Empowering People In Community

A network of concerned neighbors sharing skills and resources with those in need in West Virginia and central Appalachia.

EPICwv volunteers care about the whole person… body, mind, and spirit.

 Together with churches, neighbors, and local organizations, we share practical help and hopeful connections for people across West Virginia and central Appalachia.  These four areas are where we want to focus our support:

SPIRITUAL

Because hope is usually the first thing people reach for when life falls apart.
It anchors the rest.

PHYSICAL

Once someone’s grounded, the next question is survival… food, clothing, rides, stability.

MEDICAL

After basic needs, people look for practical health help… wound care, OTC meds, clinics, recovery, wellness.

EMOTIONAL

Healing the heart and mind takes time, and it often comes after the immediate crisis is handled.

Services for the Alternately Homed and those in the A.L.I.C.E. Gap

Out here in the hills, folks have always taken care of one another. When a porch needed rebuilt, people showed up with tools. When a family hit a rough stretch, casseroles and prayers arrived before anybody even asked. That old West Virginia way of watching out for your neighbors still matters, and EPICwv is simply picking up that torch. We’re a network of neighbors… churches, volunteers, small ministries, and regular folks who want to make sure no one in our region slips through the cracks. And that includes some of the people who are the easiest to overlook… those who are alternately housed and those living in the A.L.I.C.E. gap. Some sleep in campers, cars, converted sheds, or spare rooms. Some work two jobs and still can’t get ahead. Some are doing everything “right” and still falling behind because the cost of living keeps outrunning their paycheck. These are our friends and coworkers… not strangers. Right now, EPICwv is walking alongside people in Coal City, Beckley, Sophia, Mabscott, MacArthur, Bradley, Eccles, Crab Orchard, Glen White, Harper, Rhodell, Daniels, Shady Spring, Prosperity, Mount Hope, Cool Ridge, and the hollers, ridges, and backroads that hold so many quiet stories of struggle and grit. Every place has its own needs… and its own heartbeat… and we’re committed to meeting folks where they actually are, not where someone else thinks they should be. If you’re tired, overwhelmed, grieving, barely scraping by, trying to stay hidden, or just trying to hold your life together with duct tape and hope, you’re not alone. Start with any of the areas above… spiritual, physical, medical, or emotional… and we’ll help you find real people who can walk with you. If you’re a church, group, or neighbor who wants to stand in the gap for the folks who fall between “not poor enough for help” and “not stable enough to thrive,” reach out. There’s room at the table and plenty of good to be done. The mountains taught us to look after each other… and EPICwv is here to keep that legacy alive with heart, grit, and a whole lot of hope.

Who Is A.L.I.C.E.???

A.L.I.C.E. stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.

It’s a long name for a simple truth… these are the folks who do the work, keep the lights on, and make our communities run, but still can’t afford a stable, predictable life. A.L.I.C.E. households:

=> Work full-time or more, often in jobs that are essential but low-wage
  
=> Make too much to qualify for most help
  
=> Make too little to get ahead or survive an emergency
  
=> Live one setback away from losing housing, transportation, or childcare
  
=> Carry the weight of medical bills, rising rent, and shrinking paychecks
  
A.L.I.C.E. includes people like: 

=> CNAs, retail clerks, food service workers, daycare staff
  
=> Delivery drivers, home health aides, hospitality workers
  
=> Parents working two jobs just to stay afloat

=> Individuals or families living in campers, weekly motels, garages, spare rooms, or doubling up with relatives
  
=> People who feel invisible because they’re “doing everything right” and still falling behind
  
These are not strangers. They’re our neighbors, our coworkers, our family members, and sometimes… us. They’re not lazy. They’re not irresponsible.
They’re fighting hard against an economy that keeps moving the finish line. EPICwv exists to make sure A.L.I.C.E. families in Coal City, Beckley, Sophia, Mabscott, MacArthur, Bradley, Eccles, Crab Orchard, Glen White, Harper, Rhodell, Daniels, Shady Spring, Prosperity, Mount Hope, Cool Ridge, and the surrounding hollers aren’t forgotten. Because when we lift up A.L.I.C.E., we strengthen the entire mountain community.

Caring Community in West Virginia Hills

Neighborly Aid

In the hills, folks always support each other, rebuilding porches and providing casseroles and prayers.

Neighbor Unity

These are our friends and coworkers, not strangers, facing challenges in Coal City, Beckley, Sophia, and beyond

Unity and Care

EPICwv walks alongside the community in Coal City, Beckley, Sophia, and Ma, offering support.

Community Care

Our network includes churches, volunteers, and regular folks, aiding those in the A.L.I.C.E. gap.

Solidarity Network

Our network includes churches, volunteers, and regular folks, aiding those in the A.L.I.C.E. gap.

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