Wayne County lies nestled amid the vast natural beauty of the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia and is home to the small town of Crum.
In recent years, mining companies have been forced to lay off workers or shut down altogether, and unemployment in this region has risen dramatically.
Crum was once a bustling community with a vibrant economy, bolstered by the now-struggling coal mining industry. In recent years, mining companies have been forced to lay off workers or shut down altogether, and unemployment in this region has risen dramatically.
Like many small towns in this rural part of West Virginia, Crum is quite remote, affording very few job opportunities and necessitating long commutes to even a decent grocery store. Residents who choose to stay here — where their families have lived for generations — often live well below the poverty line and face unspeakable struggles.
Escaping the realities of poverty
Students at Crum PreK-8 School enjoy their newly-renovated school building.
Yet despite the adversity they face, Crum’s residents are hearty and resilient. Our affiliated project, Crum PreK-8 School, serves as a testament to their fortitude.
Crum PreK-8 School offers children a place where they can just be kids and escape the overwhelming stress of poverty. Students receive support, encouragement and nutritious meals each and every day. They are also provided with a well-rounded education in a brand new, state of the art building.
Visiting the new school
On a recent visit, Director of U.S. Programs, Renée Kube, was able to see the new school for herself.
“The renovation had been greatly needed for many years. It replaces the very old buildings and the new school is something that the whole community can be proud of,” said Renée.
According to the School’s website, students, parents and faculty do have a lot to be proud of:
“The new Crum PreK-8 School replaces two existing facilities, Crum Elementary and Crum Middle Schools, that have been in disrepair and lacking the spaces and technology required for 21st century learning skills. The total enrollment for the school is 356 students. The new grade configuration separated the elementary students from the middle school students, but still allows the use of the common spaces within the building. They share the dining room, gymnasium, media center and stage.
“The main entrance is accentuated with large steel trusses that form a vaulted wood ceiling that continues through the main corridor. Highlighting the façade is black brick with a glazed yellow brick accent and a stone wall memorializing the historic stone façade from the existing school.”
Only the best for students in West Virginia
Renée felt confident that due to the combination of the support they were receiving from their sponsors and the new facility, sponsored students were enjoying the best care possible in one of the nicest schools she has ever seen.
The list of improvements continues:
“The new school is more energy-efficient than the previous facility. It also is easily maintained with its polished concrete floors throughout the school. The gymnasium is located for ease of public access but can be divided for simultaneous use by elementary and middle school classes.”
“The academic areas have easy access to the advanced media center. Each classroom has several student computer locations and a teacher location. In addition to the typical classrooms, there are science classrooms and labs, teacher planning areas and separate administrative areas for elementary and middle school. The new facility is home to a vocational agriculture classroom/lab with an attached greenhouse.”
Renée was very impressed by everything she saw at the school. She felt confident that due to the combination of the support they were receiving from their sponsors and the new facility, sponsored students were enjoying the best care possible in one of the nicest schools she has ever seen.
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HOW DO I SPONSOR A CHILD IN WEST VIRGINIA?
You can sponsor a child in West Virginia in one of two ways: call our office at 1-800-538-5381 and speak with one of our staff members, or email us at sponsorship@children-inc.org.