let me say it's so amazing
to live in Montenga County. The people, the community, the businesses,
the churches have been when there's a crisis and when
you ask for help, they've been great. And like as
you said, you collected forty three hundred pounds of food
(21:19):
while you're doing that. What we did was we took
the extra food that we had just picked up from
Sam's and Walmart went over to the first ward. Two
individuals set up an emergency distribution if you want to
just call it, with just that food. And then the
neighbors came out and Brooke and Greg, I have to say,
(21:42):
cooked over one hundred meals of spaghetti as the people
showed up. So that is what is going on. And
I can't say enough as the executive director of the pantry.
Plus more, what has happened is people have been reaching out.
Organizations like Garrick Electric, Chestnut Ridge Church, Mile In Park
(22:02):
gave us so much food, and individual families that are
sharing our posts to get money for food for our community.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
You know, Tom, you shared the spaghetti and meatball kind
of pop up dinner, and.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
I shared a story.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
I don't know if you heard it, but there was
a lady at the food drive on Friday that she
came through and she gave me a couple of cases
of soup, and she pointed out directly that you know,
this is Marie Calendar's, this is not the other kind,
and this is just a whole lot better. And I
think these people will enjoy this a lot more than
(22:39):
they would the other And you know, those are the
kinds of little things that we're seeing.
Speaker 7 (22:45):
Well exactly. I mean, I think what we have done
and seen is like a community. Like a family came
and they picked up their children, wanted to drop off
the food to the Parentsry of us bore, but to
have their kids be a part of something special. I
want to give a perfect example. While we were there,
a young lady was picking up food with her one
year old. The boy grabbed his stuff down what they
(23:09):
had in the back, gave it to that family. And
as I looked at the family giving, they were so
proud to be a part of something that was helping
other people. And I know there's a lot of talk
going on right now, supposedly, you know, the federal government
will be going back to work, but I need to
(23:30):
explain something very carefully. As an executive director of Pantry
plus More, there is still a food shortage, and there
still is a food crisis because what people do not
understand is just because it's over, the workers have to
go back to the warehouse. The pantries have to order
(23:50):
the food from the Mountaineer Food Bank. That I want
you to know right now. For the last week, the
only food item they had at the food pantry the
Mountaineer Food Bank is stewed tomatoes because there is no food.
So this is going to take some time to come back.
And I do want to announce so your listeners, No,
on Saturday, there is a Mountaineer Food Bank distribution. This
(24:14):
is not a PPM, but a Mountaineer Food Bank distribution
at the Westover Mall where I call it the New Mall,
and then on December thirteenth at the Mountaineer Mall. So
I do want to get those out so people know,
and that is open to anyone and to give you
an idea, Daniel Brewster and all his w medical and
(24:36):
Dental Brigade students will be overseeing it. So that's everybody
working together. If I can add though, I want to
explain something too. There's been a lot of information in
what we have done because we've had such great donations
that the pantry plus more is planning to have four
(24:57):
more distributions for our students and clients. And there's over
twenty five hundred children just living in poverty in Managea County.
But to give you an idea for five hundred people
to get the hams, chickens, the produce and meet we
started this. Now it's going to cost for our program
(25:20):
forty two thousand, five hundred dollars to feed five hundred
people for four days of meals. Then we're planning another
baking sugar and baking you know, bags for the people.
So it cost a lot of money. And the hardest
part is finding the food. Right now, the food isn't
(25:41):
available for five hundred people.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
You know what, Tom, I'm glad you brought that up,
because since the beginning of this crisis, I believe the
governor has authorized about fourteen point one million dollars into.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
The food bank system.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
He's also even said he's opened calling a special session
to even push that dollar figure even higher. But what
kind of complications does it create when you drop fourteen
million dollars into a system like a food bank system.
Speaker 7 (26:14):
Well, let me explain what it is is. Okay, let's
let's explain how it works. He gave let's say a
million dollars immediately to the Mountaineer Food Bank. The Mountaineer
Foodbank generously gave to pantryplus more fifty five hundred dollars. Now,
the problem is what do we buy them? Where do
we go get the food? If there's no food at
(26:34):
the Mountaineer Food Bank, you have to go. And our
board members are all volunteer, are amazing. They've gone from
down the Clarksburg up the Washington, PA to find just
three hundred items of one specific thing. The problem is
we cannot find meat ham chicken, so we're trying to
(26:56):
use cam meter canned chicken. But it takes seven to
fourteen days for the time the governor gave the money
to us. Now, imagine all these other pantries that are
run by a lot of great people, but they can't
go out. You know, many you're senior citizens running through pantries.
