Photo Provided Volunteers and camp-goers from The House of the Carpenter, pictured during Madison Sports Camp put on by the Wheeling Island-based non-profit in February 2024.

WHEELING — The Wheeling Miners are partnering with The House of the Carpenter for their Saturday home game against the Western Maryland Warriors.

The House of the Carpenter is a non-profit mission project located on Wheeling Island and affiliated with the West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church. Their services include tutorship and after school programs, a food pantry, distributing basic clothing needs, a thrift store, offering different camps and classes for youth, alcoholics anonymous and addiction support groups for adults, among other charitable endeavors.

Now, the newly minted Wheeling Miners are teaming up with them during their game Saturday, a Star Wars-themed “May the Fourth be with you” game.

“Our hope is to raise awareness about programs that are available here for people in the community, and also to raise money to go towards our facilities, for those programs,” Jaclyn Gillispie-Fedak, the organization’s education coordinator, said.

During the game Saturday at WesBanco Arena, set to start at 7 p.m., the Miners will raise money for The House of the Carpenter in multiple ways, including donating the proceeds from the night’s 50/50 raffle. Staff from The House of the Carpenter will also be at the game. The sentiment is one that the Miners are hoping to continue throughout the season.

“We’re looking at partnering with several different groups,” Sarah Ochap, the Miners’ nonprofit coordinator, said. “The first game we partnered with the animal shelter, and so the proceeds went there. Our owner Chris Duffy, he is a wonderfully charitable man. He could be solely focusing on the football team at this point, but a major part of his mission is to give back to the community. That’s why we’re doing this.”

The Miners are 3-0 on the season and return to WesBanco on Saturday for their second home game, having defeated the Jersey Bearcats 42-32 in their home opener on April 19.

“I wanted to partner with the Miners because it’s something new and exciting,” Gillispie-Fedak said. “And anything that provides activities or entertainment for the people in our community, I think it’s needed. They need support, and we need support, so there was no reason not to.”

In addition to all of their mainstay services, The House of the Carpenter have also put on holiday events, back-to-school supply giveaways, and recently were involved in flood relief last month. The House of the Carpenter turns 60 years old this summer.

“I think that the work they do is heartfelt,” Ochap said. “It comes at a time almost always when it’s absolutely necessary, and they always come through, even if they’re flooded themselves. Whatever it is, nothing gets in the way of what they want to take care of.”

“I feel like the House of the Carpenter is the absolute supreme example of how to serve your community.”

The Miners (3-0) are currently in first place in the nine-team American Arena League 2, while the Warriors are in eighth place. The May 4 contest is the second of five home games for Wheeling this season.