The West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association (OMEGA) raised a record $115,463 in 2021 to help children across the state dealing with crisis in the family.

“Given all West Virginia and our nation has been through over the past year and a half it’s amazing to see this incredible spirit of generosity and desire to help children in need of adoption and families in crisis,” said Traci Nelson, President of OMEGA.  “We are very thankful that our convenience store and independent grocery members were able to raise a record amount to assist the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia in helping our most vulnerable populations.”

This multi-month campaign included the sale of brightly colored paper flowers at nearly 500 OMEGA-member convenience and grocery stores across West Virginia as well as through hosting the Jan Vineyard Children’s Charity Golf Outing at Glade Springs on May 12.  Jan Vineyard, the longtime director of OMEGA, was an advocate for causes supporting West Virginia’s children.  

Mary White, Chief Operating Officer of the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia, said, “The pandemic has only intensified the problems facing families in crisis and thousands of West Virginia children are in need of adoption. We are very appreciative of OMEGA for supporting this effort, the proceeds of which will go directly to improving the lives of state children and families.”

White said funds will be used for the organization’s assistance programs, which include emergency child shelters, foster care, adoption support, mentoring, early intervention, and numerous other family support programs.

Nearly $3 million has been raised by OMEGA since 2003 for this and other efforts to help West Virginia children.