(27:17):
They are unable to go out and get the food
and so on, so they rely on some of the
nonprofits to help them get that food. It is a
process that will probably not get resolved until after the
new year. So we have about what six seven weeks
of real crisis to make sure that the kids and
(27:37):
the families get the food and the nourishment. And again
we do a different program than Mountaineer Food Bank. That's
why we make sure we have enough food. And what
we're planning to do is have, as I said, for
more programs. But what happens is we will send texts
to our student and families. They will know where it
(28:00):
is when it is. We have not made the dates yet,
so I want everyone to know we haven't decided because
we're trying to get the food now.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Tom Bloom is with this executive director of pantry plus
more also a Mond County commissioner. It sounds then maybe
the best way for people to support you would be financially.
Speaker 7 (28:24):
Yes, I mean, and here's the reason why. What has
happened is when Mountain their food bank and we talk
with them, they're going to find enough food for the
distribution this Saturday. We can buy things at a lot
cheaper price. You know, the dollar goes more. Also, I
want to say, for example, we went up to I
think it was Union Town that got some food that
(28:46):
the managers of what are you doing? And then they
donated the store, say another five hundred dollars worth of food.
So this is what is going on. Yeah, monetarily helps
us and we will go out and get the food.
And again the other thing I strongly ask for people
get the entire family involved. I see there are middle
(29:07):
schools having fund raisers, though, views having fund raisers. I
know Zach mort with the churches having fund raisers. But
be a part of the solution. And that is what
my recommendation is. Anybody can blame someone and be the villain,
but now it's time to all work together and get
things done. And action speaks louder than.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
The words pantry plus more.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
Executive Director Tom Bloom is with us and now Tom
Delegate David McCormick came to the program just about thirty
minutes ago and announced a donation of one hundred turkeys.
Now that distribution will be done through Scott's Run Settlement House,
and it is for those people the on snap benefits
(29:51):
that have not received their November benefits or for government
workers who have not been paid through this shutdown.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
I guess how many turkeys are you going to add?
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Tom?
Speaker 7 (30:04):
Honestly I don't know, but if we're looking at five hundred,
we need five hundred hands, five hundred turkeys, and you know,
we're calling the distribution sites. And I want to give
you know, W. McCormick fantastic you know, kudos for helping out.
And I think just to think how much the nonprofits,
pantries and everyone in churches are all working together to
(30:27):
do this and that is the only way to resolve
this issue is to be a part of the solution.
And again I can't thank him enough. We will work
with Scottsum, We'll work with you Nighted, We'll work with
anyone to make sure that we can have food distributions.
And I'm hoping to talk to Brook and Greg. Those
were the two individuals that put it in first ward
(30:48):
and if we get some extra food, I'm hoping to
have another emergency food distribution in that area.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
You know what, Tom real quick and I've talked to
some people Friday about this, but you know, this federal
government shutdown and the control that lawmakers have over the
lives of some you know, it would lead me to
urge those people to become a little bit more civically
educated and to exercise their right to vote.
Speaker 7 (31:19):
Well, there's two things I also would like to recommend
and I throw this out. I know. Delegate McCormick said
he would like people to match monetarily. I've got to
make it this way. I'd rather the delegates and senators
go to the local pantries and volunteer the time for
five or ten hours. It makes a bigger difference so
(31:39):
they understand what people are going through in West Virginia.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Definitely, Executive Director Pantry plus More, Tom Bloom, Tom, thank
you very much for your time and thanks a lot
for your work through this, and keep me posted if
there's anything else that we can do from our.
Speaker 7 (31:57):
End here, I will and thank you for the radio
stay for getting this out and hopefully we'll all pull
through this together.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
Absolutely, you take care of yourself. Tom Bloom, Executive director
of Pantry plus More, certainly appreciate his time today now.
Earlier today in the program, Montaguelia County Delegate David McCormick
came to the program and made a commitment that he
is donating one hundred turkeys and that distribution will be
(32:24):
done through the Scott's Run Settlement House on fair Chance
Road in the Cheat Lake area.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
It's open to all county residents.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Anyone who has been affected by the government shutdown. Maybe
you haven't received a paycheck, or maybe you're a SNAP
recipient and you have not received your SNAP benefits this month.
There are one hundred turkeys available for those people through
the Scott's Run Settlement House, and I'll provide those details
and the time window coming up next on Top of
(32:55):
the Town AM fourteen forty FM one four point five
W EIGHTR.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Good Monday morning.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
It is nine fifty one clouds and thirty three degrees
in the University City. Mont County Delegate David McCormick has
announced the donation of one hundred turkeys in the community.
Now here's how that will work. These turkeys are set
aside for people who are SNAP recipients who have not
(33:36):
received their benefits or possibly employed by the federal government
affected by the longest shutdown in US history, haven't received
a paycheck, having a hard time putting food on the table.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Here's what you need to do.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Go to the Scots Run Settlement House and Fair Chance
Road in the Cheat Lake area and they will you'll
give them your documentation, show to them what's happened, your
SNAP card, your federal government id whatever that might be,
and then they'll give you a certificate a card good
(34:12):
for a turkey. You'll then take that over to the
price cutter and get your turkey that is exclusively.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
Through the Scott's Run Settlement House.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
And if this does apply to you, there is a
time window and you need to act now because this
giveaway is good Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
So time is of the essence.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
You really need to act if this does apply to you.
