The W. Randy Smith Family Fund recently awarded a $100,000 grant to the Martinsburg Union Rescue Mission’s 604 Project campaign to help renovate their building at 604 West King Street. Once completed, the property will feature six transitional housing apartments for homeless families. Pastor Tim Guerino and Randy Smith recently met on-site to check on construction progress. Smith has worked diligently to help address homelessness issues in Berkeley County for many years and was pleased to learn that the Rescue Mission was creating these apartments for families.
More than $800,000 is the total budget to remodel, furnish, and staff the building, which will allow the mission to expand services to families that are experiencing homelessness in the region. Currently, there are no facilities like this in the area for families. In addition to the housing, residents will receive three meals a day from the dining hall at the main Rescue Mission building, as well as services at the chapel, spiritual counseling, fellowship, mentoring, work therapy, clothes, and many other services from the current 608 W. King St. location and the thrift store at 606 W. King St.
Individuals interested in supporting the Rescue Mission’s “604 Project” can learn more by visiting their website at https://martinsburgunionrescuemission.com/604-project/
Since winning the Powerball jackpot in 2010, Smith has contributed more than $5.9 million to the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation. During the past 11 years, the donor-advised fund he established at the Foundation has awarded $4.9 million in grants to nonprofit organizations serving Berkeley County.