The Mountain Spirit Fall/Winter 2023

n The Road to Success

n Expanded Territory

n Building Hope, Transforming Lives

n God Will Make a Way

R ISE and Shine: The Campaign for Christian Appalachian Project

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The vision of Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is to be the leading organization changing the future of people in need in Central Appalachia. The generosity of our donors, the service of our volunteers, and the faithful prayers of our supporters make the promise of that vision a possibility.

In this issue, you will learn more about the comprehensive campaign that CAP is undertaking to serve more and serve better. We invite you to take that journey with us to impact the lives of people in need in Appalachia in even greater ways in the years to come. Next year will mark CAP’s 60th anniversary. What a great opportunity to look back on the legacy of those who came before us and look forward to how CAP can continue to meet the needs of Appalachian families who seek to overcome the daily challenges exacerbated by poverty.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Tina V. Bryson tbryson@chrisapp.org

Tina V. Bryson, Brianna Stephens

COPY EDITORS

Dennis Jacobs, Amy Schill

PHOTO CREDITS

On page 24, learn how a partnership with Save the Children brought a mobile classroom to McCreary County — allowing us to bring developmental services for infants and toddlers directly to their homes. This service ensures that no child is left behind for lack of early childhood interventions.

Expanded strategic partnerships, like the one with Appalachia Service Project following the floods in July 2022, helped CAP serve more families because more donors responded to our disaster relief appeals. You can find that story on page 8.

Partnerships have defined this past year and provided a strong foundation from which to maximize the donations raised and committed during the campaign. These partners include churches, schools, and smaller nonprofits that are served through our Operation Sharing program. Read about New St. Hurricane Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, one of the two Ozark states served through the program. Its population mirrors that of Appalachia, with more than a third of families in Pine Bluff living below the poverty line. On page 12, learn how this church built a distribution warehouse to serve more and serve better in meeting the most basic human needs in the community.

You make this work possible, and we are grateful that you continue to partner with CAP to make the future brighter for families that call Appalachia home.

I am also happy to announce that Brianna Stephens will take the helm of The Mountain Spirit magazine to continue to share stories of hope and transformation with you. I will be leading our new efforts on The Mountain Spirit podcast, where you will get to hear additional stories of faith, inspiration, and resilience. Thank you for believing in this vision.

Toy Adams, Tina V. Bryson, Michael Caudill, Derick Easter, Claudette Enriquez, Charity Hedges, Vallorie Henderson, Becky Neuenschwander, Brianna Stephens

CONTACT US

By phone: 859.269.0635

Toll-free: 866.270.4227

Email: capinfo@chrisapp.org

Website: christianapp.org

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 2023. 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: Emmett Williams volunteers to organize and distribute donated goods to the community from CAP’s Operation Sharing program at New St. Hurricane Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

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

Meet the Writers

Faith 8 Building Hope, Transforming Lives

CAP partners with Appalachia Service Project to extend help to additional families who still need support to get back in their homes after last year's floods.

12

Expanded Territory

Through a partnership with Operation Sharing, New St. Hurricane Missionary Baptist Church serves the community of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, through the distribution of donated goods and outreach programs.

Service

16 Overcomers

Many volunteers help share the burden Michael Caudill faced in tryng to repair both his and his mother's homes after last year's devastating floods.

20 Relieving the Burden

Construction is underway for a new facility for CAP's Grateful Bread Food Pantry. The facility will offer more storage space for food, a large shopping area, and a covered drive-thru.

22 God Will Make a Way

Steve and Michelle Ault find the volunteer opportunity they were looking for at CAP's Foley Mission Center after traveling across the country in a square-top trailer.

Compassion 24 The Road to Success

The launch of a mobile classroom, in partnership with Save the Children, brings critical developmental services for infants and toddlers, as well as other CAP programs, directly to families in McCreary County.

28

Blessed to Be a Blessing

Laverne Winstead takes pride in her service at Grateful Threadz Thrift Store as a community volunteer. She strives to create a high-quality shopping experience for families in the area.

Appalachia Spotlight

30 Rise Above

Fiber artist Vallorie Henderson is honored to be creating a commemorative piece as a tribute to the strength and resilience of the communities CAP serves.

32 Breathing New Life

SOAR is dedicated to helping innovative industries revitalize the region. Broadband is an integral part of SOAR’s blueprint for the future of Appalachia.

Brianna Stephens

Brianna is the CAP editorial lead.

Kacie Renfro Kacie is a freelance writer based in Central Kentucky.

Abigail Martin Abigail is a former CAP Communications intern.

Grant Harned Grant is a CAP philanthropy officer and comprehensive campaign manager.

Counselors Shine a Light on Mental Health in the Region

The team of professional counselors who make up CAP’s Family Life Counseling Services (FLCS) are committed to meeting the specific needs of families and individuals in Eastern Kentucky through their broad base of experience, education, and training in mental health practices. During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, CAP’s counselors were featured on local media and National Public Radio to discuss the importance of prioritizing mental health, particularly for people in the area who continue to face trauma after experiencing the July 2022 floods. In addition to advocating on a local level, Dale Hamilton, a counselor at CAP’s FLCS, assumed the role of president of the Kentucky Counseling Association in August. As part of the association, Hamilton has the opportunity to collaborate with counseling professionals across the state and promote the importance of mental health services in the region.

