History

McDowell Mission, Inc., was originally head quartered at the Clubhouse in Elbert, WV. In the summer of 2003 we acquired the three buildings in downtown Welch, WV, which formerly housed Welch Middle School (and prior to that, Welch High School) for our central operations.

Being in Welch, the county seat and the largest community in McDowell County, puts the Mission staff closer to most of the main agencies with whom we work. In addition to being able to reach out further into the county from Welch, we now have ample space to house large work and ministry teams. We previously have had to depend on renting local schools for the summer. When you rent a school, the teams have to sleep on the floors. We will now be able to construct bunk beds in our own buildings.

Even though they have suffered much damage due to the recent floods and vandalism, we believe the availability of these buildings to be a great blessing from God and we are making improvements to them as funds become available. The Mission's regular funds are used for its primary mission work. Funding for the repairs, remodeling, replacements, and cleanup of the buildings greatly depends upon donations.

Some of our major financial concerns include replacing furnace parts, purchasing lumber & mattresses needed for the bunk beds, placing commercial equipment in the main kitchen (including tables and chairs for the cafeteria); installing showers and bathroom facilities, repairing the auditorium so it can be used for community events and worship; and painting the many rooms that have been vandalized.

You can help us repair these buildings by sending a tax-deductible donation to:

McDowell Mission, Inc.

225 Maple Avenue

Welch, WV 24801

Feel free to make donations in honor, or in memory, of a friend, classmate(s), teacher, principal or family member. Also, if you have time and skills to volunteer in the upgrading of these buildings, please call us at 304-436-8300, visit us On the Hill, or send us an email message to Norma@mcdowellmission.org.