Photo Provided BeCI CCC Coordinator Chris Aubrey, from left, Robert “Scott” Steele of the Harmony House, BeCI Warden Shelbie Smith, and Rachel Stupak and Abigail Lish of Harmony House gather to celebrate a donation. BeCI provided more than $1,300 to Harmony House.

BANNOCK — Belmont Correctional Institution through its Combined Charitable Campaign presented the Harmony House of Belmont County a donation of $1,315.

Robert Steele, Rachel Stupak and Abigail Lish accepted the donation for the community organization located in St. Clairsville. Harmony House is a Children’s Advocacy Center. Its mission is to reduce the effects of abuse on all children, as well as individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and the community by serving as a community resource to facilitate identification, intervention and the prevention of child abuse.

BeCI through its staff raised funds to be donated to its CCC. The Combined Charitable Campaign is an annual initiative that encourages state of Ohio employees to donate to one or more of 1,000 local, regional and international charitable organizations. BeCI held events, such as bake sales, silent auctions and boxed lunches to raise funds for charitable organizations. Staff also had the option to pledge donations to organizations of their choice.

“The Combined Charitable Campaign is a good way to give back to the community,” BeCI CCC Coordinator Chris Aubrey states in a release. “BeCI held fundraisers and wanted to give to a great cause in our local community. The Harmony House was a no brainer.”

Warden Shelbie Smith added, “Being able to help local organizations that help victims, children, and those in need is very important. I would like to thank the staff at BeCI, especially Chris Aubrey, for their efforts in fundraising and their generosity in donating to charitable organizations like the Harmony House.”