And special thanks to Delegate David McCormick for making that
donation of one hundred turkeys at such a critical time.
Switching over to West Virginia five to one one, that
accident northbound I seventy nine has now been confirmed to
(34:58):
be a fatal accident was reported. It looks like between
six thirty and seven o'clock and Mecha nine one to one.
Executive director Jim Smith says, if you can avoid the area,
that would be the best thing. I think that nineteen
Chaplin Hill. There are some areas in there that are
suffering from the spillover of traffic from people trying to
(35:22):
escape the big jam up on the interstate. So if
you can avoid that area, do so if you can
maybe hold a trip off for a few minutes, you
might want to consider doing that as well. It's gonna
get cold, maybe some snow showers later. Right now, clouds
thirty three degrees right now, and Matt tro Newsaki Weather
(35:44):
says sixty percent chance of snow showers throughout the day
and a high temperature of thirty eight degrees. And tonight
I'm gonna see the lowest temperature so far this year.
The forecast low just about twenty two degrees. We'll be
back to app things up coming up on top of
the town A M fourteen forty f M one oh
(36:04):
four point five W A j R.
This is the Talk of the Town from Morgantown to Kluksburg.
If it's happening, we're talking about it. Call the show
toll free at one eight hundred seven sixty five eight
two fivey five. Now Here is your host for the
Talk of the Town, Mike Notlting.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Good Monday morning.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
It is nine oh six clouds and thirty three degrees
snowsquall moved through the area just prior to going on
the air, and right now I seventy nine northbound remains
closed in the Star City area, and we do know
that that accident does contain a single fatality. Chaplin Hill
Road also a mess people getting off the interstate, So
(00:47):
Mecha nine one one Executive director Jim Smith is asking
folks to just flat out avoid.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
That area if you can.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Once again, I seventy nine closed in the Star City area.
That accident now contains a single fatality.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Well, welcome to Talk of the Town. Mike Nolting.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
You'll find me out on x as your news guy
producing the program. Today, we have Sophia Wasick. You'll be
able to get Sophia at eight hundred seven six five
eight two five five. And of course the text line
it's available for you three oh four Talk threeh four. Now,
the holiday Season's upon us is a full slate of
(01:27):
events over at the Creative Arts Center. We're going to
learn about those later on in the program, but right now,
we've got a pressing issue, and that pressing issue has
been food insecurity. It's overtaken the community in recent weeks.
And in studio, i've got mon County Delegate David McCormick
and David, Good morning, sir, how are you.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Good morning, Mike Kyle. Thanks for having me.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
It's a pleasure to have you in. David.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Now, let's see, I think you wanted to make an
announcement this morning.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Well, yeah, we you know, in live of what you
just said. With all the turmoil in our country right
now and the SNAP benefits being temporarily cut off and
government workers also not getting paid, we decided to go
(02:19):
out and buy one hundred turkeys to try to help
some folks through the holidays. This is especially tough time
of year, you know, with with with the holidays coming
up for this kind of the thing to happen. So
we've bought one hundred turkeys and we're gonna give them
away to SNAP recipients and and or government workers that
(02:43):
have not been paid.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Okay, we've got delicate David McCormick with us, and he's
just announced the donation of one hundred turkeys.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Now, David tell us, how will this donation work?
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Okay, So here's how this works.
Speaker 5 (02:58):
So at Scott's Run Settlement House at seven fifty fair
Chance Road, that's out eight fifty seven in the cheat
Lake area. It's a mile from the cheat Lake Animal Hospital.
It's it's in the old cheat Lake United Methodist Church.
Scott's Run Settlement House. You go there, you get a card.
(03:23):
You present your Snap card or government ID and they'll
give you a card which is a coupon. You take
that coupon card to Price Cutter at Glenmark right right down.
Speaker 4 (03:38):
The road, get a turkey.
Speaker 5 (03:40):
So you go to Scot's Run Settlement House, show your
Snap or Government ID, get a coupon. You take it
to the grocery store Price Cutter, go to the customer
service desk right inside the door. There they'll give you
a turkey. And between is today, tomorrow and Wednesday. From
(04:03):
nine to four is when you can pick the card up.
It's got your run.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
So today tomorrow and Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Okay, Uh, let's see, are you challenging any of your
fellow elected leaders?
Speaker 4 (04:17):
Hey, you know I kind of yah, you did, Yeah,
I did. We didn't get that in advance.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
Uh so.
