Are Gabriel Project’s services truly needed in West Virginia? Yes!

30% of West Virginia’s children under the age of 3 years live in poor families, defined as income below the federal poverty level (National Center for Children in Poverty). 62% of these children live with a single parent. In the counties currently served by the Gabriel Project, the percent of young children living in poverty is even higher, at 32%.

In 2019 there were nearly 7,000 client service visits to local Gabriel Project sites.  Among the services we provided during those visits were the following:

• 6,484 packages of diapers and 2,587 cans/bottles of formula were distributed to infants and toddlers.
• 515 babies were laid in a new crib, giving them a safe place to sleep.
• 569 young children were buckled into a new car seat to keep them secure on our roadways.

This year, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects are creating an even higher demand for our services.  With job furloughs, business closures, and the unexpected loss of household income, families who otherwise would be able to provide for their babies, families who under normal circumstances would never have to ask for outside assistance, are now coming to us, desperately seeking help.