Love Your Neighbor - The Mountain Spirit Fall/Winter 2020

IN THIS ISSUE n Answering the Call n The Lord Provides n Service at a Social Distance n Impossible to Imagine

Spirit VOL. 39, NO. 2 FALL/WINTER 2020

Love your neighbor A BIANNUAL PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

In late March, the novel coronavirus was establishing a foothold in the United States and soon in Kentucky cases would rise also. Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) made the prudent choice to alter work and programming. That was six months ago.

Spirit

Building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.

There was uncertainty about how we would be able to serve the most vulnerable of populations, who even before COVID-19 were struggling to Tina V. Bryson balance many challenges. CAP employees tbryson@chrisapp.org and volunteers practiced that simple truth: to love your neighbor as yourself. That truth is no pie in the sky admonition, but it is the hard work of putting others before yourself, a true labor of love. It is doing the thing that is best for those around you, even when it may be an inconvenience or create a hardship for you personally. Loving your neighbor looks like wearing a mask, socially distancing, or staying at home.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tina V. Bryson

In this issue of The Mountain Spirit, we’re sharing the many ways that CAP has been able to combat an invisible enemy in order to love our neighbors. You will read about the power of partnerships on page 12, where a variety of programs at CAP worked together to help stock the shelves of a small pantry in Jackson County. The director there declared that “The Lord always sends you somebody.”

By phone: 859.269.0635 Toll-free: 866.270.4CAP (4227) Email: capinfo@chrisapp.org Website: christianapp.org

A missions group illustrated what it means to love your neighbor when they found a way to help even though their trip had to be postponed due to pandemic-related travel restrictions. Read their story on page 26.

One of my favorite stories in this issue is a spotlight on our Administration Team that does so much behind the scenes to make sure that CAP is a high-performance workplace even in the midst of a pandemic and that we utilize funds from our generous donors to have the greatest impact.

They demonstrate what it means to use the gifts God has given to us to touch the lives of others. Find their story on page 10.

On page 30 and 33, you will read the stories of artists who seek to change the narrative about Appalachia through their own Godgiven gifts of photography and creative writing as the pandemic and social justice issues drive them to add their voices to the singing of a different song.

The problems facing our country are overwhelming at times and the daily challenges faced by our participants can often seem insurmountable. The pandemic created increased areas of vulnerability. CAP has and will continue to stand in the gap, fill the void, build bridges, and help people in need. That’s what it looks like to love your neighbor as yourself.

COPY EDITORS Dennis Jacobs, Amy Schill

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Tina V. Bryson, Stephanie Jennings, Alison Ferguson, Patrick J. Mitchell

CONTACT US

SUBSCRIPTIONS The Mountain Spirit is published twice a year. The suggested donation is $20.00. Subscription requests and other correspondence should be sent to: Christian Appalachian Project The Mountain Spirit P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555-5911 Copyright 2020. Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Christian Appalachian Project is a nonprofit Christian service organization operating throughout Appalachia. Christian Appalachian Project is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is qualified to receive tax-deductible contributions.

ON THE COVER: Aaron Thoms, manager of Operation Sharing in Paintsville, Kentucky, helps a community organization load Lunchables provided through CAP’s partnership with Feed the Children.

Contents Meet the Writers Sarabeth Brownrobie Sarabeth serves as a volunteer recruiter in CAP’s Volunteer Program.

Faith

6 Answering the Call

Alice Murphy meets needs through excellence in customer service.

10 The Efficacy of Efficiency

CAP's Administration Team works behind the scenes to maximize mission impact.

Brandy Calvert, Ed.D. Brandy serves in CAP’s Direct Response Program and manages Customer Service.

Kim Kobersmith Kim is a freelance writer and journalist in Berea, Kentucky.

Service

12 The Lord Provides

A small pantry in Jackson County rises to the challenges increased by COVID-19.

14 Sweat and Tears

The Housing Program works to manage crises created when COVID-19 restrictions impacted WorkFest and YouthFest.

18 The Sweet Taste of Summer Camp Summer camp staff bring out-of-the box ideas to Camp In A Box.

Owen Perry Owen served as a Communications summer intern virtually.

He is from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jereme Zimmerman Jereme is a freelance writer in Berea, Kentucky.

Compassion

24 Little Things Mean the Most

The Elderly Services Program manages COVID-19 restrictions to connect with participants.

26 Service at a Social Distance

A mission group finds a creative way to serve when their trip to Kentucky was postponed.

28 Every Day Is a Lesson

Madeline Laurenzano embraces flexibility to continue her volunteer service during the pandemic.

Arts + Culture Kate Underwood Kate is a freelance writer in Richmond, Kentucky.

30 In the Eye of the Beholder

Documentary photographer, Morgan Hornsby, lets us see Appalachia through her personal lens.

33 Impossible to Imagine

Frank X Walker challenges the status quo amid changing perspectives.

Spirit News Disaster Relief steps up to help frontline workers with equipment Disaster Relief has found a variety of ways to help the community during the coronavirus crisis, including the Grateful Bread Food Pantry by donating rubber gloves, masks, and bleach. But staff also found ways to help the community at large.

“I knew we had extra personal protective equipment so I contacted the Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center,” said Robyn Renner, manager of Disaster Relief and chair of the Kentucky Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. After contacting the hospital, Renner learned that N95 masks was what they needed most. “I knew we had masks in our inventory and how important it was to get them in the hands of our healthcare workers. I couldn’t stand the thought of them running out and being exposed to this virus. I knew they were risking their lives to help save others and how important it was to keep them protected as well as their families.” CAP was able to donate 1,718 N95 masks to the hospital.

CAP partners with Toys for Tots and Good360 to help children The pandemic has shuttered countless businesses, forced families to remain isolated in their homes, and resulted in millions of parents being unemployed, without income, and in dire need of support.

While Toys for Tots is the nation’s flagship children’s Christmastime charity, the organization didn’t wait until the holidays to provide support. Toys for Tots partnered with Good360 and CAP to facilitate the distribution of toys, games, and books to families in need in Appalachia.