Speaker 5 (04:26):
Yes, I mean, you know, I'm not going to single
anybody out, but anybody that can help I would challenge
to do that. You know, there's uh hopefully an end
in sight with this stalemate in Washington, as we learned
late last night early this morning. But you know, this
is a when people can't uh aren't aren't able to
(04:49):
buy food.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
That's that's a pretty nonpartisan issue in my book.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
So uh, I would challenge anyone to to help or
donate uh to any of our food pantries, Mountain Food Banks,
Culture and Salmon House anywhere in mont County that gives
away food. So that's a blanket challenge to the community,
(05:15):
I suppose.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Okay, perfect Now, Back on Friday, David, we held a
Cans for the Community WVRC Media Cares event. We were
able to raise more than one thousand dollars from one
hundred and three donors. That's just about just about one
hundred bucks a person over seventy six hours, with thirty
one volunteers. We collected thirty four hundred items, roughly about
(05:41):
forty three hundred pounds of food. And I can tell
you I was there in the morning and the stream
was steady, and there are a lot of people with
big hearts out there at this time.
Speaker 5 (05:51):
There are and you know, that's the great thing about
our area in West Virginia in general. I think that,
you know, people in our state have always it's true,
in the military, you know, per capita, you know, more
West Virginia's have served in the military than any other state.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
Uh. That's a fact. We've uh we've had our share of.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Natural disasters with floods and ice storms and ratios and whatnot.
And and it seems that you know, we've got a
pretty resilient uh population in our state, pretty tough people
and and and and and very generous people that can't
afford it, give what they can and help. And and
(06:40):
we've seen it with floods time after time, loading up
trucks and sending supplies.
Speaker 4 (06:45):
And it's not just here.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
When it happened in North Carolina, I know that there
was a lot of effort from our state, uh to
help the folks in North Carolina and and you know
it's it's just a human element to to to the
cuntre we live in, in the state we live in,
that this special. What's it's what makes America great and
what makes West Virginia great, and and uh, you know,
(07:09):
all politics aside, you know that, you know, it's just
it's just people helping people.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Got delicate David McCormick in studio And now David has
announced the donation of one hundred turkeys. However, there is
a process and it is time sensitive.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
If you could, David, yeah, one more time, let me
go through that.
Speaker 5 (07:28):
So first of all, you have to be a SNAP
recipient or a federal government employee that has you know,
not been paid. You take your ID in either one
of those instances to Scotch or Unsettlement House at seven
fifty Fair Chance Road. That's the old Cheat Lake United
Methodist Church. You go there and there's no sign it's
(07:53):
the old church.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
So just and it's one mile.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
From the Cheat Lake Animal House. Most people know where
this is that live in the Cheat Lake area. So
but this isn't just for Cheat Lake folks. This is
anybody in the area.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
Take your ID.
Speaker 5 (08:10):
SNAP or government ID to scotch Roun Settlement House at
that address.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
Present it. You'll get a card. You take that.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
Card to Price Cutter Grocery Store at Glenmark present that
they'll give you a turkey. And there's one hundred of them.
It's today, Tomorrow and Wednesday. You can go to scotch
Unsettlement House between nine and four. Somebody will be there
to give you your coupon for a.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Turkey and we'll continue to get the word out. David.
Speaker 3 (08:40):
Thank you absolutely certainly appreciate your generosity and hope you
have a great Monday.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Appreciate it. Mike, thanks for having me on as always.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yes, sir, Clouds and thirty three degrees.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
When we come back, we have got the assistant the
assistant Dean of Production, Presentation, Operations, and Cultural and Engagement
at the Creative Arts Center.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Jamie Woolery.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
We're gonna be talking about their slate of upcoming events
over the holidays.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
That's next on Talk of the.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Town AM fourteen forty f M one oh four point
five w AJR.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
We are talking about your town. Now back to the
Talk of the Town.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Well, good Monday morning, Clouds and thirty three degrees in
the University City and welcome back to Talk of the Town.
On the phone, We've got the assistant dean over at
the Creative Art Center, Jamie Woolery.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Good morning, Jamie. How are you, sir?
Speaker 6 (09:45):
Good morning, doing well this morning.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Thanks for having me, absolutely, it's a pleasure to have you.
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Let's see, we're going to be talking about some events
coming up at the Creative Arts Center over the holidays.
Maybe this is an opportunity for you to lay out
some plans for you and your family to enjoy some
of the programming that comes annually to the Creative Arts Center.
Before we cover those events, tell us a little bit
about the venue, please, sure.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
So, most of the events that I'm going to share
with you today are happening at the Kennedy Creative Art Center,
which is wu's performing arts center right in the middle
of the or at the edge of the Evansdale campus,
right across the street from the WU Coliseum. In this building,
we actually have five separate venues. Our largest is the
Clay Concert Theater and that holds about fourteen hundred and
(10:34):
then a lot of our student productions happen in the
spaces that are a little more appropriately sized for student performers.