Toy Distribution Restores Hope in Communities

This summer, CAP’s Operation Sharing program returned to Perry County to distribute toys to children impacted by the 2022 floods that hit 13 Kentucky counties. This distribution was one of several events during the fourth consecutive year of a partnership between CAP, Toys for Tots, and Good360. Last year, many of the children who received toys from the distribution lost them in an instant to the floodwaters the following evening. As families continue to rebuild from the flood a year later, Ben Ridner, manager of CAP’s Operation Sharing program in Corbin, said he hoped the toys brought smiles back to the faces of children in the area. Approximately 60,000 toys were distributed across Eastern Kentucky through the partnership.

Because of you, CAP employees and volunteers are compelled to live our mission every day. Undergirded by our strategic plan and with strong support by our board of directors, we are engaged in a great philanthropic effort, RISE and Shine: The Campaign for Christian Appalachian Project, which is sure to help touch and change even more lives, offering our participants hope that tomorrow will be better than today. We are excited to share with you this bold, new vision for the impact we can make together in Appalachia.

The purpose of the campaign is to give strength to CAP’s mission of building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia. In a word, the response to the campaign has been overwhelming.

Built on our strategic plan with specific initiatives vital to enhance our services to the most vulnerable individuals in Appalachia, progress toward an initial campaign goal of $75 million has exceeded our hopes. Because of the commitment and generosity of friends like you and human services challenges great in scope, CAP’s board decided to raise the campaign goal to $95 million. Increased resources will enable CAP to make an even greater impact for people in need in Appalachia.

The words of Victor Hugo inspire me: “The future has several names. For the weak, it is impossible. For the fainthearted, it is unknown. For the thoughtful and valiant, it is ideal. The challenge is urgent. The task is large. The time is now.” You are thoughtful and valiant in your prayer and charitable support of CAP, which is hope-giving and life-transforming. Please join us as we RISE and Shine together.

In gratitude,

Guy Adams President/CEO

The Campaign for Christian Appalachian Project

BY GRANT HARNED

Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) mission is to build hope, transform lives, and share Christ’s love through service in Appalachia. That mission inspires, animates, and brings out the best in the lives of people who are called to help fulfill it – participants, volunteers, donors, partners, and employees alike. We are all touched by the tradition of faith, service, and compassion that CAP embodies.

Amid the backdrop of natural disasters and recovery from a global pandemic, we see the struggles, isolation, and devastation experienced by individuals and families in our service area. Those with scant financial resources have suffered the most. But, thanks to the strength and commitment of the entire CAP community and our supporters, thousands of children, their families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities in Appalachia have access to critical services and resources during this difficult time. As we live out our mission each day, we are acutely aware of the ongoing need.

RISE and Shine: The Campaign for Christian Appalachian Project is a three-year comprehensive campaign that aims to raise $95 million to propel us as we enhance and expand services for our participants and communities in the days ahead. The campaign centers around four key priorities: Standing with Appalachian Youth and Families, Meeting the Most Basic Human Needs, Building Strategic Partnerships, and Strengthening the Heartbeat of Volunteerism.

This campaign allows us to be mindful of the immediate opportunities CAP has to grow — a direction already outlined in CAP’s latest strategic plan — and to discern how we can best continue to offer comprehensive services to people navigating the tremendous challenges poverty creates in Appalachia through our community of care. This campaign is our largest and most ambitious philanthropic effort to date and will bring benefits to each of CAP’s 17 human services programs.

Under the excellent leadership of our eight-member Campaign Steering Committee, CAP has successfully raised more than 79.7% of our $95 million goal through the generosity of our friends and supporters during the quiet phase that began in 2021. The Campaign Steering Committee is co-chaired by Brittany and Rob Lawson of Lexington.

We look to the future with the clear conviction that — together — we can continue to honor and celebrate the communities in which we serve by being the hands and feet of Christ in real and impactful ways. We are filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve children and families in need in Appalachia for more than 50 years, and we are filled with hope for what is to come in this beautiful place — hope that tomorrow will be better than today.

For more information about the campaign, visit christianapp.org/rise-shine.

Meet The Campaign Co-Chairs

BY KACIE RENFRO

Brittany and Rob Lawson not only believe in and actively support Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) mission, but they also live it. Guided by their faith and a strong sense of connection to the Eastern Kentucky region and people, Rob dedicates his time as a member of the organization’s board of directors, and Brittany has set her sights on supporting CAP’s programming.

The Lawsons chair the steering committee for RISE and Shine: The Campaign for Christian Appalachian Project. The goal of the campaign is to raise $95 million by 2024 to continue supporting children, their families, and seniors in Appalachia. Like so many of CAP’s dedicated donors, Rob and Brittany have witnessed how CAP’s programs change darkness to light and transform lives.

“We are so excited to introduce the RISE and Shine campaign to the public. We really believe CAP is doing God’s work in our own backyard,” Rob said. “If more people knew about CAP and the needs in Appalachia, then they would do something about it, too. We hope this campaign inspires people to participate in the life-changing programs and services of CAP, which restore hope to thousands of Appalachian children and families who struggle each day to break free from poverty.”

