MORGANTOWN — A state group known for providing at-risk youth and women with support and resources has organized a two-day event in which participants will raise funds by rappelling off the eight-story Monongahela Building in downtown Morgantown.
The organization, Libera, is partnering with Canadian group Over the Edge Global to bring its Go Over the Edge fundraising event to Morgantown. Funds raised at the event will go toward the same individuals that most of Libera’s work targets: youth in the state of West Virginia.
Libera Founder and Executive Director Karen Haring said that the path to Libera’s partnership with Over the Edge Global began when Libera was looking for an exciting new idea for an event to bring the community together and fundraise.
Karen Harding had previously talked to the YWCA in Wheeling, which had put on a similar event in the past. An individual from that organization recommended that Harding and Libera do something similar, and Harding reached out to Over the Edge Global to make that happen.
Libera’s Go Over the Edge event will kick off with a VIP and media day, during which local media representatives and area celebrities will have the opportunity to rappel from the top of the Monongahela Building.
On the second day of the event, all others who registered to rappel will be able to do so. The same day, local hip hop artist Lamar Riddick will provide music. Food trucks, including T&L Hotdogs, Creative Concoctions and an ice cream vendor will be present to provide refreshments.
A chicken coop will be set up at the event where attendees can have playful photos taken if they’re “too chicken” to Go Over the Edge, Karen Harding said.
“It’ll just be a fun day,” she added.
Libera’s mission
Karen Harding said that Libera empowers women and students in West Virginia to live in freedom, but the group focuses a lot on programs for at-risk youth. The three biggest programs run by Libera target that group in particular.
Libera provides groups for middle- and high-school girls, school systems, public libraries and juvenile detention centers. These groups have been conducted in many counties in the state.
The organization also partners with Shield Task Force. Its mission is to end child abuse in West Virginia. Libera goes into schools and conducts assemblies with students K-12 on body safety, online safety and human trafficking prevention. The group also trains school staff and teachers on those same issues. Libera Listeners are available at the end of those assemblies for any students who want to talk.
“Often we have disclosures of abuse during that end listening time, and we’re also there just to talk to students about anything that might be bothering them – ‘I’m being bullied,’ or ‘I’m anxious,’ or ‘I didn’t do well on my test today,’ ” Karen Harding said. “Whatever it may be.”
The third program that Libera runs to benefit at-risk youth is called Love Packs. The organization fills backpacks with mental and emotional health tools and resources, including an age-appropriate book on dealing with anxiety and depression; journals with emotion and gratitude prompts; coloring books and coloring utensils for calming; stress balls; thumb drives with videos on body safety, online safety and human trafficking prevention; and bar codes through which children can also access those videos.
The backpacks also include everyday items like pens, pencils and hand sanitizer with crisis help lines printed on them. Handwritten cards from Libera Listeners, mindful caregiver cards, fun items and snacks are also placed in the backpacks.
“All the items in the Love Packs are addressing mental and emotional health, and abusive prevention and response,” Karen Harding said. The Love Packs are being given out in four counties in the state, many of them going to homeless students or students in foster care.
‘Bringing the needs to the forefront’
Karen Harding said that the importance of an event like Go Over the Edge lies in the awareness that it raises regarding issues that students in West Virginia face.
“Just bringing the needs to the forefront, because – especially during the pandemic – a lot of people have met physical needs that kids have … but we know that the mental and emotional health needs of students have skyrocketed … during the pandemic, and we feel like our services can fill a gap in the community where students have these needs and we can help meet them,” she said.
It’s also an opportunity for community members to learn more about Libera and what the organization does, support the organization’s cause and have fun while doing it, Karen Harding said.
Chestnut Ridge Church Senior Pastor Tim Harding is slated to participate in the event during the media and VIP day.
He believes that Libera is doing an amazing job, particularly in working with children in the school system. He got involved in the event not only to support and contribute to the organization’s cause, but also to show support for his wife, Karen Harding, who founded and directs the group.
Tim Harding said he is excited to participate in the event.
“There are lots of organizations that do fundraisers of various kinds to help take care of their needs, but this one is just very unique, and I think it’s going to be fun,” he said.
Tim Harding said he also thinks the event is a great opportunity for Libera to gain exposure in the community.
“The state just has so many needs, especially related to youth,” he said. “I don’t think many people are aware of the work that Libera is doing to impact the youth, especially now with these Love Packs that they’re giving to the students that will help address their physical but also even their emotional needs during this time, with the pandemic and everything.”
He feels that many people are not aware of the impact Libera has, but staff at Libera work incredibly hard to help youth and women across the state.
Libera’s Go Over the Edge event is sponsored by Howard Hanna Premier Properties, Jack’s Recycling, Hotel Morgan, University Toyota, Compass Realty, The Dominion Post and Apis Creative.
Go Over the Edge is set for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 23-24. Those interested in rappelling for a cause must register beforehand.
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