The Davis Theater is also another space that we'll talk
about today.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Okay, good now, we just wanted to kind of, I guess,
lay out some differences. You brought up five different venues
inside of the Creative Arts Center. Maybe for example, this evening,
it looks like there will be a saxophone performance, and
that event I would assume would be held in one
(11:04):
of the smaller venues.
Speaker 6 (11:06):
It is that event, I believe is in Block Hall,
which is our recital hall that a lot of our
faculty and guest recitals, student recitals. It's perfect for that
kind of an unamplified sort of space works really well
for classical music in particular.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Okay, great, now, Okay, some events, Jamie. What do you
have planned for the holiday season?
Speaker 6 (11:32):
Well, for the holidays in particular, we've got four big
things going on. The first one of those is the
Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet. That's a Broadway level touring production.
They'll they'll hit one hundred cities over the course of
their season, and they'll be in Morgantown for one night only,
that's on December first, and then just a couple of
nights later. We've got the WU Choirs is presenting their
(11:54):
holiday special that'll have all the choirs the WVU offers
from community choir on up to the top auditioned choir
for the university. Lots of fun holiday tunes there. There's
even an opportunity for some singalongs as they shuffle choirs around.
And after that, we still have one more big holiday
(12:18):
thing that's part of the University Arts series. That's the
Champions of Magic Holiday Spectacular. That's on December twenty second,
So we're celebrating right up until Christmas.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
Okay, go ahead, go ahead.
Speaker 7 (12:30):
Go ahead.
Speaker 6 (12:31):
I just want to get one more out there. That
is a holiday show. We partner with West Virginia Public
Theater is a partner of the College of Creative Arts
in Media, and they'll be presenting It's a Wonderful Life,
which is also performing in the Sorry the Play Theater,
and that runs December thirteenth through nineteen.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Okay, now, what about getting tickets for these events?
Speaker 6 (12:53):
Jamie, sure, So you can always get tickets online. They're
available twenty four to seven main events page. To get
to that, you go to go dot WVU dot edu
slash CCAM dash Events now get you to all of
our offerings which you would also be able to see
(13:14):
things like the Saxophone show tonight. You'd be able to
see all of the events that require tickets. Everything is
right there on that page. You can also call the
box office. The number for that is three O four
two nine three show and that box office is open
for in person ticket purchasing Monday through Friday, ten am
to five pm.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
We've got Jamie Woolery with us from the Creative Art Center.
He is the assistant Dean of Production, Presentation, Operations, and
Cultural Engagement. Now, give us some details about the choirs
that will be performing.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Their students.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
Are they music majors or they have they been recruited
to come to WVU to sing.
Speaker 6 (13:58):
The choir program over all offers something for everyone, So
the community choir those that is primarily a non student group,
so members of the Morgantown community come in and participate
in rehearsals weekly. They prepare works just like our students
who are here studying for it. It's just an activity
that they like to participate in, so we offer that
(14:20):
for them. They will be a part of this concert.
Mountaineer Singers is the top auditioned ensemble most of those students,
if not all, are music majors, so that would be
the top level singing ensemble. But then there are other
choirs that are not auditioned that any WBU student is
eligible to participate in. We have Mountaineer Chorus and Mountaineers. Sorry,
(14:43):
Chamber Singers is our top group. Mountaineer Singers and Mountaineer
Chorus are to non audition groups that are open to
all WVU students.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
Okay, perfect, And one last time on the way out,
go through those four main events and give us those
dates again.
Speaker 6 (14:58):
Please absolutely so. Nutcracker the Magical Christmas Ballet is going
to be on December first. W Choirs will be performing
on December third. Champions of Magic Holiday Spectacular will be
on December twenty second. That's another Broadway quality touring event,
Big stage illusions with that one. And then West Virginia
(15:19):
Public Theater will present It's a Wonderful Life running December
thirteen through nineteen.
Speaker 3 (15:23):
Okay, perfect, Jamie Woolery. He is the assistant dean of Production, Presentation, Operations,
and Cultural Engagement. Jamie real quick. There's a saxophone concert
this evening with Jeff Siegfried.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
Tell us who that.
Speaker 6 (15:41):
Is Jeff is our saxophone professor, so his full time
gig is being here teaching our students everything he knows
about saxophone, helping them explore their artistry. In that tonight,
he's presenting his faculty recital, which is a part of
what the faculty is expected to do. They don't want
to just tell them in the classroom. He's actually going
(16:01):
to show them tonight how he would present a.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
Public performance and that is open to the public.
Speaker 6 (16:08):
Absolutely, yep for that one. It is a free, non
ticketed event.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
It sounds awfully interesting, Jamie.
Speaker 6 (16:16):
Well, absolutely, lots of stuff going on here. There's something
for everybody. We also feel that experiences are the best gift,
so now would be a great time to pick up
maybe an early Christmas gift for someone as well.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
Okay, that's a great idea, Jamie. Really do appreciate your
time here today. Thank you very much.
