The Service League of Morgantown, known for owning and running The Old Stone House gift shop, 313 Chestnut St., in downtown, has completed a record-breaking year of charitable giving. The League’s Charity Partners program pairs local nonprofits with weeks through the fall and holiday season, traditionally the busiest time of year at the Old Stone House, and then donates to each of them 10% of the organization’s assigned week ’s profit at the gift shop.
For the 2023 holiday season, the League donated a total of $5,065 to the chosen 16 charities. Charity Partners begins in September and ends Dec. 31. This year’s charities were: Girls On the Run, Catholic Charities, Mon County Special Olympics, Sarah’s Table at St. John’s Catholic Church, West Virginia Family Grief Center, CASA for Kids, St. Ursula Food Pantry & Outreach, Stepping Stones, Meals on Wheels, RDVIC, Community Kitchen at Trinity Episcopal Church, Empty Bowls, Pantry Plus More, Scott’s Run Settlement House and Mon County Child Advocacy Center.
The League also has other channels of giving, and this year, the League put winter wear on 60 children in families associated with Early Head Start and Head Start. During one campaign, social workers selected their two neediest families and the League outfitted all the children in those families, regardless of age.
At Thanksgiving, the League gave four families from the Early Head Start and Head Start programs chosen by a social worker $200 gift cards at the grocery store of their choice to ensure they could have a good Thanksgiving dinner.
During the holiday season, the League members adopted four families chosen by a social worker and granted each child in those families three Christmas wishes. Each family also got one big wish. Families asked for larger, essential items.
Last year family wishes included bedding, a set of pots and pans and cleaners. Most children asked for toys. One little girl this year asked for a bed. The League gave each of these families a $150 gift card to the grocery store of their choice. This was a League-wide event with all the members opening their hearts and wallets.
The League also supported the Early Head Start/Head Start spring party, which was held at the West Virginia Botanic Garden. The League gave each child a book about gardens and Service League member Kathy Linkous read the book to them.
The League also receives monthly requests to do good throughout Monongalia County. Organizations reach out with donation requests, and during 2023, the League donated $4,825 toward a variety of requests that sent young people to Boys State and Girls State, as well as a variety of Boy Scout, Girl Scout and 4-H camps.
Through the League’s used book sales at the Old Stone House, along with an annual children’s book sale, the organization has offered scholarships to local elementary schools throughout the county to purchase books for their school libraries. The annual children’s book sale in 2023 was through the Paper Pie Books. During 2023, the League donated $735.51 to area libraries. In the past, the League has awarded scholarships to up to five county elementaries.
For more information go to facebook.com/Old-StoneHouseGiftShop.
