VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: THE HELEN APARTMENT CLEAN-UP DAY HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 11TH 2015

By Tiffany, Preserve WV AmeriCorps

The Winding Gulf Restoration Organization is teaming up with Preserve West Virginia AmeriCorps members to clean out and board up the historic apartment building in Helen. We are looking for volunteers to aid in our efforts.

We GROw, Inc. (Winding Gulf Restoration Organization), the non-profit organization for the Helen community of Raleigh County, is in the process of obtaining a historic property.  An apartment building dating to the 1920’s represents Helen’s role in the heyday of coal mining.  Helen remains one of the last surviving intact coal communities of the Winding Gulf Coalfield.  The apartment building is a historic staple of the community, and once restored it can potentially be an important resource for community and the public.  Helen is situated along the Coal Heritage Highway – a project of the National Coal Heritage Area Authority.

On April 11th volunteers will come together to clean  the building of debris.  Volunteers will also help to architecturally mothball the structure to protect it from vandalism and the weather.  The Planned activities will make a big impact on the community by preventing vandalism and improving its visual appearance.  The project is a collaboration of We GROw, The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia (PAWV), National Coal Heritage Area Authority, The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, The Raleigh County Commission, and The Raleigh County Office – West Virginia State University Extension Service

We GROw, a fully registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, was founded in 2004 and has accomplished many positive outcomes in the community; including development of a park and the installation of a Coal Miner’s Memorial. Cleaning and boarding up this building is their next improvement effort. You can find more information about WeGROw on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WeGROwWV .

Two Preserve West Virginia AmeriCorps (PAWV) members Tiffany Rakotz and Nicole Marrocco have been working to organize volunteers and logistics for the project.  To learn more about The Preservation Alliance of West Virginia visit their website at http://www.pawv.org/

To volunteer or ask questions please contact Preserve WV AmeriCorps Member Tiffany Rakotz at (734) 787-6784 or trakotz@coalheritage.org