Giving Tuesday in a national day of giving, and non-profits here at home need your support

The Spooky Sprint will be on Saturday, Oct. 29 starting at Wasena Park at 9 a.m.

The Junior League of Roanoke Valley held a book and food drive today.

The Junior League of Roanoke Valley is holding a food and book drive to benefit Feeding Southwest Virginia and West End Center for Youth.

ROANOKE, Va. Roanokes West End Center for Youth announced that a staff member from a partner agency has tested positive for COVID-19. The nonprofit announced the news on Monday night via Facebook and said they learned of the positive result earlier that day. The employee from the partner agency is asymptomatic and has worked intermittently at the center, according to the announcement. During the closure, the center said staff will deep clean and sanitize the buildings. The center says it is following guidance from the Virginia Department of Health and CDC.

ROANOKE, Va – Children from the West End Center for Youth got the chance to connect with local law enforcement Tuesday. The West End Walk started in 2016 as a partnership between the Grandin Theatre and the West End Center in hopes of introducing children at the center to resources in their community and connect the two neighborhoods. “Exposing kids to new opportunities is just really important to use and something we value,” West End Center for Youth executive director Amanda Nastiuk said. Run About Sports provides the children with shoes for the one mile walk from the center to the theater. “We’re really a place where kids can come and build resilience so that kids can be successful in the future,” Nastiuk said.

ROANOKE, Va. A local nonprofit that plays a critical role in breaking the cycle of generational poverty welcomed a new leader during this unprecedented time. The West End Center for Youth provides after school and summer childcare for low-income families. The nonprofit announced it has a new executive director who said helping children who have suffered from trauma is one of her main priorities. What West End Center really is, is a place for children to come and build resilience and all the studies show when youre trauma-informed and when youre using that kind of approach to working with children, youre helping them build resilience and the academic outcomes follow, said Amanda Nastiuk, Executive Director. She hopes the West End Center doesnt just care for the children, but also helps pull parents out of poverty.