Project Dignity launched to restore the cemeteries at the former Weston State Hospital.

• • Working with the WV Department of Health Facilities to secure a license agreement for access and restoration.
    
    

  • Three engraved memorial stones are in development, along with general site maintenance and improvements.
    
    

  • A deed transfer was formally requested to allow for a multi-organizational legal trust to collectively steward the cemeteries, an approach that would open access and ensure better care. Though the request was declined, the door remains open for future review.
    
    

Applied for a WV Historical Roadside Marker commemorating the Weston State Hospital Cemeteries. Although the application was completed and submitted, the marker program is currently paused statewide and submissions are not being reviewed at this time. Written authorization has been granted for installation on WV Department of Highways (DOH) property in Weston, and initial verbal approval was received for a second possible location nearby. Both proposed sites are within view of the former Weston State Hospital.

Ongoing genealogical and historical support provided to individuals seeking answers about family members once institutionalized in former West Virginia state hospitals.

Essential Needs Assistance Program (ENAP)

• • Thanksgiving meal kits distributed in Lewis and Upshur Counties.
    
    

  • Monthly donations (as funding allows) to blessing boxes across both counties.
    
    

  • Direct assistance provided to families: food, pantry staples, cleaning supplies, diapers, and more.
    
    

  • Utility support offered through direct payments to providers.
    
    

Kids Thrive Program

• Ongoing assistance provided to schools in Lewis and Randolph Counties, including clothing, diapers, wipes, detergent, and Thanksgiving turkeys.
  
  

• Riverstone Community Services initiated this effort proactively and has since renewed its partnership in Lewis County.
  
  

• Support for the 2025–26 school year has already begun.
  
  

Bed for Every Head

• Program launched to provide new bedding kits to children and families in need.
  
  

• Twin bed kits available in Upshur, Randolph, and Gilmer Counties.
  
  

• Infant, newborn, and toddler bedding (cribs, bassinets, toddler beds) available statewide.
  
  

• Now fully funded and stocked with 12 twin bed kits in storage.
  
  

• Applications open August 26, 2025; referral forms have been distributed to community partner organizations and schools.

Submitted a successful nomination for a Governor’s Citation honoring a former Weston State Hospital employee who later became one of the facility’s first tour guides and played a key role in early preservation efforts.

Advocating for respectful public access to institutional cemeteries and transparency surrounding the history of state hospitals, particularly in spaces where access has been limited or withheld.

Actively guiding descendants of former patients through the difficult and often emotional process of obtaining records. We assist families in locating burial information, patient documentation, and historical context to help them better understand their loved ones’ time in institutional care.

Supporting former patients who are still living, many of whom continue to carry the burden of institutionalization. Whether by helping them navigate services, making referrals, or simply standing in acknowledgment of their experiences, we remain committed to those too often left behind.

Formally submitted a proclamation request to the West Virginia Governor’s Office to establish Dignity Day, a statewide day of recognition to honor those who died in former state hospitals, those who survived them, and those still struggling with mental illness today. While the request has not yet been approved or denied, it reflects our continued efforts to shift public awareness and state-level recognition toward justice and compassion.

Launched a mission-supporting eBay storefront

In July 2025, Riverstone Community Services launched an online resale platform, our official eBay storefront, as the first step toward developing Riverstone Community Thrift. All net proceeds from sales directly support WVSHI and Riverstone programs, helping sustain outreach, preservation, and assistance efforts across West Virginia.

Formally submitted a proclamation request to the West Virginia Governor’s Office to establish Dignity Day, a statewide day of recognition to honor those who died in former state hospitals, those who survived them, and those still struggling with mental illness today. The request was approved in August 2025, with the inaugural observance set for September 15.