Operation Sharing turns 35 This year CAP’s Operation Sharing celebrates 35 years of service. Since its beginning, the program has received and redistributed gifts-in-kind at a value of almost $2 billion to nonprofits, churches, schools, and community-based agencies across the 13 Appalachian states, Arkansas, and Missouri. Jeff Burchett, director, said the program received nearly $106 million in gifts-in-kind donations this fiscal year. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Operation Sharing has seen a 21.5 percent increase in donations it has received.

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News Orphan Care Alliance donates needed essentials for infants The mission of the Orphan Care Alliance (OCA), based in Louisville, Kentucky, is to equip, connect, and mobilize Christians to serve vulnerable children and families. This made them a perfect organization to partner with CAP’s Family Advocacy Program. OCA donated 148 boxes of infant and children’s essentials, plus baby clothes and diapers in a variety of sizes.

Preschool graduation brings joy in transition Both locations of CAP’s Child and Family Development Centers celebrated their students moving on to kindergarten.

Mt. Vernon had 18 preschoolers graduating and Eagle had five. Due to COVID-19, neither location was able to finish the school year or celebrate in their usual manner, so staff brainstormed for creative ways to let the students know how special and amazing they are. Eagle decided to provide each student their own private ceremony to prevent exposure, while Mt. Vernon opted to do a graduation parade.

“We wanted to celebrate the accomplishment that each of our kids were able to achieve and to let them know that even though we had to do things in a different way, we were still able to do what we wanted to do,” said Joseph Beaudoin, manager at Eagle. “Life is like that sometimes. But it is up to us to adapt and overcome.”

CAP finds ways to help pets too CAP is known for helping people in need, but a partnership with Feed the Children provided an opportunity to help furry friends too. Feed the Children, one of CAP’s largest partners, also donates pet food and other pet supplies from national chains that go to help locally like the Whiskers or Wags Johnson County Animal Shelter.

“Primarily, we have received cat and dog food,” said Lisa Trusty-Roberts, president of Whiskers or Wags and shelter manager. “We have also received dog and cat treats as well as dog beds and toys. We are also a partner with Operation Sharing, and receive essential items for our volunteers too.”

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Faith

“I love that we’re a human services organization.”

— Alice Murphy

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Faith

ANSWERING THE CALL

BY BRANDY M. CALVERT, ED.D. AND TINA V. BRYSON

O

ne day a farmer from Idaho called Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) and spoke to Alice Murphy, a customer service specialist.

The farmer had come in from work in the fields to find that his wife had left him and taken the children. She had left a note. He was crushed when he read that she could not take the seclusion and mundane life of living in the middle of nowhere, of being married to a farmer.

On the table near that note, he saw a letter from CAP. He immediately called the number on the letter, and Alice answered.

“I prayed with him for months for comfort and strength to get him through that difficult time,” Murphy said. “He called a few more times to donate and he always asked for me if I wasn’t the one who answered. I get a little emotional when a caller asks for prayer because I can hear the concern, desperation, and pain in their voice.”

If you’ve ever called CAP, you have probably spoken with Murphy, who is the first point of contact for most callers. Donors sometimes call with questions or with prayer requests, and people in need call Murphy for help. She connects CAP donors and prospective volunteers with the children, families, and seniors in need that CAP serves in Appalachia.

When she says she “gets” to talk to folks, she means it just like that. Murphy loves to talk to callers. And she loves to listen. She makes connections and exemplifies CAP’s core values of faith, service, and compassion in her approach to every phone call.

When Kentucky began to shut down, Murphy, like other office staff members, had to relocate to her home, but in spite of myriad challenges presented by COVID-19, she didn’t skip a beat. “I love that we’re a human services organization,” she explained. “When I was in the corporate world, I didn’t always come home and feel good about myself. Now, when I log out at the end of the day, I know I’ve helped at least one person.”

COVID-19 not only impacted CAP’s operations, but Murphy noticed a change in calls too. “Some donors called to say that they’d lost their jobs and needed to reduce the amount of their regular donation or to cancel altogether,” Murphy explained. “In other cases, donors called to increase their gifts understanding how the need in Appalachia had increased. Some just called to pray with and for us.”

At the beginning of the pandemic, the Appalachian region was also hit with flooding, high winds, and even a tornado in one county. “It was just call after call for two weeks from people who were in dire straits,” Murphy noted. “Twenty-five thousand people were without electricity for two weeks.”

People needed help. Some needed food, others had houses that had slid off foundations. One grandmother was living in a garage with three little grandchildren and no electricity. They all called CAP. Murphy did what she does best. She made connections, determined the need, and connected callers to CAP staff who could step in and help them address their situations.

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Faith

“Alice doesn’t just answer the phone and transfer the call, she finds a way to connect to each of the callers.

She’s literally the best listener that I’ve ever met.”

— Ryan Leigh Chapman

She’s transformed the Customer Service Program, too.

She takes time to hand write prayer cards and sympathy cards, and loves adding a personal touch to the notes. “I want the caller or donor to know that they were heard individually and that I paid attention to their specific need,” she said.

“When I think about Alice, I think about how far the CAP Customer Service Program has evolved,” said Ryan Leigh Chapman, director of Direct Response fundraising.

“Alice is someone who has taken time to get to know the program managers, learn CAP’s history, and really learn all the facets of what we do as a nonprofit serving exclusively in Appalachia. Alice doesn’t just answer the phone and transfer the call, she finds a way to connect to each of the callers. She’s literally the best listener that I’ve ever met.”

One of her most memorable phone calls came late on a Friday, just 20 minutes before quitting time. A senior called from New York. She had received a CAP calendar and got the phone number off the back. She said that she had outlived all of her family and friends.

“It was her birthday and she was 94. She said she had not seen or spoken to another human in days,” Murphy recalled. “She said that she was tired and was ready for

8 The Mountain SPIRIT

God to call her home. I sang Happy Birthday to her and prayed with her for God’s will. She was laughing when we hung up, and I was crying. I love my job at CAP. I get to talk to donors and participants. I really do get the best of both worlds.“ n

A CLOSER LOOK • During the summer months, Alice speaks with 50-75 callers per day, on average.

