Jack & Svea Schreiner McDowell County, West Virginia

Mark 12: 28-32One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given a good answer, he asked him, “of all of the commandments, which one is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”

1 John 3: 16-18

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.

Life in McDowell CountyGeographical isolation - Two hours’ drive to closest interstate highway

Lack of economic diversity- Coal = only major industry- Median household income = $22,000

Culture of dependence- 47% of personal income comes from federal programs

Population loss - 1950’s population = 100,000; today = 22,000

Drug Abuse- 8 times national average for drug overdose deaths

Pervasive hopelessness

Education in McDowell County Unstable Homes

- 47% of our students do not live with a biological parent

- 72% of our students live in a house without gainful employment

Unstable Schools- Estimated 40-50% annual teacher and

administrator turnover rate- Vacancies year round in core teaching

and administrative positionsPoor Outcomes- Ranked last in WV for most of the past

decade- 25% of students are proficient in

reading- Of 100+ graduates at MVHS last year,

13 went to college

Former Mayor of War-McDowell County’s Top 3 Issues:

- Drugs- Shortage of adequate housing

- Lack of skilled tradesmen

Jake

Teachers Village

Lack of adequate housing has been cited as one of the primary contributors to the challenge of recruitment and

retention of teachers.

See us in the back for opportunities to

support our mission

Thank you!