Cummings Is Named ‘Light of the Valley’ by Wheeling YMCA
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WHEELING -- When the Wheeling YMCA presents the Dr. Lee Jones Patron of Youth Award, that winner gets to pick who will offer the opening and closing prayers at the annual Light of the Valley luncheon. Several times in the past, they have chosen Suff. Bishop Darrell Cummings, pastor of the Bethlehem Apostolic Temple.
Cummings has always considered that role an honor. He never thought he would be the one winning that award. This year, it's his turn to pick the person offering those prayers.
Cummings -- who, through his church, has helped countless children and families throughout the Ohio Valley with his holiday giveaways, back-to-school functions and much more -- is the 2023 recipient of the Dr. Lee Jones Patron of Youth Award. He will be honored Aug. 23 at Wheeling Park's White Palace Ballroom at the Light of the Valley luncheon.
Past award recipients have included Randy Worls, the late Bishop Bernard Schmitt, Robert Nutting, Bob Contraguerro Sr., Bob Robinson, Tom Bechtel, Gary West, the late Jim Bordas and his wife, Linda, Jim Crutchfield, the late Joe Viglietta, Dr. Gregory Merrick, the Ohio County Commission, Lisa Allen, Jay Adams and Dr. Daniel Joseph.
Wheeling YMCA Executive Director Adam Shinsky said it was difficult to quantify the impact Cummings has made to the youth of the Ohio Valley over the years.
"You can't replace a guy like him and the service he does," Shinsky said. "That's why he was a unanimous choice of our board. We give (this award) to people who make a difference, and that's an understatement for the work that he does. He makes holidays. He makes people's years. He makes kids' school years."
The most visible examples of his impact come during his holiday giveaways. Each year, a week or so before Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, cars will start lining up on WV 2 early on a Saturday morning to collect holiday meals of turkeys, hams, fresh and canned fruits and vegetables and more. At Christmas, the children who come that Saturday morning are escorted through a room filled with toys for them to pick from.
Before school begins each fall, the Bethlehem Apostolic Temple holds a back-to-school celebration, where children are given new backpacks filled with notebooks, pens and pencils and other school supplies.
The service to the valley's youth goes beyond that, Cummings said. The church adopts families throughout the year and, if their kids' school supplies run dry, the church will replenish them. If the families need help paying utility bills, they can apply to the church for payment assistance. The church also offers afterschool tutoring and food and family counseling.
Some of the motivation behind this philanthropy, Cummings said, comes from his personal experience. Earlier in his life, he was laid off from his job and wasn't able to provide a Christmas for his family.
"I asked God that, if he would help me to take care of my family, I'd pay it forward," he said. "That's what I've been trying to do. As long as God enables me and I can figure out a way, I'm going to do what I can to help as many people as I can."
YMCA Board of Directors President Jamie Bordas said Cummings' devotion to the youth and families of the region make him a shining example of what this award means, that he contributes to the community's betterment as both a man of faith and man of action.
"The full name of the YMCA is the Young Men's Christian Association," Bordas said. "When you think of people who have helped youth and done it in a Christian manner, there may be no one who comes to mind quicker in the Ohio Valley than Rev. Cummings.
"The things he has done to truly provide for youth in need," he continued, "to allow them to have an opportunity to have the things they need, to hear the right things and do things in the right way and be participants in the community in as full of a manner as possible really made it an easy decision."
Cummings said he never dreamed it would be him standing at the podium accepting this award, but is so thankful that the YMCA is recognizing the work he and his church has done and continues to do.
"The YMCA is a great organization," Cummings said. "I'm very humbled and grateful and thank them for this high honor."
The luncheon will begin at noon Aug. 23. Those seeking information about tickets can call Shinsky at the YMCA at 304-242-8086.