• During the winter months, Alice speaks with around 100 callers per day.

• Alice takes prayer requests from callers, then CAP staff pray over those requests, as many as 10-12 requests per week.

• Around 40 percent of callers are participants seeking CAP’s services.

• Around 30 percent of callers are donors with questions, comments, prayer requests, or wanting to make a donation.

Congratulations

CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT'S

CHAMPIONS of Appalachia 2 0 20 Sponsored by NetGain Technologies, Inc.

Faith THE EFFICACY OF EFFICIENCY Administration Team fulfills critical role in CAP's mission

BY TINA V. BRYSON

C

hristian Appalachian Project (CAP) is the largest human services organization in the nation that serves Appalachia exclusively. We provide a network of 16 interrelated service programs including mental health counseling, a food pantry, a thrift store, preschools, summer camps, housing, disaster relief, and elderly services. Shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a devasting impact across human service organizations, disrupting the channels that connect staff and volunteers with participants. But CAP addressed the issue head on, answering the questions “how could we continue to deliver services in our area of 11 counties, especially in our six primary counties?”

“For the past five years, CAP’s strategic plans and Leadership Team Playbook have focused on a culture of collaboration, technology, and safety,” said Gloria Jordan, vice president of administration. “Our thematic goal of ‘All In’ created an intentionality around working strategically together to further CAP’s mission. All of these measures helped prepare CAP staff to manage well during the impact of COVID-19.”

CAP had spent the last five years transitioning to cloudbased systems for many administrative functions including Finance, Human Resources, and Information Technology. It also connected programs across the many counties CAP serves. Files can be easily shared and meetings can be conducted digitally.

“I believe that God gave us the wisdom to upgrade to a cloud-based system,” said Brian Stiefel, CAP’s Chief Financial Officer. “This upgrade made it possible to access our system and any needed documentation from anywhere. Even though Finance doesn’t interact directly with our donors or participants, we support those who do. We strive to provide the support needed so that our donors’ gifts have the greatest impact in Appalachia and our programs are able to focus fully on serving our participants.”

From the Leadership Team through each department and program, CAP’s community of care has worked to live

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out its mission of building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia. While the mission is easy to see in direct service to participants, it is equally present in every aspect of our operations.

“All staff now employed in Information Technology previously served in direct service programs at CAP which gives us a profound sense of purpose and special insight into what will help programs more efficiently and effectively live out the mission and purpose of CAP,” said Barry Powers, manager of Information Technology.

“It doesn’t matter which program we are serving, we love the fact that our work directly assists programs in carrying out CAP’s mission to participants and their families, shoring them up to feel safe, healthy, and above all, hopeful.”

The Administration Team consists of Human Resources, Risk Management, Finance, Information Technology, Facilities Management, and Operation Sharing (CAP’s gifts-in-kind program). Collectively, they help CAP fulfill its mission by providing accountability and stewardship of all resources. They work diligently to provide a pathway into the organization, to ensure a safe and healthy work environment where the work is done within the required standards, regulations, policies, and best practices; to ensure financial stewardship and accountability; to ensure all equipment, facilities, and vehicles are available and in good working order; to ensure gifts-in-kind are available to offset program overhead costs; and to ensure the necessary infrastructures are in place so that work can be performed with the least amount of disruptions.

“Administration supports, empowers, and enables the staff who are in the trenches serving as the hands and feet of Jesus to our participants,” Jordan noted. “During this time of COVID-19, the needs of our participants did not decrease; in fact, they became greater. Administration was able to provide resources, encouragement, and supplies to program staff, so that they could continue to fulfill the CAP mission of serving our participants and meeting their needs,” she said.

Faith

“Administration supports, empowers, and enables the staff who are in the trenches serving as the hands and feet of Jesus to our participants.”

— Gloria Jordan

CAP was not immune to government restrictions to stay at home and practice social distancing. The entire staff worked to ensure that exposure to the virus was minimized for employees and volunteers as well as our participants. Everyone began with a limited knowledge of COVID-19 and there was a steep learning curve that required increased communication and collaboration.

Things were changing rapidly, and it was difficult to keep up with those changes.

“This crisis has afforded us the opportunity to work directly with our programs in a profound way, helping them to devise plans for how to continue administering assistance to participants, donors, and our surrounding communities, no matter the situation surrounding us,” Powers added. “CAP has always been an organization that is very spread out over a large geographical area, most of which is rural. Our transition a few years ago to digital and cloud services helped alleviate what we saw as a pain point for employees who largely worked out of the office. This transition has allowed us to have more efficient and effective processes.”

Once COVID-19 hit, CAP was far ahead of a lot of other organizations in our area, including businesses, as we had already done the brunt of this transition over a long period of time, managing costs and maintaining our high standards as stewards of donated funds. Powers explained, “This strategic planning allowed us to effectively pack up and shelter in place, but still continue to function on a very high level very quickly. All of the groundwork that was laid was essential. We were able to pivot on a lot of fronts and still provide services that were

Last year, over 248,000 donors contributed to Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). The work of the Administration Team, from Information Technology and Finance to Human Resources and Facilities Management, help make CAP's mission possible to serve our participants.

otherwise cut off from other organizations. The hard work paid off in equipping our staff during that transition, and most importantly that through technological solutions CAP was able to continue to provide service to our participants in an unprecedented time.” n

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Service

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Service

The Lord Provides

BY OWEN PERRY

Y

ou can find the Jackson County Emergency Food Bank in McKee, Kentucky, tucked away on McCammon Ridge Road between the McKee Senior Citizens Center and the Jackson County Detention Center. As COVID-19 wreaked havoc on this vulnerable population, Joyce Marks, the food bank director, continued to keep the faith and meet community needs.