Speaker 6 (16:35):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Absolutely you take care of yourself, and once again, you
can take a look at everything Jamie and I talked
about online at Creative Artsanmedia dot WVU dot edu. That
will take you to the website where they've got the
list of events and for example, the saxophone recital this evening.
(16:59):
That is a free event. So there are several free
events that are mixed in with the paid events as well.
Speaker 2 (17:05):
And once again just.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
To let folks know, Delegate David McCormick has announced the
donation of one hundred turkeys. These turkeys will be exclusively
for SNAP recipients that have not received their benefits or
possibly government workers that have been affected by the government
shut down having a hard time putting food on the table.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Now, the way that this program.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Works, you go out to the Scott's Run Settlement House
and you present your documentation there and they will then
give you an.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Orange gift card.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I've seen a picture of the gift card, and you
take that gift guard over to the price Cutter at
the Glenmark Center just right down the road from the
Scott's Run Settlement House there on Fair Chance Road, and
they will then hook you up up with the turkey. Now,
not trying to put words into the mouths of the
(18:04):
people over there at Scott's Run, but it would seem
to me that that makes a lot of sense to
distribute those turkeys from a food distribution organization like that,
because likely maybe they might have a couple of trimmings
or maybe some sides to throw in there for those
families in need now coming up next. As we said
(18:27):
prior during our conversation with David McCormick, thanks to you
the listeners. On Friday, we collected about forty three hundred
pounds of food that was just that was more than
thirty four hundred items. We had thirty one volunteers that
helped us that put in a total of seventy six
(18:48):
hours and one hundred and three donors then contributed another
one fifty five dollars and that was the WVRC Media
Cares for Community cans for the community event that we
had at the University Town Center on Friday from six
am until six pm. Certainly do appreciate all the folks
(19:11):
that came out to drop things off. And you know,
there was one lady in particular, a Pennsylvania resident that
came through the drive through. She declined an opportunity to
enter the drawing for the one thousand dollars cash prize,
but insisted that she dropped off some Marie Calendar's soup
(19:33):
and she said that much much better than the more
recognizable competitor. I can't speak to that, but she took
the time to go out and buy something that she
enjoyed in order to pass that on to those less fortunate.
That's the point, and that's what's been happening all across
north central West Virginia during this government shutdown.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Join the conversation at one eight hundred and seven sixty
five eight two fivey five. This is the talk of
the town.
Speaker 3 (20:16):
Good Monday morning, clouds and thirty three degrees now, West Virginia.
Five one one is reporting a mess on I seventy
nine northbound in the Star City area. One fatality has
been confirmed by Mecca nine to one one.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
That crash reported just before seven a m. Today.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
We're working on getting some details and we'll pass those
along just as quickly as we can. On the phone,
we've got mont County Commissioner Tom Bloom. Tom, good morning.
Speaker 7 (20:45):
How are you, sir, Good Monday morning. How are you doing.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Yeah, I'm doing fine, Thank you very much. Now, let's see, Tom,
while we were busy collecting food on Friday, you were
busy handing it out.
Speaker 7 (20:59):
Yes. First of all, let me say it's so amazing
to live in Montenga County. The people, the community, the businesses,
the churches have been when there's a crisis and when
you ask for help, they've been great. And like as
you said, you collected forty three hundred pounds of food
(21:19):
while you're doing that. What we did was we took
the extra food that we had just picked up from
Sam's and Walmart went over to the first ward. Two
individuals set up an emergency distribution if you want to
just call it, with just that food. And then the
neighbors came out and Brooke and Greg, I have to say,
(21:42):
cooked over one hundred meals of spaghetti as the people
showed up. So that is what is going on. And
I can't say enough as the executive director of the pantry.
Plus more, what has happened is people have been reaching out.
Organizations like Garrick Electric, Chestnut Ridge Church, Mile In Park
(22:02):
gave us so much food, and individual families that are
sharing our posts to get money for food for our community.
Speaker 3 (22:11):
You know, Tom, you shared the spaghetti and meatball kind
of pop up dinner, and.
Speaker 2 (22:17):
I shared a story.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
I don't know if you heard it, but there was
a lady at the food drive on Friday that she
came through and she gave me a couple of cases
of soup, and she pointed out directly that you know,
this is Marie Calendar's, this is not the other kind,
and this is just a whole lot better. And I
think these people will enjoy this a lot more than
(22:39):
they would the other And you know, those are the
kinds of little things that we're seeing.
