MonPower helps refresh Connecting Link
May 23—FAIRMONT — Volunteers from Mon Power brightened Connecting Link's day last week after a crew stopped by for a bit of community service.
The power company repainted the walls of Connecting Link's office, making it a little friendlier for those waiting inside.
"We literally had walls that were multicolored because [a previous organization] couldn't reach up to the top baseboard," Connecting Link coordinator Lois Martin said. "They were in need of just brightening up. We used white paint instead of the gray that was on the walls and it just makes it brighter, feel bigger and better in here."
About 15 FirstEnergy and MonPower volunteers spent about five hours painting and organizing the storage closet. Receiving support from larger corporations empowers the organization to support the community. Last summer a different organization stopped in to help but only provided two or three people to help paint. No ladders made it difficult to reach high spots. This year, MonPower was able to deliver more substantial help.
"We couldn't do this without them," Martin said. "We could not help those in Marion County."
Connecting Link has been around for 12 years, Martin said. The organization helps residents pay utility bills, providing a reprieve for individuals who are having a tough time choosing whether to keep the lights on or pay a car repair bill. Connecting Link also feeds around 300 people every other month through the Mountaineer Food Bank. Martin said grants and donations which corporations connect Connecting Link with help pay for the work the aid organization does.
Martin said she is blessed by the help MonPower provided.
"FirstEnergy employees have a proud history of volunteerism in the communities where they live and work," Will Boye, senior communications representative for FirstEnergy said by email. "Donating their time, talent and financial support to a variety of initiatives."
Reach Esteban at efernandez@timeswv.com