“COVID really affected the community,” said Marks, who at one time saw 900 people in one month served through the pantry. “When people got their extra unemployment checks and their extra food stamps, our numbers went down to about 500 people a month. It’s starting to climb again. Food stamps and stimulus are gone. Now, we are back to serving 12-20 families a day.”

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) wanted to partner with the food bank since the community had been hit so hard by coronavirus. A nursing home in the county had been one of Kentucky’s hot spots in the pandemic and CAP’s Disaster Relief Program donated much-needed personal protective equipment including 269 Tyvek suits and 672 masks from Disaster Relief. Carolyn Lindsey, manager of CAP’s Elderly Services Program in Jackson, Rockcastle, and McCreary Counties, coordinated the delivery of items from CAP’s Operation Sharing warehouse to the Jackson County Emergency Food Bank.

“Having a food bank accessible to the community makes a huge difference in the lives of residents,” Lindsey said.

“They don’t have to worry where their next meal will come from, they know that there are resources available for them. Knowing that you can access the help that you need when you need it is comforting and gives people peace of mind, especially parents and grandparents raising kids.”

Marks and her small staff rely on volunteers to keep the food bank running. Local churches and businesses have supported their efforts to make sure residents continue to have the resources that they need.

“People would go hungry if it were not for the food bank,” Marks said. The food bank has been in operation since 1986. “I have served several in the past few weeks that had nothing. One lady hadn’t had anything to eat in three days. She said she hated to ask for help.”

Joyce Marks, director of the Jackson County Emergency Food Bank, knows that what they provide can make the difference between residents having food or going hungry.

CAP refers many families who have food insecurities to the food bank through our Family Advocacy Program.

Marks and Lindsey recognize the power of community partnerships.

“When we pool our resources, we can help meet more of the overall needs of the families and individuals we serve,” Lindsey noted. “Community partnerships help further CAP’s mission by allowing us to reach more people in need and focus more on the family as a whole, rather than just one specific need they may have at a time. It also helps all of us utilize our resources in a more substantial way when we work together.”

Marks agreed explaining how a partnership with the detention center down the road had provided them community service while also providing needed volunteers to unload trucks and help stock shelves. With this load, CAP staff from the Housing Program, the Volunteer Program, the Grateful Bread Food Pantry, and the Elderly Services Program joined together to help the Jackson County Emergency Food Bank.

“We need the help. The detention center is quarantined now because of COVID-19 restrictions and they can't volunteer and help us like they were doing before,” she said. “The Lord has truly blessed the food bank. It never ceases to amaze me that when things get low, some food comes in from somewhere. The Lord always sends you somebody.” n

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Service

Sweat and Tears

BY KATE UNDERWOOD

C

hristian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) alternative spring break experience brings hundreds of high school and college students to Eastern Kentucky every year to make much-needed home repairs in the region. Many participants have been on the list for months waiting for eager volunteers to add their labor to that of CAP staff and to see their homes made safe, warm, dry, and accessible. But not this year. Though CAP staff had prepared homes for new roofs, kitchens, bathrooms, floors, and porches, new coronavirus restrictions required teams already here to be called home and led to the cancellation of the remainder of this annual housing repair blitz. This left many homes prepped for repairs and only CAP staff to do the work that would have been completed by hundreds of volunteers.

Continued on page 16

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Service

Quiet Confidence Kayla Smith and her parents were looking forward to having a ramp added to their home during this year’s YouthFest. But then, like so many others around the world, they received the news that because of the coronavirus, their plans were going to change. YouthFest, an alternative spring break volunteer season hosted

by Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) was cancelled.

“I was confident that CAP would still be able to help us, it would just take a little longer because of COVID-19,” Smith said. “Instead of a whole team of volunteers, they would only have 2-3 people that could work on the ramp.

There were safety restrictions because of coronavirus so they couldn’t have a lot of people at the house.”

Smith struggles with a variety of health issues that make it critical for her to have safe access in and out of her home. She lives with her parents who help her navigate these challenges.

“We really appreciate Ronnie and the others who worked so hard to get the ramp built for Kayla,” said her mother, Kim Haney. “It’s made life a lot easier and a lot safer.”

Kayla Smith (left) and two volunteers, before the mask mandate in Kentucky, are all smiles about the addition of a handicap accessible ramp into her home that makes life easier to maneuver.

safer for her because I don’t have to try to hold her up when she walks.

She can get up and down the ramp safely by herself.”

The steps are precarious, and Smith must sometimes use a wheelchair.

Smith said that before the ramp, she and her father would sometimes accidentally miss the step leading out of the house which usually made going and coming a challenge.

Smith continues to battle several health challenges, but she is grateful that CAP finished the projects that they planned to complete during YouthFest. “My cancer is back, but I hope the treatments help. Because of the ramp that CAP put in, I can use my wheelchair to get in and out of the house. Without that help, we would have just found a way to continue to make the steps work.”

“It’s been a help to all of us actually,” Haney added. “I wish we had a ramp years ago. It would have made it a lot easier getting in and out of the house when Kayla was having chemo treatments. The ramp has made it

Haney is happy that CAP has continued to help her family. Before her mother passed away, CAP put in a ramp at her house too. “All I can say is thank you very much. I appreciate all CAP did. God bless you.”

BEFORE

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Service Continued from page 14 “We start making plans months in advance to select projects and pair incoming teams to worksites,” explained Bryan Byrd, CAP’s manager of Housing in Johnson, Floyd, and Martin Counties. “All of our sites had materials delivered and work started at various stages. We were one week into WorkFest when schools began canceling due to COVID-19 shutdowns. In some cases, that work was critical and needed to be completed as soon as possible, such as roofs that were partially covered or bathroom renovations partially completed.” YouthFest, slated to begin March 22, had to be completely called off.

Originally, there were 22 schools scheduled to participate in WorkFest, with an additional 30 groups expected for YouthFest and Mission Groups season. Many were cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. The first week was completed, but as cases began to increase across the United States, colleges started recalling their students to campus which created a domino effect. CAP’s Leadership Team made the decision to cancel all remaining trips at the end of the second week of WorkFest. There were 16 schools that attended the shortened season.

