A.B.L.E. Families, Inc.

P. 0. Box 1249
Kermit, West Virginia 25674

Contact:
Sister Janet M. Peterworth, OSU
Phone: (304) 393-4987
E-mail: jpeterworth@charter.net

Background:
A.B.L.E. Families (affirming, believing, learning, empowering) is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Wheeling to address needs of low-income families in rural areas of West Virginia. It was established in 1995 with Sister Janet Peterworth as its first executive director. Sister Janet is still serving in that capacity.

Information:
The mission of A.B.L.E. Families is "to confront systemic causes of poverty and, to assist families as they make positive changes in their lives." Through a variety of creative programs developed by Sister Janet, families in the Mingo County area of West Virginia are being empowered.

Scroll down for details on how you can help the children and family served by this important group.

Summer Program: Teaching Children How to Play the Dulcimer and Harp
A.B.L.E. Families hosted a week-long camp to teach local children how to play the instruments that were developed in the region and so important to music from the area. On June 27, after just four days of work, the children put on a concert for the Sisters who were heading to Cumberland, Maryland for a reunion as well as the children's families and friends. Most of the kids played specially designed, smaller versions of the dulcimer and harp. Some of the new musicians opted to play the larger version of the harp for the performance. The smaller instruments will remain at A.B.L.E. Families' headquarters to allow the children to continue lessons. If you'd like to help support these children and help us continue to offer these and other programs, please see below for details on how you can help.

The children began their concert with a dulcimer performance

Sisters Terence and Kathleen enjoy the concert

The children demonstrate their new skills on the harp


Sister Janet Peterworth runs A.B.L.E. Families and
handed out certificatesto the children for their work at the music camp

Volunteer possibilities for those able to give some time on site (Kermit is only a four- hour drive from Louisville) include:

• volunteers for our summer camps. Several week-long summer programs are offered each summer.

• tutoring of children in the summer and during the year.

• teaching knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, sewing, candy-making, cake decorating, etc. to mothers (could be a Saturday workshop).

• the need for a nurse for a few weeks to accompany home visitors when they visit mothers and babies.

• the need for a grant writer to help get funds.

If you're into fund-raisers, here are some needs:

• $400 would send a child to camp for four weeks.

• $100 would buy the food for a caregiver taking the 7-week Supper in a Sacknutrition education program to take home to her family for 6 weeks.

• $5,500 would cover the salary and on-the-job training for a Maternal Infant Health Outreach Worker home visitor for a year and enable her to visit 10 families once a month for one year.

• $150 would cover the cost of food and materials for a playgroup of 10-12 Moms and babies for our six-week playgroup for toddlers and mothers.

If you'd like to collect items and mail them (or arrange with Sister Janet to pick them up when she visits Louisville) you could

• collect items to be used as "incentive gifts" for the participants in the Supper in a Sack program; i.e./ 6 steamer baskets, 6 wire whisks/ 6 measuring spoons and cups, 6 funnels/ 6 soup pots, 6 rubber spatulas/ 6 cutting boards.

• send a small kitchen appliance valued at no more than $15.00 to be given to someone who has perfect attendance at the Supper in a Sack program; e.g., toaster, crock pot, oven-proof baking dishes/ coffee maker; blender, set of dishes, etc.

• send baby items such as bottles/ diapers, powder, shampoo, brushes, bibs, blankets, sleepwear, afghans, quilts, mobiles, tape player that attach to cribs and soothing tapes to calm the baby, sweater/boots/hat sets, baby books, etc,

• fix personal care boxes for the mothers containing shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, fingernail polish, hair spray, combs, razors, eye makeup and regular face makeup, diary, calendar, etc.

• send school supplies and backpacks in the late summer.

• send computer games for all age levels.

If you know of anyone who could donate one of these big items, you can make them aware of the ministry at A.B.L.E. Families:

• a used computer which is not so old that it won't take any new software,

• a minivan or small bus.

Last, but certainly not least, include the A.B.L.E. Families staff and those they serve in your prayers.