Every summer, Northgate Church from Pittsburg, PA visits Clay, WV. Jesse Boggs, Northgate’s pastor, is a Clay County native. He has a passion for helping people, and making Clay County one of the places where he and his church members volunteer their time has been something they look forward to every year.

Normally when Northgate Church visits, they are here for a week, and they hold Mega Sports Camp at Clay County High School during the week they visit. This year, their mission was different. They were able to visit for a few short days, but the progress they made is impressive!

Mr. Boggs gathered volunteers from many different churches this year. Volunteers came from Elkview, WV; Richmond, VA; Washington, PA; Kalamazoo, MI; and Olathe, KS. Cindy Allen with Community Bible Church explained the work they were able to accomplish in the two days they were available to volunteer their time. She, and many of the other women volunteers, worked in the cafeteria at Clay County High School. She explained they removed everything, cleaned and painted the whole cafeteria from top to bottom (as well as two classrooms) while the men gathered and went to a home on Maysel Hill, where they completed work on a front deck with a roof, a back deck, skirting around the home, as well as other projects.

Mr. Boggs explained that the main focus for this year’s visit was the Vision Clinic that was held on Wednesday and Thursday at CCHS. On Wednesday, there were two doctors that were able to see 166 patients. On Thursday, only one doctor was available, but they saw 66 patients. Over 250 patients were able to be seen in two days and Mr. Boggs said that three

were referred to Charleston for additional optic care. The Vision Clinic provided a complete eye exam, as well as eye health exam where, if needed, the patient was fitted for frames, where they were marked and will be sent off to a lab and once their glasses are finished, they will be mailed to each specific patient. All of this was FREE!

One additional service they do every year is ‘Picnic in the Parking Lot’ at CCHS. They provide food, music, bounce houses for the kids, fellowship, and have many free things for kids and adults to get. Ladies of Northgate Church quilt, knit, and crochet lap blankets that are given to adults during Picnic in the Parking lot, along with hundreds of dollars in clothing, linens, and paints that were given away this year. A man by the name of Wes McCoy gathered and distributed hundreds of dollars worth of blankets. John Morris and Rachel Burge provided wonderful entertainment during Picnic in the Parking Lot this year.

And as always, gospel literature was available for anyone who wanted more information. Many local volunteers also helped during the event, from serving food, to helping where needed. The Clay Volunteer Fire Department brought a truck to let people and kids check it out and talk with a fireman. Local police volunteers were there as well.

Mr. Boggs wanted to express his gratitude to all the volunteers who helped this year, both local and from far away! Next year, they will be back in full force with Mega Sports Camp and under a new label, Vision Appalachia, organized by Jesse and Debbie Boggs.

Thank you to Jesse Boggs, Northgate Church and all of the other churches who traveled far and volunteered this year. Everyone looks forward to the visits, the help, the fellowship and Picnic in the Parking lot each year! We can’t wait until next year!