“It’s been difficult for staff and participants, but we will continue to build hope and transform lives. We all know that we’re in this together.”

— Bryan Byrd “We usually set up 28-30 jobs starting in January,” said Teresa Gullett, manager of Elderly Services which oversees YouthFest, the high school service week. “We focus on things they can accomplish within that one week, like ramps and underpinnings,” she said.

Gullett had to notify many participants of the delay in their home projects due to COVID-19. “When we realized a few weeks before that we wouldn’t be able to do it, it was heartbreaking to pick up the phone and tell them it was cancelled,” she said. “They understood, but if it were my parent needing that ramp, I’d have been devastated too.”

Jill Stafford, a Housing caseworker, said that participants called her frequently during the shutdown, anxious for updates on when work might resume.

“We were all in the same boat,” Stafford said. “Our CAP offices were closed, and there were restrictions across the state. We wanted to help our participants, but we also

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A CLOSER LOOK There are 54 counties in Appalachian Eastern Kentucky and 38 have been deemed "distressed" by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

"Distressed" counties are described as being in the bottom 10 percent economically in the country, but many of the counties we serve are in the bottom 1-5 percent economically. Last year, CAP completed 288 housing projects in 6 of those 38 counties. The overall poverty rate in Kentucky is around 18 percent which is 4 percent higher than the national average. However, the rate for the counties served by CAP is just over 30 percent.

The percentage of children living in poverty in the counties CAP serve is even worse at 39 percent. wanted to protect them and ourselves from a virus that we didn’t know much about.”

CAP Housing staff in all primary service counties immediately worked to address critical repairs such as homes that needed roofs. Four months later, Stafford noted that work has resumed, but progress on the jobs is slow, since current restrictions only allow a few volunteers to work on a site at a time. “They’ve begun doing some of the outside work, but are generally not allowed inside the homes yet,” she said.

Byrd said a significant amount of work remains incomplete. “Instead of hundreds of volunteers, we are working with a limited staff of five people on these sites.

There is a massive amount of work to be done on open projects. Other families who would have been receiving help are not, nor will they in the near future.”

Student volunteers also missed out on valuable service and learning experience due to the cancellation. “We lost a connection with students and short-term volunteers who come every year to serve as assistant crew leaders,” Byrd added. “That adds up to hundreds of hours of lost work as well as time our staff usually spend building and maintaining relationships with our dedicated volunteers.”

Prioritizing homes and projects to tackle is a challenge.

“We have communicated our plans to meet the most critical needs first. That may mean bouncing around from site to site for a while,” Byrd noted. “Our participants have been more than patient and understanding. They remain hopeful about our return to their homes to complete the work that we started. It’s been difficult for staff and participants, but we will continue to build hope and transform lives. We all know that we’re in this together.” n

YOU can make a difference in the lives of children, families, and seniors in Appalachia.

Service The Sweet Taste of

BY KIM KOBERSMITH

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Service

M

ost aspects of summer camp cannot fit in a shoebox. But some can.

Tree bark to make a name tag, supplies to make s’mores, a camp t-shirt to tie-dye, and water balloons were a sampling of what made a success of the first ever Camp in a Box by Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) two summer camps. Hand-packed with love by current camp staff and former volunteer counselors, the simple white boxes contained supplies and instructions for six weekly camp activities. Staff from both Camp AJ and Camp Shawnee, as well as numerous volunteer alumni led virtual activities each week while also engaging campers on weekly Zoom interactions.

“I am grateful that even though CAP staff are not having on-site camp, they are having these enrichment sessions virtually,” said Alison Ferguson, mom of Camp Shawnee campers Drew, 13, and Ijah, 11. “Everything is going digital and they are staying with the pace.”

CAP staff started making plans for a virtual camp experience in the early part of spring when it began to look certain that the pandemic would preclude inperson camp this year. As they imagined what camp could look like digitally, they kept two priorities front and center: fostering connections with the kids they serve and offering activities that nurtured creativity and got campers outside.

One of the Fergusons’ favorite weeks featured the campfire activity. Ijah had never built a fire before, but the instructions included safety practices as well as techniques. After the boys chopped wood from a downed tree, they set it ablaze in their backyard fire pit.

Their sweet reward? Utilizing the s’mores ingredients in their boxes.

“We wanted to get the kids away from a computer screen as much as possible,” said Emily Dumont, Camp AJ community educator. One of her favorite planned activities was the white camp t-shirt, ready for tie dying.

(left) Andrew Ferguson and his brother, Ijah, prepare their fire pit to make s'mores. (above) Stephen Richardson excitedly opens his Camp in the Box kit before he even arrives home.

Normally this is an activity that campers and counselors alike look forward to each summer. With a little bit of creativity, staff ensured that campers would not lose that tradition. Instructions identified household materials that could be used in place of dye, like food coloring and Kool-Aid, which allowed campers to individually and collectively experience this camp favorite.

Staff also used the distribution of the boxes as a way to reconnect with many of the students that they tutor in local schools during the academic year. Many students in Kentucky went home for spring break, and with rising cases of COVID-19, they never returned to school. When families picked up their camp boxes in early June, both CAP staff and kids were excited to see each other, even briefly.

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Service

Tink and Turtle from Camp AJ get Camp in the Box kits ready for pickup.

Camp in a Box has proven popular. The original offering of 1,000 boxes for Camp AJ and Camp Shawnee (500 each camp) were claimed in a week. Through a partnership with Save the Children and special donations, CAP was able to meet the high demand and distribute 1,506 Camp in the Box kits free of charge. With this support, CAP was able to serve 500 more children than usual during our residential camp program. In addition, there were over 6,600 video views on FaceBook, YouTube, and Instagram, which reached over 35,000 people.

Staff at both camps recognized an unexpected blessing through Camp in a Box. Some students have never attended camp before because they and their parents were nervous about embarking on an overnight camp.

Virtual camp this summer served as a bridge event to give reluctant campers a taste of the camp experience and hopefully get them comfortable enough to attend Camp AJ or Camp Shawnee next summer.