Speaker 7 (22:45):
Well exactly. I mean, I think what we have done
and seen is like a community. Like a family came
and they picked up their children, wanted to drop off
the food to the Parentsry of us bore, but to
have their kids be a part of something special. I
want to give a perfect example. While we were there,
a young lady was picking up food with her one
year old. The boy grabbed his stuff down what they
(23:09):
had in the back, gave it to that family. And
as I looked at the family giving, they were so
proud to be a part of something that was helping
other people. And I know there's a lot of talk
going on right now, supposedly, you know, the federal government
will be going back to work, but I need to
(23:30):
explain something very carefully. As an executive director of Pantry
plus More, there is still a food shortage, and there
still is a food crisis because what people do not
understand is just because it's over, the workers have to
go back to the warehouse. The pantries have to order
(23:50):
the food from the Mountaineer Food Bank. That I want
you to know right now. For the last week, the
only food item they had at the food pantry the
Mountaineer Food Bank is stewed tomatoes because there is no food.
So this is going to take some time to come back.
And I do want to announce so your listeners, No,
on Saturday, there is a Mountaineer Food Bank distribution. This
(24:14):
is not a PPM, but a Mountaineer Food Bank distribution
at the Westover Mall where I call it the New Mall,
and then on December thirteenth at the Mountaineer Mall. So
I do want to get those out so people know,
and that is open to anyone and to give you
an idea, Daniel Brewster and all his w medical and
(24:36):
Dental Brigade students will be overseeing it. So that's everybody
working together. If I can add though, I want to
explain something too. There's been a lot of information in
what we have done because we've had such great donations
that the pantry plus more is planning to have four
(24:57):
more distributions for our students and clients. And there's over
twenty five hundred children just living in poverty in Managea County.
But to give you an idea for five hundred people
to get the hams, chickens, the produce and meet we
started this. Now it's going to cost for our program
(25:20):
forty two thousand, five hundred dollars to feed five hundred
people for four days of meals. Then we're planning another
baking sugar and baking you know, bags for the people.
So it cost a lot of money. And the hardest
part is finding the food. Right now, the food isn't
(25:41):
available for five hundred people.
Speaker 3 (25:44):
You know what, Tom, I'm glad you brought that up,
because since the beginning of this crisis, I believe the
governor has authorized about fourteen point one million dollars into.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
The food bank system.
Speaker 3 (25:57):
He's also even said he's opened calling a special session
to even push that dollar figure even higher. But what
kind of complications does it create when you drop fourteen
million dollars into a system like a food bank system.
Speaker 7 (26:14):
Well, let me explain what it is is. Okay, let's
let's explain how it works. He gave let's say a
million dollars immediately to the Mountaineer Food Bank. The Mountaineer
Foodbank generously gave to pantryplus more fifty five hundred dollars. Now,
the problem is what do we buy them? Where do
we go get the food? If there's no food at
(26:34):
the Mountaineer Food Bank, you have to go. And our
board members are all volunteer, are amazing. They've gone from
down the Clarksburg up the Washington, PA to find just
three hundred items of one specific thing. The problem is
we cannot find meat ham chicken, so we're trying to
(26:56):
use cam meter canned chicken. But it takes seven to
fourteen days for the time the governor gave the money
to us. Now, imagine all these other pantries that are
run by a lot of great people, but they can't
go out. You know, many you're senior citizens running through pantries.
(27:17):
They are unable to go out and get the food
and so on, so they rely on some of the
nonprofits to help them get that food. It is a
process that will probably not get resolved until after the
new year. So we have about what six seven weeks
of real crisis to make sure that the kids and
(27:37):
the families get the food and the nourishment. And again
we do a different program than Mountaineer Food Bank. That's
why we make sure we have enough food. And what
we're planning to do is have, as I said, for
more programs. But what happens is we will send texts
to our student and families. They will know where it
(28:00):
is when it is. We have not made the dates yet,
so I want everyone to know we haven't decided because
we're trying to get the food now.
Speaker 3 (28:09):
Tom Bloom is with this executive director of pantry plus
more also a Mond County commissioner. It sounds then maybe
the best way for people to support you would be financially.
Speaker 7 (28:24):
Yes, I mean, and here's the reason why. What has
happened is when Mountain their food bank and we talk
with them, they're going to find enough food for the
distribution this Saturday. We can buy things at a lot
cheaper price. You know, the dollar goes more. Also, I
want to say, for example, we went up to I
think it was Union Town that got some food that
(28:46):
the managers of what are you doing? And then they
donated the store, say another five hundred dollars worth of food.
So this is what is going on. Yeah, monetarily helps
us and we will go out and get the food.
And again the other thing I strongly ask for people
get the entire family involved. I see there are middle
(29:07):
schools having fund raisers, though, views having fund raisers. I
know Zach mort with the churches having fund raisers. But
be a part of the solution. And that is what
my recommendation is. Anybody can blame someone and be the villain,
but now it's time to all work together and get
things done. And action speaks louder than.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
The words pantry plus more.
Speaker 3 (29:30):
Executive Director Tom Bloom is with us and now Tom
Delegate David McCormick came to the program just about thirty
minutes ago and announced a donation of one hundred turkeys.
