MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The social service hub located at the former Ramada Inn site on Scott Avenue has officially changed the operating manager for the site.
Monongalia County Commission President Jeff Arnett announced that Morgantown Community Resources (MCR) Inc. officially closed on an agreement with the United Way of Mon and Preston County to take over as full managing partner at Hazel’s House of Hope. This decision was announced during the commission’s regular meeting Wednesday.
“During the Morgantown Community Resources meeting, that’s the entity that owns Hazel’s House of Hope, we’ve completed the transition now to United Way being the managing partner for the entire center up there,” said Arnett. “Rather than the board at MCR being the day-to-day manager.”
As part of the management team, the United Way MPC officially hired former Catholic Charities warming shelter manager Dr. Jessica Thompson as operations manager at Hazel’s House of Hope. Thompson brings over two decades of experience in criminal justice as well as close to a decade of administrative experience with social organizations from around the Mountain State, including time served with the Human Resource Development Foundation. Representatives with the county and the City of Morgantown will remain involved in administrative discussions.
“So they put their team in place in the accounting department and the director’s seat and are looking forward to good things from them to move that forward,” said Arnett.
During the commission’s meeting, Arnett also announced that the county officially closed on the purchase of ten parcels of property located along University Avenue for approximately $815,000. The land formerly occupied by the Morgantown area Salvation Army was purchased from MCR Inc. about a year after it was sold to the nonprofit back in 2024. With all standing buildings cleared on the parcels ready for development, Arnett expressed optimism in the potential for the site located a short walk away from the Westover Bridge in downtown Morgantown.
“Yesterday I completed the closing documents for our purchase of the former Salvation Army site on University Avenue,” said Arnett. “So we now own the vacant lots and the adjacent parking lot up above, so we’re looking forward to what we can do with that property.”
In the closing minutes of the meeting, Arnett also emphasized the continued need for donations and volunteers for food banks around the North Central region of the state. This comes after meetings with nonprofits from Monongalia, Marion, and Preston Counties, where they reported requests for food distributions have doubled, and in some cases tripled, depending on location. With food distribution requests expected to remain on pace heading into the holiday season, the commission encouraged as much local involvement as possible.
“Anybody who wants to, come on down, if your interest is animals, the various rescue agencies, they all need volunteers, all the food pantries need volunteers,” said Arnett. “Even if it’s a couple hours a week, it could go a long way, and of course, donations to those places are greatly warranted.”