20 The Mountain SPIRIT

“I am grateful that even though CAP staff are not having on-site camp, they are having these enrichment sessions virtually.” ­— Alison Ferguson Drew and Ijah Ferguson first attended Camp Shawnee two years ago. It had a powerful impact and their mother said she has often heard them talk about their camp experience. This summer, they are grateful to have just a little bit of the fun times that they have shared with counselors and other campers at Camp Shawnee.

“The Camp in the Box activities remind me of Camp Shawnee,” Ijah said. “They are so creative with the games and activities, just like at camp.” n

CHURCH RELATIONS “Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.� Hebrews 13:16 Whether your church is on the East Coast, West Coast or anywhere in between, it can help make a difference to those in need in Appalachia.

By volunteering, giving monetary contributions, or donations of gift-in-kind items, your church can help us continue to be the hands and feet of Christ for years to come.

To learn more about how your church can become involved as a church partner, please contact Lauren McCoart at 859.270.2131 or email churches@chrisapp.org.

Worth a Thousand Words Christian Appalachian Project employees, volunteers, and AmeriCorps members have utilized creativity, flexibility, and passion to fuel the work that continues to meet the diverse needs of participants while managing safety measures related to the pandemic.

22 The Mountain SPIRIT

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Compassion

Little Things Mean the Most

BY JEREME ZIMMERMAN

F

or many seniors in Appalachia, there is literally no one to go to for help with even the most basic needs. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced a host of new challenges to providing services, but also made these services, especially the social aspect, even more necessary.

mask,” said Ruby Fannin, an Elderly Services caseworker in Martin County. “Thankfully, I had a friend who was making masks for free to anyone who needed them. She donated masks to CAP and I was able to deliver one to him and his caregiver. He was so thankful for them. It’s the little things that mean the most to our participants.”

“One of my participants has been receiving wound care during the pandemic and he was unable to find a

Martha Carter*, another participant, has lived in Eastern Kentucky for 25 years, but is originally from the Philippines

24 The Mountain SPIRIT

Compassion

“Our participants are special to us.

I am blessed beyond measure to be able to do the work I do.”

— Ruby Fannin

and has no family in Kentucky. “She has no one here except for her husband, and she’s his primary caregiver,” added Kasey Mills, also an Elderly Services caseworker. “When we met Martha, she had not been out of the house in approximately three to four months. She and her husband would have no support if it weren't for CAP.” Carter has had difficulties finding work, and because her husband needs around-the-clock care, she would be unable to hold a job even if hired. The support she receives from CAP allows them to stay in their home so that they don’t have to go into a long-term facility. With COVID-19 cases hitting nursing homes and long-term care facilities, the unknown has just added to an already stressful situation.

“It is me and my husband only. It is so lonely,” said Carter, fighting to hold back tears. “All of my family and friends are back in my country. Sometimes I am ashamed to ask for help, but they tell me to call and CAP will help. I hope some time I can do something in return.”

CAP has stepped in to make sure the Carters have what they need. This included repairs to their home (new doors and a repaired bathroom floor, a new vanity, and handicapaccessible toilet) to keep them safe, warm, and dry. Mills has also worked to secure additional services for the family.

“When I first met Martha, she did not have food most of the time,” said Mills, who helped Carter sign up for benefits she and her family were eligible for. “She didn’t know these services existed for her, but now she is able to go to the doctor if she needs to. She had not been to see a doctor in years. Now she can get food for the house too. We provide transportation so that even during the pandemic she can get what she needs.”

Also, caseworkers often serve as surrogate family members. For some, there is no one else to serve as a primary caregiver, or family members are too far away or not in the picture at all. At times, CAP staff may even handle funeral services if there is no one else to do so.

One participant, Marleen Lott*, often needs help with home repairs. “I’m an old lady,” Lott said. “I’m 81 years old this month; I’m not able to do nothing. I think the world of them. They’re so good to me.”

Fannin feels blessed to serve seniors in Appalachia, especially so since COVID-19 has made in-home visits impossible. “Every time I call to check on Marleen she tells me she loves hearing my voice. She never ends our conversation without saying ‘I love you.’ Our participants are special to us. I am blessed beyond measure to be able to do the work I do,” Fannin said.

As the pandemic has impacted social gatherings of large groups, one thing that is clearly missed by participants and staff alike are the annual picnic and senior games.

“Those events just added so many smiles to their faces,” said Teresa Gullett, manager of the Elderly Services Program in Martin, Floyd, and Johnson Counties. Lott echoed the sentiment. “We didn’t get to go to the senior games this year because of the virus. I just miss seeing all of them.” n *Names have been changed to protect the privacy of our participants.

A CLOSER LOOK Between March and August, Elderly Services staff have provided 102 transports to doctor appointments for patients dealing with chronic medical conditions and even one patient undergoing chemotherapy treatments; 418 porch visits with our participants; 406 rapid responses for emergency delivery of food, supplies, medications, and sometimes surprise holiday gift bags or craft supplies; and 3,136 wellcare calls to maintain regular contacts with our senior participants from week to week.

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Compassion

26 The Mountain SPIRIT

Compassion

Service at a Social Distance

BY OWEN PERRY

D

ebbie Wright and her mission group of 19 from Wyoming Presbyterian Church, in Millburn, New Jersey, were excited about coming to Eastern Kentucky to serve at Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) during Mission Groups season 2020 and were devastated that they had to postpone their trip. When Maria Hartz, CAP’s group admissions coordinator, notified them about the postponement, they wondered how they could serve from home. The mask-making initiative was a creative, at-home, socially-distanced solution. Wright was excited that she and her mission group could still help in a tangible way by providing masks for families in Kentucky who were unable to get them.

“CAP let us know that they were trying to keep some of their essential programs, like the food pantry up and running,” Wright recalled. “CAP needed masks for staff to be able to provide essential services and many of their medically fragile participants. Several people from our team jumped at the chance to help.”

