Editor’s note: Seasoned writer and journalist Kim Howard is covering life in southern Upshur County in this occasional pop-up series, ‘Southern Upshur County Living’ for My Buckhannon.

ROCK CAVE — The community of Rock Cave and the surrounding area came out in full force on Wednesday to support the opening of Upshur Parish House’s new satellite location in Southern Upshur County.

“The turnout exceeded our expectations,” said Parish House Executive Director Isaac Casto. “We planned for 50 people, but we have far exceeded that number.”

Casto estimated that approximately 70 people attended the two-hour open house event to show support and leave donations to help stock the organization’s new food pantry ahead of the official opening next week.

The new location is at the old Rock Cave United Methodist Church (RCUMC) on Route 4, just past the Banks District Volunteer Fire Dept and Civic Center.

The RCUMC congregation donated the church building to the Parish House in October of 2023 because attendance had waned, and the congregation realized they were going to have to close.

“They realized they were going to have to close their doors, but they wanted to continue their ministry so they donated the church to us so the ministry could continue in this way,” said Casto.

(Read more about the Rock Cave UM Church’s decision to donate/transfer the building to the Upshur Cooperative Parish and Crosslines here.)

The Rock Cave satellite office will officially open Wednesday, Aug. 28 and offer food, rent and utility bill assistance to eligible individuals.

“We will have a full food pantry and provide help with gas, electricity, and water bills from this location, just as we do in town,” Casto said.

“We decided to start with basic services and grow as we need,” he added. “We recognize that Rock Cave is its own unique community, and we want to serve the community in the ways it needs. It’s really a blank canvas,” said Casto. 

Anyone interested in volunteering or making monetary donations may call the office at 304-472-0743 or sign up under the “How You Can Help” section of the organization’s web page at parishhouse.org. Additional information is available on their Facebook page.

The satellite office is located at 4 Church Street in Rock Cave. Hours of operation will be Wednesdays from noon to 4 p.m. Donations can be dropped off at the Rock Cave location as well as at the Buckhannon location at 68 College Ave.

Below are some additional photos from Wednesday’s open house: