Two great programs that reach children in need in our community
This week we’re taking a break from our regularly scheduled dermatology posts to highlight two unique programs in our community and ways you can help! As we celebrate 20 years in 2025 at Appalachian Spring Dermatology, we want to give back to the community that has supported us in so many ways and hope you’ll join in the fun!
The Middle College at Fairmont State University offers a chance for teens who have been in foster care to start college early. In this FREE to them program, students have the opportunity to complete their high school diploma and earn two years of college credits. This program is designed to give foster care students an extra edge in career development and life.
According to their website…https://www.fairmontstate.edu/middle-college/
“Middle College at Fairmont State University is a specialized academic and student success support program created for West Virginia youth who have experienced foster care. Middle colleges are common in American education and are pathways for 11th and 12th grade students to simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an associate degree (or college credit toward a bachelor’s degree). Middle College at Fairmont State is unique in that it solely serves youth who have experienced foster care.”
This is an awesome program unique to Fairmont State, and as members of the community we have an opportunity to encourage and support these students this spring. After they turn age 18, they live on campus in a dormitory specified for the Middle College. Being away at college is hard for all teens and young adults, but for those without a family support system, there are extra challenges and ways we can show them some love.
This Easter we are planning Easter baskets for the students and welcome any donations of bags of individual packaged candies like you place in Easter eggs for a scheduled Easter Egg Hunt. Favorite candies of the students include M&Ms, Nerds Clusters, Airheads, Reesee, Snickers and Nestle Crunch. We’ll place a donation bin in the lobby.
This spring they are also doing a drive for small support and incentive items that the students would love. Shelf-stable snacks like pop tarts, pudding cups, ramen, mac and cheese cups, little cereal boxes are great treats for the students and we will be collecting those as well.
For questions or more info about the Middle College, contact Tiffany Dixon at tdixon@kvc.org or 800-835-527 or check out the QR code below.

Next up is CASA of Marion County. I personally have many friends who work and/or volunteer at this amazing organization that provides care at risk children in our communities. In the past, we have participated in the CASA 5k which is their major fundraiser of the years, but this year they are doing something different ( that doesn’t require running 3 miles, LOL).
According to their website:
“CASA of Marion County is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for children of Marion County who have been abused and neglected. This is fulfilled through recruitment, training and supervision of community volunteers who serve as Court Appointment Special Advocates (CASA) to support these children as we strive to achieve the goal of safe and permanent homes.”
This April, CASA of Marion County is planting a Pinwheel Garden in front of the courthouse to raise awareness for children in abuse and neglect cases in our county. Each pinwheel represents a child’s story—and you can help give them a voice. Together we will honor their resilience and remind our community of the importance of protecting our children. To reach their fundraising goals, they need to place 225 pinwheels!

How can you help? For just $20, you can sponsor a pinwheel that will be displayed in our garden to honor a child in need of support. Your name will be attached to the pinwheel as a sponsor.
Why Pinwheels? Pinwheels represent the innocence of children and the hope for a bright, safe future. With your help, we can show these children that the community is behind them.
Help us reach our goal of 225 pinwheels to represent the children in our county who need our advocacy.
What a beautiful sight these pinwheels will be in front of the courthouse, representing all of the great work that CASA will be able to do in the upcoming year with the community’s help.
Join us in sponsoring a pinwheel. It’s easy to sponsor a pinwheel online at https://www.casaofmarion.org/general-8
Throughout the year, it is my goal to continue to highlight opportunities to support the many great non-profit organizations in our community on social media. We hope you will find one that warms your heart to give.