Wright’s church was not the only group that decided to provide masks to CAP. Securing personal protective equipment has been a challenge for many in Appalachia as it has been in the rest of the country. Simple things like buying a mask can create an economic hardship for some who are struggling financially.

“These masks provide an opportunity for CAP to serve our participants in a way that is greatly needed right now,” Hartz added. “With COVID-19 spreading at a high rate and masks being required in Kentucky, it is incredible to be able to answer another need that has arisen for participants.”

Although Wright’s group was disappointed this year, they have already scheduled their trip for 2021. “Many

groups travel to other countries to serve, but we wanted to focus our efforts on the United States where there are so many communities in dire need,” Wright added.

“When we heard that Eastern Kentucky was home to some of the poorest counties in the country, we wanted to help. CAP provided an incredible organization to partner.

Volunteers sewed masks themselves. Others purchased masks after raising money for essential workers, and others recruited grandmas to help sew a batch.”

“These masks provide an opportunity for CAP to serve our participants in a way that is greatly needed right now.”

— Maria Hartz The response has been overwhelming. Thanks to this effort, CAP has received more than 300 masks so far.

These have been distributed to staff and participants through the Grateful Bread Food Pantry, as well as the Housing and Elderly Services Programs.

“It was a feeling of overwhelming gratitude to start getting packages in the mail from across the country from people who took their free time to make beautiful masks to send to CAP,” Hartz recalled. “So many were sent with handwritten notes about how they got started making the masks, and what it meant to be able to send them to us and help from home. It is truly a ministry in its own right to have people use their gifts to help CAP.” n

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Compassion

EVERY DAY IS A LESSON

BY SARABETH BROWNROBIE

S

orting, stickering, and repackaging donations is not what Madeline Laurenzano signed up for. But you’d never know that if you stumbled upon her carefully, and joyfully, processing donations at Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Grateful Bread Food Pantry.

Laurenzano originally committed to be a one-year Volunteer and AmeriCorps member in our Child and Family Development Center in Rockcastle County, Kentucky. With her exuberant personality and cheerful demeanor, she was the perfect fit for the program. Laurenzano was excited about her placement. “I loved seeing the kids every day and learning different techniques. Putting lessons together was super fun,” she explained.

By the spring, COVID-19 had made it necessary to shut the center down which significantly impacted Laurenzano’s service experience. "When the center closed, we just deep cleaned and organized. I was sad that I couldn’t see the kids,” she said. “I kept busy filling in at Grateful Bread and organizing photos for the CAP archive.” Tina Bryson, assistant director of Communications, was grateful for Laurenzano's flexibility. “It is important that CAP remains true to our mission, and photographs help us tell that story

28 The Mountain SPIRIT

of the great work CAP has been doing in Appalachia since the 1960s. This was a great example of how CAP works together. Communications had a need in preserving CAP’s history and the Volunteer Program needed some flexible opportunities for volunteers who wanted to stay. It was a win-win.”

As the pandemic progressed, volunteers were offered the chance to serve remotely or abbreviate their service. Since Laurenzano had a vacation planned, she left for a short while to help her parents pack for a move. The precautions CAP put in place made Laurenzano feel good about returning after that vacation. She felt deeply connected to CAP’s mission and wanted to see the year through. “I felt comfortable coming back,” she said. “I’m still scared of getting sick, but it’s something that I committed to, so I wanted to come back and serve.”

Upon her return, Laurenzano immediately jumped in to help with the Summer Feeding Program (SFP). “Madeline was so enthusiastic about giving out lunches and snacks to the children. She didn’t care if it was 91 degrees or raining, she made sure each family felt special. She made an uncertain summer so much better for our youngest

Compassion (left) April Reynolds, Madeline Laurenzano, Stephanie Richardson, and Jenifer Didelot work together to make sure that children have lunch and snacks through the Summer Feeding Program. (below) Madeline Laurenzano is happy to help preschoolers celebrate at their graduation parade.

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE with CAP's President/CEO Guy Adams

(RESCHEDULED)

Walk Where Jesus Walked!

participants and their families,” said Sharon Goff, manager of the CFDC and supervisor of the SFP. In July alone, the staff from both of CAP's CFDCs, prepared and distributed over 10,000 meals to children in Rockcastle and McCreary Counties.

When the CFDC opens later this fall Laurenzano is excited to take on new challenges. For example, the center is taking their preschool lessons on the road with porch visits and is developing virtual preschool experiences. Laurenzano is excited about the challenge of structuring content to make it engaging and interesting for the kids. She says that they will be able to pre-record segments with special guests like “The Bug Man,” who visited the center to show off his bug collection last year. The kids will be excited to get to “see” him again and learn about different insects. Until then she will continue to fill in wherever she is needed.

Laurenzano summed up the value of her varied service experience this way: “There’s definitely never a dull moment, and every day is a lesson. Being around people who have a heart for service creates such a rich environment. It feels good to be here.” n

Over many decades, my dream was to visit the Holy Land to see where Jesus was born, raised, and lived until His crucifixion and resurrection.

That dream became a reality in 2018.

I’m going back for an in-depth experience October 9-18, 2021.

Won’t you come with me?

CONTACT US: www.pilgrimages.com/adams 1.800.206.TOUR (8687) keyaccounts@206tours.com

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive 29

Arts + Culture

In the eye of the beholder

BY TINA V. BRYSON

M

any people have tried to tell the story of Appalachia, but only succeeded in perpetuating a well-worn cliché. Morgan Hornsby, a documentary photographer from Eastern Kentucky, strives to find the artistic balance between capturing the truth and furthering the stereotype.

“I’ve certainly seen portrayals of Appalachia that rely on or reinforce stereotypes. These always made me feel uneasy, as they do anyone from here,” Hornsby said.

“Sometimes, I am protective of Appalachia and I would

30 The Mountain SPIRIT

rather show beauty than struggle. I am still trying to push past this to develop an honest narrative.”

She recently discovered the work of Breece D’J Pancake, a West Virginia writer who published a single collection of short stories before his death at age 27. Hornsby was inspired by how he captured the “particular magic of the region” without romanticizing it or avoiding harsh truths.

