Botetourt Resource Center
About us
Botetourt Resource Center from A-Z
The overall goal of the Botetourt Resource Center is to
strengthen the community of rural Botetourt County by
offering a link to social and human services. The Botetourt
Resource Center will be a point of service or a place to
facilitate access to those services. Volunteers from the
community are donating time for care giving.
Recent Events
Fincastle Presbyterian Church supports Botetourt Resource Center, July 1, 2008
The session and members of Fincastle Presbyterian Church have entered into a partnership with the Botetourt Resource Center to support the center in their goal of assisting the citizens of Botetourt County. The objective of the church is to give a portion of their available charitable funds to the Center thereby extending their Christian influence throughout the community. Organizations within the Church and individual church members will be encouraged to contribute to the fund and to volunteer their time to assist with projects of the Botetourt Resource Center.
The initial contribution in the amount of $10,750 will be donated for the upcoming fiscal year to the Center. The church also plans to support the budget of the Botetourt Resource Center through subsequent donations each year. Jim Tenser, Elder at Fincastle Presbyterian Church, will serve on the Advisory Board of the Center.
The Botetourt Resource Center, under the direction of Robyn Dobyns, is an organization that has, for the past eight years, connected the residents of Botetourt to needed human resources through information, advocacy, referral and programs. The Center is under the non-profit umbrella of the Council of Community Services.
From left to right are the Botetourt Resource Center Advisory Committee as follows: Lottie Burks/Town Council of Buchanan, Harry Gleason/Buchanan Town Planner, Tanika Smith/for Rick Sheets from TAP, Kim Collogan/Daleville LOA, Robyn Dobyns/Director of the Botetourt Resource Center, Bill Branscome/Fincastle Presbyterian Church, Denny Huff/V.P. Operations of the Council of Community Services, Pam Kestner-Chappelear/President of the Council of Community Services, Kay Broughman/Botetourt Health Department, Karen Thrasher/Bank of Botetourt, Reverend Marina Gopadze/Buchanan Presbyterian Church & BAMA, not present were Judy Burleson/LOA-Eagle Rock and Mary Lou Mullis/Botetourt Social Services.
Youth from Our Lady of Good Counsel in South Hampton, PA came to Buchanan to help some local senior citizens. This project was a partnership with the Church of the Transfiguration in Fincastle and the Botetourt Resource Center.
The Buchanan Area Ministerial Association involving these churches: Buchanan Presbyterian, Virginia Presbyterian, Buchanan Baptist, Trinity Episcopal and Trinity United Methodist had a Progressive Dinner and Silent Auction to benefit the Botetourt Resource Center. It was an overwhelming success raising $4,572.50+. Plans are being made to have another one in the Spring of 2009.
Spectrum Design, an architectural and engineering firm of Roanoke Valley, donated $1,000 to the Resource Center.
Accomplishments in 2007-2008
- Utilized $1,000 grant awarded to the BRC from Catholic Diocese of VA through the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration in Fincastle for fuel assistance to help 10 households.
- Utilized $ 1,392 from Botetourt Area Churches, not including BAMA for crisis assistance to help 7 households in crisis assistance.
- Increased partnerships with churches throughout Botetourt County for crisis response – now coordinating crisis response for 22 churches throughout Botetourt County. Utilized $ 4,673+ from (BAMA) Buchanan Area Ministerial Funds for crisis assistance for 29 households.
- 2,600 + calls answered at the Center. Ongoing case management of 57 + households
- Volunteer hours donated = 500+
- Coordination and distribution of the BAMA Food Pantry Food Pantry. Served 213+ people (not including the Food Distribution from Kroger every week)
- Center feeds approximately 45+ people every week through Kroger food distribution program, not including the Food Pantry clients.
- Continuing partnership with the Mill Creek Baptist Church for winter wood distribution Distributed free wood for 7 families throughout the winter months.
- Assisted Seniors with paperwork for Stimulus Rebate.
- Continuing partnership with the Hunters for the Hungry to provide venison for the
- BAMA Food Pantry.
- Continuing services of transportation coordination for Seniors, small repairs to senior homes, exercise and recreation programs (30 + use the building for programs/weekly),
- recycling of needed clothes, appliances, home items, etc. throughout the county..
- Continuing services related to advocacy, referral and information.
- Provided Yoga instruction at the Center for Senior citizens.
- Partnership with youth and leaders from Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church of South Hampton, Pennsylvania and the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration of Fincastle to paint a house for a senior and do landscaping for another senior in Buchanan.
- Partnership with Local Agency on Aging to install carbon monoxide monitors supplied by LOA in senior homes.
- Coordination of resources for back-to-school supplies for low-income families.
- Partnership with Kiwanis to spend $150 each on 6 children from 2 families.
- Fund established by private donation for $1,000 to do small home repairs for Seniors and Disabled.
- Partnerships for Thanksgiving dinners Botetourt Kiwanis, Botetourt Longbeards fed 43 people.
- Partnerships for Christmas dinners: Botetourt Kiwanis, Botetourt Town and Country Women, Wheatland Lutheran Church, Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren, Lithia Baptist Church - . fed 64+ people.
- Partnerships for Christmas gifts: Pleasant Dale Church of the Brethren, Botetourt Kiwanis, Wheatland Lutheran Church, Botetourt Town and Country Women adopted 24 people from 5 families.
- Partnership for Kroger $25 gift certificates from Botetourt Social Services: went to 5 senior citizens
- Partnership for Gas Vouchers totaling $110 with the Bank of Botetourt employees went to 6 families.
- Partnerships for Fuel Assistance: Wayne Graves Oil employees, Bank of Botetourt Operations Center employees, and the OG Poarch Group totaling $ 795.00.
- Partnership with St. Mark’s United Methodist of Daleville “Frog Group” – bought socks and new tennis shoes for all six members of the Wed. Bingo group for Christmas and continue to make and send cards to 15 senior citizens, and donated seed packages to families.
- Some of the repairs done for seniors: House painted, roof repaired, water heater replaced and installed, storm door bought and installed, wood stove donated and installed.