Stepping Stone, Inc. Fairmont, WV

10/12/2026

How to Feed a Young Man:

A lot of time goes into our menus. It's not just words on paper. It is the calories, protein, and nutrients you need to pay attention in class, focus at work, and fully grow into adulthood.

We plan three meals and two snacks every single day. 365 days a year (366 on Leap Year). Seven days a week, holidays, bad weather, and states of emergencies included.

We're not just a facility. For the young men here, we're (temporary) home. We can't close. We can't take snow days.

Our menus balance things young men love, with the nutrition they need. Fresh fruit is *ALWAYS* available, not limited to snack time. Our menu is pretty protein-rich, matching the level of activity and growth of the young men who live here.

And while this menu was chosen to highlight a particular favorite meal (Chinese food night!), every day reflects a similar balance to make sure residents have what they need. Meals are home cooked.

10/06/2026

10/05/2026

We are located between Fairmont and Grafton. But we serve clients from all over the State of WV!

They come here in pursuit of distinct goals: College, trade school, completing high school or earning a GED, getting a first job, renting an apartment.

No matter where in WV clients come from, they find a friendly and wholesome atmosphere, a staff ready to lend a hand, and resources for success in life. That's why our vision is to be the state leader in helping young men thrive.

09/28/2026

A major focus for our clients is personal development. We don't make up generic goals for them to cross things off a checklist. They create goals, based on their life and circumstances, leveraging strengths to achieve. If the goals change, their personal development plans change.

Some representative goals include:

- Saving enough to have first month's rent and a security deposit on an apartment;

- Achieving a $1,000 emergency savings fund;

- Enrolling in college and successfully completing the first semester;

- Planning a menu and cooking one meal from it.

Each goal is a step, it leads somewhere. Progress is gradual, sometimes slow. But it's real.

09/25/2026

You've heard of the mini bucket craze, right? Well, one of our staff members put the new vintage Menard's mini bucket to use as a candy bowl!

Have you fallen to the mini bucket frenzy? How do you use your mini buckets?

*Note - Background generated for max fall vibes.

09/23/2026

Did you know we've changed over the last few years?

Research and best practices aren't static. Neither is the regulatory environment.

What hasn't changed is our commitment to WV's young men in state custody. What has changed is the role we play in helping them.

Our program is now composed of three steps:
1 - Main House;
2 - Tiny Homes/Cabins;
3 - Community Living (Apartments, Dorms, etc.).

In this framework, our clients are more empowered than ever before to pursue personal development, achieve educational/employment goals, and exercise agency toward their objectives in life.

We are supporting clients as they attain jobs, complete high school or enroll in college/vocational training, develop budgets, and start to buy their own food and cook their own meals.

It required some big changes in our thinking about what we do and how we do it. But we're serving more clients than ever before, in pursuit of our vision to be the state leader in helping young men thrive.

09/15/2026

Today's edition of "Spot That Wildlife!"

We see some big birds around here, but it's not Sesame Street.

08/27/2026

We're back to school, but each year we end summer with a bang and our annual trip to Kennywood!

08/07/2026

Zoo trip to Hovatter's!

07/10/2026

Work isn't just a career at Stepping Stone, it's a calling. Today we celebrate 20 years of employment for our Operations Coordinator, Phil Wright! From training new staff to coaching football, Phil represents the best of investing in young men.

Congrats on 20 years, Phil!