“In his writing, you could tell he loved the place,” said Hornsby, a graduate of Western Kentucky University and the Danish School of Media and Journalism. “I have lived, worked, and photographed away from home since college. I am continuously drawn to the place I’m from. As I begin to make work here, I hope that I can create images that are authentic without being stereotypical. Wherever

Arts + Culture

I am working, I try to be knowledgeable of the place and subject matter, to listen to those I’m photographing, and to strive for collaboration when I can. I find this makes the most honest work.”

When COVID-19 led to stay-at-home orders and college campuses closed, it provided an opportunity for Hornsby to return to her family homeplace.

“I love filling the role of the family documentarian, as I’ve always been mesmerized by the family photo albums created by my mother and my grandmothers,” said Hornsby, who started photographing her family when she was just 16. “I like feeling like I am carrying on that tradition. Unlike the other women in my family, I’ve spent a lot of time away. I moved home in March to finish up my

last semester of college remotely due to COVID-19. During this time, it felt very natural to document my family. The work changed a lot and is still changing. I also reckoned with my own feelings about the region — the deep ties I still feel, as well as the desire to live and work elsewhere.”

Of all the photos she has taken over these past few months, the photo of her mom braiding her hair in the bathroom struck a chord with her. “It was one of the first photos I took with myself in the frame and I really appreciated having that ritual documented,” she said.

“It also illustrates the regression I felt by moving home during COVID-19, since living on my own and away from my family for the past five years. Sometimes I felt as if I was regressing by moving home, but in moments like these, it was nice to be with family and to feel cared for.”

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Arts + Culture

Christmas Toy Drive We are in great need of toys for our youngest children 1-5 years old, as well as our teens.

Donate new unwrapped toys

by Oct. 31.

Mail to: Christian Appalachian Project Family Advocacy Program P.O. Box 1768 Paintsville, KY 41240 Toys will be provided to families for their children during CAP’s annual Christmas distribution.

Thank you for bringing a smile to a child this holiday season.

32 The Mountain SPIRIT

When people see her photos, which are a snapshot of one family in Appalachia during COVID-19, she hopes that they take away something special too.

“There is a connection between the individual, family, and the land,” said Hornsby, whose work focuses on subjects like criminal justice and family. “In quarantine, many have rediscovered the importance and inevitability of these relationships, in Appalachia and elsewhere. I have felt lucky to be quarantined with people I love in a rural space, where I can be outside every day and enjoy a slower pace of life. I also hope that my love for the place and my family is present, and that folks outside of Appalachia see the beauty and magic within.” n

Arts + Culture

IMPOSSIBLE

TO IMAGINE

BY TINA V. BRYSON

F

rank X Walker grew up in public housing in Danville, Kentucky, just one county removed from what is considered Appalachia. The tributary where his grandparents swam growing up was the county line. But his humble beginnings were no obstacle or excuse for allowing others to define him.

PHOTO BY PATRICK J. MITCHELL

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Arts + Culture

“Make sure your and your family’s stories get told regardless of the medium.

Use your voice. Refuse to be rendered invisible.”

— Frank X Walker “I don’t believe I had any concept of Appalachia or if I even used the term until college,” said Walker, whose fiction professor at the University of Kentucky, Gurney Norman, introduced him to the Appalachia he would come to know and love. “Because there were poor white children in the projects, with even less than we had, I became more aware of the tremendous divide between my well-to-do classmates and my circle of friends in the projects.”

In 2013, Walker became Kentucky’s first AfricanAmerican poet laureate, and the youngest Kentuckian to be given that honor. He coined the term Affrilachia in the early nineties because the perception of Appalachia was so narrow that it didn’t include people of color. The word spoke to the union of Appalachian identity and the region’s African-American culture and history.

“I knew plenty of people of color who lived and worked in the region and had been there for generations,” said Walker, a professor in the Department of English at the University of Kentucky; and editor and publisher of PLUCK!, a Journal of Affrilachian Art & Culture. “Even the dictionary definition of Appalachian at the time limited membership to white residents of the Appalachian mountains.”

He was dismayed at the stereotype of the region. “It was so narrow that it made it impossible to imagine or see Jesse Owens, Nina Simone, John Henry, Nikki Giovanni, Angela Davis, Sonia Sanchez, Carter G. Woodson, Roberta Flack, Bessie Smith, August Wilson and countless others in the same space reserved for Snuffy Smith and Lil’ Abner,” he said. “If they could imagine it, it would easily destroy every caricature and stereotype of the region forever.”

Walker continues his work to dispel stereotypes and contribute to a different imagining of the region. “I’d like to think my work and the work of my associates in the Affrilachian Poets forces people inside and outside the region to rethink their preconceptions of Appalachia and

34 The Mountain SPIRIT

change the narrative. I have been pleased with the number of protests that have occurred in support of Black Lives Matter in the region, particularly in so many small towns including Danville.”

Political unrest that has gripped the nation has also found its way to Appalachia as well. “I hope that when people can see their children, their children’s children, neighbors, and respected community members standing with the few people of color who also live there, I hope that everyone will find the capacity to step back and think about which side they will be seen standing on when the history is written of this moment in America,” Walker noted.

As COVID-19 has ravaged many communities of color in urban areas, Walker hopes that communities like where he grew up will fare better. “I hope the black communities in the region have used our relative isolation as a plus and are not suffering to the degree that people of color in urban areas clearly are.”

Always an educator, Walker understands there is still work to be done. “I wish so many people didn’t buy the caricature of the region. I wish they knew as much about Harlan, Kentucky as they did Birmingham, Alabama. To black youth growing up in Appalachia, I’d like to say to them, if you don’t have access to the internet get to the library and learn how rich the region really is. Make sure your and your family’s stories get told regardless of the medium. Use your voice. Refuse to be rendered invisible.” n

Build Hope, Transform Lives, Share Christ’s Love Donate to support children, their families, and seniors in need in Appalachia.

Christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive We are glad to share these stories of transformation made possible by donors like you.

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