Food, electricity, adequate housing and good transportation – these are comforts that most Tyler County residents take for granted. However, many residents who dwell within the county would not be as fortunate without the generosity of an organization dedicated to the ministry of helping others.

The Sistersville Area Ministerial Association has carried out the mission of helping their neighbors for years. Thy are currently seeking monetary donations from the community. These funds will be applied to Christmas Dinner vouchers to serve the needy within the Sistersville and Friendly areas. Vouchers will be dispersed based on family size and need. Residents who have applied for assistance in recent years will need to reapply again.

The application deadline is Monday, Dec. 12. Vouchers will be filled out by members of the Ministerial Association that week and mailed to those who have applied and qualified. Dinner vouchers, which are made out to the Sistersville IGA, must be used by Christmas Eve. All needs and monetary donation amounts will be kept confidential.

Applications are available from local pastors and at the Tyler Star News office. Both donations and applications can be submitted to the Ministerial Association, c/o The Tyler Star News, P.O. Box 191, Sistersville, WV 26175. They can also be dropped off at the newspaper office, which is located at 720 Wells Street in Sistersville. They can also be mailed directly to the Area Ministerial Association, P.O. Box 64, Sistersville, WV 26175.

When the Area Ministerial Association is not focused on the holiday seasons, they offer assistance in other areas such as prescription assistance, emergency transportation assistance, rent and utility assistance and transient lodging. They also offer food assistance courtesy of the area food pantry. The pantry, which is located at the First Baptist Church of Sistersville, is staffed by representatives from area churches. Food is distributed once a week by appointment. Those in need should contact an area pastor for assistance.

Area churches also come to the association’s aid by collecting non-perishable items for the community. They include: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church of Sistersville, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, First United Methodist Church of Sistersville, Sistersville Church of the Nazarene, First Presbyterian Church of Sistersville, First Christian Church, Friendly United Methodist Church, the Lighthouse Community Church and Hope Fellowship Church.