COMMUNITY NEWS

WORKMAN SUPPORT KEEPS COMING
Communities, School, Teammates, Friends, Businesses, Churches Lend Their Hands
By Mark Hallburn
Publisher
PutnamLIVE.com

What do you do when a family in your community faces                                  tragedy? When you're                                    a West Virginian, you                                 reach out and help.                                  Then you reach out                                 more, and then you                                  continue to reach out.

Because that's what                                   West Virginians do.

Sunday, loving West                                Virginians, from Charleston to Huntington, from Hurricane to Buffalo, from Poca, to Winfield, drove to Winfield High School to reach out to Kristen and Sharon Workman. And they kept arriving, and arriving, and arriving, some early, some late, all caring, all there to simply help.

Because that's what West Virginians do.

Vickie Johnson, the humble and very camera-shy organizer of a spaghetti dinner to benefit Kristen and Sharon Workman couldn't believe her eyes. She was hoping to sell 500 tickets. Buyers doubled that-and more. Over 1,000 people came out to support the Workman's Sunday, April 20th. Dozens more generous people bought tickets in advance, saying they wouldn't be there, but wanted to help by donating their $5 ticket.

Because that's what West Virginians do.

"I can't believe this," says Johnson. "I'm having to send out for more food." Which she did.

It was a nice dilemma for Johnson, Debbie Griffith, Winfield High School Principal Bill Hughes, and all of the others who hoped to raise some money to help Sharon Workman, whose husband, Greg Workman, was killed in a coal mine accident March 12th, less than two weeks before their daughter, Kristen, was critically injured in a car accident March 31st.

"Wow, I'm overwhelmed," was about all Sharon Workman could say when PutnamLIVE.com asked for her reaction. "I can't believe this many people came today."

Yes, they did. The commons area was packed with supporters while the line stretched out to the parking lot-for more than an hour. The dinner that unofficially started at noon, officially started at 12:30, and continued past 3:00, raised thousands (they are still counting) of dollars to help the Workman's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because that's what West Virginians do.

More than a dozen businesses donated food for the dinner, with others donating items for a silent auction that will raise about another $1,000.

An autographed WVU football signed by WVU football team players arranged by Chief Magistrate Kylene Brown and her brother, Coach Steve Dunlap, will be raffled off May 22nd. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by contacting Johnson at 304-552-9704.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brown and Dunlap surprised Kristen with a second autographed football to keep as her souvenir of this special day.

Perhaps the most sought-after item Sunday was a Kristen Workman autographed softball which the last time we checked had a $150 bid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workman was a softball pitcher for Winfield's Lady Generals, so the West Virginia Power and the Cincinnati Reds donated tickets, an autographed baseball, and an autographed picture for the auction.

Because that's what baseball people do.

Back in the dining area, in a show of class, Buffalo's Lady Bison Softball Team tossed competition aside for the day, paid for their meals, ate spaghetti, then donated their time and labor to clean tables.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Today we're all on Kristen's team," says Coach Will Jordan. "The ladies of Buffalo High School wanted to show their support."

Because that's what West Virginians do.

Public officials and politicians also came out. Former Winfield Mayor Jake Hunt and his wife, Magistrate Linda Hunt, Putnam County Clerk Brian Wood, Magistrate Kylene Brown, Circuit Judge challenger Phil Stowers, Putnam County Commissioner former Putnam County Commissioner challenger Jerry Lilly, his wife, former Hurricane City Manager Karen Lilly, and current Poca Councilman James H. "Jim" Caruthers, also contributed to the cause, not to get votes, but simply to support the Workman's.

Because that's what West Virginians do.

And, of course, Kristen's Lady Generals teammates were thrilled when she arrived near the end of the festivities. They welcomed Kristen home with open arms, excited to see her back at school, if only to for a brief visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because that's what West Virginians do. 

"It's cool to be here," says Kristen. "Were there really 1,000 people? That's amazing."

Amazing was a word that was used a lot. Photographer Ed Conner says the crowd was "amazing." Principal Hughes says the crowd was "amazing," even Metro West reporter Shelby Young says the crowd was "amazing."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, those that know about the love and support of West Virginians weren't amazed. They knew that support would come out for The Workman's in droves. Which is exactly what happened.

Because that's what West Virginians do.

While people enjoyed the spaghetti indoors, Winfield's Fellowship of Christian Athletes washed cars in the school parking lot, getting soaked on a cold and damp day, but doing their part to contribute for Kristen and Sharon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because that's what West Virginians do.

Kristen's recovery will be a lengthy journey, so Johnson, Griffiths, and Hughes are already discussing more fundraisers and more silent auctions to help the Workman's. If you would like to contribute along the way, a special fund has been set up at Winfield High School. You can mail a check or money order to The Workman Family Fund, c/o Winfield High School, 3022 Winfield Road, Winfield, WV 25213, or drop off cash in person with Mr. Hughes.

"One lady stopped me at the career center and just handed me money," Hughes recalls. "She didn't even want a receipt. All she wanted to do was help the Workman's."

Because that's what West Virginians do.

 

Follow the story:

Reaching Out To The Workman's

Kristen and Sharon

Workman