Coal Miners Drive to Survive of Mingo County and Logan County-based Citizens for Coal have scheduled the one-day event for December 7 from noon to 7pm at the Chapmanville Municipal Building.
According to organisers, the rally will include banking institutions on hand to discuss financial issues, including loan refinancing for furloughed miners and mining officials will offer remarks about job possibilities going forward.
The groups also invited the Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College to present to miners and their spouses about available educational courses.
The family-friendly day will also include food, crafts, a cornhole tournament and fun for children, including photos with Santa.
Organiser Aleiah Kennedy told a local newspaper that she became involved with the effort after meeting the wife of a laid-off miner.
“I was at a park one day and I met a woman who said she liked my vehicle and said she wished she had hers back,” she told the Mount Airy News.
“She said the bank had taken it back after her husband was laid off.
“I couldn’t sleep that night thinking about what I could do to help.”
The groups will also be accepting donations for the furloughed workers in an ongoing effort that started on its Facebook page.
Workers and their families can apply for funds via Coal Miners Drive to Survive.
