Clay County: December Spotlight

In Clay County—one of West Virginia’s most rural and economically challenged counties—Communities In Schools (CIS) isn’t just a program; it’s the difference between a child staying in school or slipping through the cracks. With poverty rates consistently above the state average, limited access to transportation, and families stretched thin, CIS site coordinators are embedded inside every Clay County school, working tirelessly to remove the barriers that too often push kids out of the classroom and into cycles of hardship. 

This Thanksgiving perfectly showcased why CIS is indispensable here. On November 21, CIS of Clay County led a massive holiday food packing and delivery effort in partnership with the Mountaineer Food Bank, Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, and Save the Children. High school students, CIS staff and volunteers filled the auxiliary gym, assembling hundreds of complete Thanksgiving meals through the Extra-Mile program—meals that went straight to the doorsteps of families who otherwise might not have had a holiday dinner. 

In a county where one caring adult can change everything, Communities In Schools is that adult for thousands of students. From providing food and clothing to connecting families with mental health services and tutoring, CIS keeps kids in school and on track to graduate. This Thanksgiving, Clay County CIS didn’t just deliver meals—they delivered hope, proving once again that when our community wraps its arms around its children, no one gets left behind.