STOP Domestic Violence background:  We did not realize we had a problem with domestic violence in Monroe County until the Family Refuge Center hired two advocates to work with victims of domestic violence.  They served 232 persons in Monroe County in 2006.  The Family Refuge Center serves three counties, Monroe, Greenbrier and Pocahontas.  Stats from all three counties included: Sheltered 30 adults and 21 children; served 34 pregnant women and 40 persons over the age of 60; total numbers of persons served was 1144 with 7810 hours of service; presented 93 educational programs with 3626 individuals being reached.  West Virginia has the highest per capita murder rate of domstic violence-33 last year or about 45%of all murders in West Virginia.  The Monroe County Family Refuge Center site is located on Route 3 in Union.  Please call 772-5005 for more information.

We are in the process of dissolving our Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County chapter.  Jim Hunter, Jr. our Board President of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County died suddenly November 22, 2006.  We have never had a staff person for Habitat and we were unable to secure funding to do a build.  This was a difficult decision.  We are seeking volunteers for a "Volunteer Carpenter's Club" that was started to address the needs of low income families with small home repair jobs.  This project would recruit volunteers to help with small home repairs at no charge.  The Prosecuting Attorney helped the FRN develop a Memo of Understanding signed by the homeowner to hold harmless the volunteer.  The Family Resource Network applied for and received a grant of $1,000.00 from Wal Mart in Lewisburg to purchase materials.  The application process is the same used for the FCOC flex fund project.  New Hope Tabernacle Church, Ministerial Outreach is a partner with the Family Resource Network in this project.