What We Do

ARO is honored and privileged to partner with Christians, churches, businesses, ministries, and individuals to carry out the love of Christ through the Great Commission in our community. Christ, through His example of love, grace and mercy, opened up doors with others through relationships.

ARO’s integral work in the community includes meeting basic needs through an on-site thrift store and food pantry. Besides these consistent operations, ARO focuses its ministry within four main areas: (1) supporting addiction recovery services, (2) education, (3) work and witness teams, and (4) community and leadership development.

Addiction Recovery Support

ARO partners with addiction recovery programs to provide encouragement during treatment and meet immediate needs of those exiting recovery programs. As examples, ARO regularly...

Provides hot meals at Celebrate Recovery
Hosts enrichment activities at in-patient women's Addiction Recovery Care centers and Serenity House

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Education

ARO is closely involved with needs of local schools to serve families. ARO...

Provides in-school tutoring sessions
Supports Family Resource Centers with food, school supply, and hygiene donations
Works with schools to identify families in need of home repairs, and uses volunteers to make homes safer
Hosts summer VBS

Work & Witness

ARO brings volunteers from all over the country to plug into the work already happening in Appalachia, mobilizing volunteers. Work and witness...

Completes crucial home repairs for families, especially those with children recommended by local schools, the disabled, and the elderly
Partners with communities to improve civic works such as parks, ballfields, libraries, and more

Community Engagement & Leadership Development

ARO believes in collaborative change, and puts that focus into action by reaching out to community partners to improve outcomes for all: front-line organizations, and those we serve. ARO...

Participates in local advisory councils, and Direct Line meetings with service providers to identify barriers
Partners with colleges to promote studies, internships, and awareness of the challenges in Appalachia

We know that many families in Appalachia have been affected by addiction, so we work closely with Addiction Recovery Care, (White Oak Hill and Karen's Place Maternity Center), Thrive Community Coalition, Mountain Comprehensive Care's Serenity House, Martin County's Celebrate Recovery Program and other recovery programs. Secondly, We believe that if we are going to break the generational chains of poverty we have to impact our children through education. ARO works closely with the FRYSCs as well as the Board of Education. ARO also hosts multiple Vacation Bible Schools during the summers, partnering with Warfield Community Park and Inez Free Will Baptist. Our Work and Witness teams we host positively impact our community by working on families' homes who could not otherwise make necessary repairs. Our teams also tutor students, paint classrooms, improve and maintain community resources, and do countless other service projects in partnership with local government, the Martin County Tourism Board, and other civic organizations. In 2024, ARO hosted a total of 40 Work and Witness groups. ARO engages its community every day with leaders in the county's development. We have grown over the years adding additional ministry sites. All of this has been very organic and God-led. We attribute all our success to Jesus Christ and the good work He graciously does through us.

Ministry Sites