Now that distribution will be done through Scott's Run Settlement House,
and it is for those people the on snap benefits
(29:51):
that have not received their November benefits or for government
workers who have not been paid through this shutdown.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
I guess how many turkeys are you going to add?
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Tom?
Speaker 7 (30:04):
Honestly I don't know, but if we're looking at five hundred,
we need five hundred hands, five hundred turkeys, and you know,
we're calling the distribution sites. And I want to give
you know, W. McCormick fantastic you know, kudos for helping out.
And I think just to think how much the nonprofits,
pantries and everyone in churches are all working together to
(30:27):
do this and that is the only way to resolve
this issue is to be a part of the solution.
And again I can't thank him enough. We will work
with Scottsum, We'll work with you Nighted, We'll work with
anyone to make sure that we can have food distributions.
And I'm hoping to talk to Brook and Greg. Those
were the two individuals that put it in first ward
(30:48):
and if we get some extra food, I'm hoping to
have another emergency food distribution in that area.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
You know what, Tom real quick and I've talked to
some people Friday about this, but you know, this federal
government shutdown and the control that lawmakers have over the
lives of some you know, it would lead me to
urge those people to become a little bit more civically
educated and to exercise their right to vote.
Speaker 7 (31:19):
Well, there's two things I also would like to recommend
and I throw this out. I know. Delegate McCormick said
he would like people to match monetarily. I've got to
make it this way. I'd rather the delegates and senators
go to the local pantries and volunteer the time for
five or ten hours. It makes a bigger difference so
(31:39):
they understand what people are going through in West Virginia.
Speaker 3 (31:43):
Definitely, Executive Director Pantry plus More, Tom Bloom, Tom, thank
you very much for your time and thanks a lot
for your work through this, and keep me posted if
there's anything else that we can do from our.
Speaker 7 (31:57):
End here, I will and thank you for the radio
stay for getting this out and hopefully we'll all pull
through this together.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
Absolutely, you take care of yourself. Tom Bloom, Executive director
of Pantry plus More, certainly appreciate his time today now.
Earlier today in the program, Montaguelia County Delegate David McCormick
came to the program and made a commitment that he
is donating one hundred turkeys and that distribution will be
(32:24):
done through the Scott's Run Settlement House on fair Chance
Road in the Cheat Lake area.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
It's open to all county residents.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
Anyone who has been affected by the government shutdown. Maybe
you haven't received a paycheck, or maybe you're a SNAP
recipient and you have not received your SNAP benefits this month.
There are one hundred turkeys available for those people through
the Scott's Run Settlement House, and I'll provide those details
and the time window coming up next on Top of
(32:55):
the Town AM fourteen forty FM one four point five
W EIGHTR.
Speaker 1 (33:11):
Now back to the Talk of the Town.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Good Monday morning.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
It is nine fifty one clouds and thirty three degrees
in the University City. Mont County Delegate David McCormick has
announced the donation of one hundred turkeys in the community.
Now here's how that will work. These turkeys are set
aside for people who are SNAP recipients who have not
(33:36):
received their benefits or possibly employed by the federal government
affected by the longest shutdown in US history, haven't received
a paycheck, having a hard time putting food on the table.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
Here's what you need to do.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Go to the Scots Run Settlement House and Fair Chance
Road in the Cheat Lake area and they will you'll
give them your documentation, show to them what's happened, your
SNAP card, your federal government id whatever that might be,
and then they'll give you a certificate a card good
(34:12):
for a turkey. You'll then take that over to the
price cutter and get your turkey that is exclusively.
Speaker 2 (34:19):
Through the Scott's Run Settlement House.
Speaker 3 (34:22):
And if this does apply to you, there is a
time window and you need to act now because this
giveaway is good Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
So time is of the essence.
Speaker 3 (34:37):
You really need to act if this does apply to you.
And special thanks to Delegate David McCormick for making that
donation of one hundred turkeys at such a critical time.
Switching over to West Virginia five to one one, that
accident northbound I seventy nine has now been confirmed to
(34:58):
be a fatal accident was reported. It looks like between
six thirty and seven o'clock and Mecha nine one to one.
Executive director Jim Smith says, if you can avoid the area,
that would be the best thing. I think that nineteen
Chaplin Hill. There are some areas in there that are
suffering from the spillover of traffic from people trying to
(35:22):
escape the big jam up on the interstate. So if
you can avoid that area, do so if you can
maybe hold a trip off for a few minutes, you
might want to consider doing that as well. It's gonna
get cold, maybe some snow showers later. Right now, clouds
thirty three degrees right now, and Matt tro Newsaki Weather
(35:44):
says sixty percent chance of snow showers throughout the day
and a high temperature of thirty eight degrees. And tonight
I'm gonna see the lowest temperature so far this year.
The forecast low just about twenty two degrees. We'll be
back to app things up coming up on top of
the town A M fourteen forty f M one oh
(36:04):
four point five W A j R.
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