Brittany’s excitement was palpable as she described Rob’s connection to the region. As a native of Canada, her love for Eastern Kentucky began vicariously through Rob’s, who was raised in Appalachia: on that land and among its people.

“My passion comes from where I come from,” Rob said. “The truth of the matter is, Eastern Kentucky, Appalachia, is forgotten. There is a lot of help needed there. I’m a poor kid from Eastern Kentucky, so I get it; I understand the need.”

Rob added, “I also understand the unique perspective of people from Appalachia. You’ll never find a people prouder of where they’re from, which also makes it exceptionally hard to receive help, because they often don’t believe that the help can make a difference.”

The Lawsons’ ultimate goal is to support opportunities that increase self-sufficiency in Appalachia to ensure families have the resources they need to empower them. The goal of the RISE and Shine campaign is to take families one step closer to that reality.

Brittany explained, “We join others with anticipation that CAP’s already generous current donors and a host of new ones would declare support by committing funds that continue to advance the organization’s goals of reducing poverty, answering the needs for basic housing through repairing homes, feeding the hungry and food insecure, providing services to our elderly population, and resourcing youth empowerment through camps, education, tutoring, and mentoring.”

Grant Harned, campaign manager, concluded, “With Brittany and Rob at the helm, we are confident that RISE and Shine: The Campaign for Christian Appalachian Project will continue to flourish and make a lasting impact in the lives of the people we serve. Their dynamic and passionate leadership style never ceases to inspire, and we are immensely grateful for the privilege to work alongside them to build hope, transform lives, and share Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.”

Brittany and Rob Lawson serve as co-chairs of the Campaign Steering Committee for CAP's comprehensive campaign. The Lawsons were recognized as CAP’s Philanthropists of the Year in 2019.

“

How I learned t o giv e

My mother, who moved to Louisville in 1945, was a Christian and thus a social justice advocate. I was accordingly raised with the conviction that it was my responsibility to promote equality of opportunity for all people, particularly for people whose circumstances were challenging. At various times, she and I explored the Eastern region of the state, and thus I became aware of the issues faced by many in Appalachia. As an adult living in the Northeast, I had to decide where my discretionary income could be directed most appropriately. Christian Appalachian Project came to my attention, and its reputation was a highly effective charity. I have found this to be true, and I unconditionally endorse the work of this very committed group of genuinely kind individuals. Their care for the people in Appalachia is invaluable and a true testament to their name.” – Barbara M., New York

“

Iwas raised by Christian parents who modeled for me what giving looked like while growing up. They instilled the sense of responsibility that we are called to give as a response to how much God has given us. Without directly saying so, my parents showed me daily that to whom much is given, much will be required. Giving was exemplified in many forms, by my parents, through their giving, monetarily or with physical items, to people in need and giving in service to others. Additionally, my parents held the belief that we should not only tithe but, we should give beyond that tithe whenever we are able to. It gives me great joy to still hear stories of my parents’ generosity in the lives of others, decades after they have gone home to be with the Lord.” – Amy

P., Illinois

“

Ilearned the ‘generosity habit’ from my parents. There was not a lot of extra money around as we were a family of eight, and a dog, and dad was a salesman. But there was an envelope for church every Sunday and I remember seeing correspondence from other charities. Mom and Dad contributed their time to church, our school activities, and were always there to assist their friends at a moment’s notice. We were also blessed to have a Catholic education, where charity was constantly and consistently taught and exemplified. To summarize,

we were taught to give, regardless of circumstances. If money is tight, give of your time and talent. If things are going well, donate a bit more. Do it thoughtfully and more importantly, cheerfully. As the good Lord promised, He has truly blessed us tenfold.” – Diane and Joe D., Florida

“

Ilearned to be generous from my parents’ example. My dad was one of 10 children raised on a farm in Northern Minnesota. He knew what is was like to do without, but that didn’t make him bitter. Instead, he worked hard and was grateful for what he had. I remember once he got a bonus at work, and he invited about 12 of us to a nice dinner at a favorite restaurant. Mom taught me to tithe, starting with my weekly allowance. She gave $5 per week, which was generous in those days, for helping with the housework. She didn’t force me to tithe, she just set an example by doing it herself.” – Linda J., California

“

One of my favorite memories is a story I heard about my mom when she was a small child. She lived in Ireland and sometimes people out of luck would come by their house to ask for food or other help. One day when someone came to the door, my mom was hiding behind the door and peeked under to see who it was. She saw a man standing there with no shoes, so she ran to her room and got her own little shoes to give to him. She obviously had learned generosity from what she experienced in her home and carried that throughout her life through her actions with our family and our community. My dad, an immigrant from Slovakia, grew up equally generous with his gifts. His dad worked in a coal mine in Pennsylvania to support his family. He lost his life to black lung disease as a result of this. When my dad learned of the work Rev. Beiting did with coal miners, he immediately and for many years supported this ministry. Upon his death, I felt called to continue his gift and feel privileged to do so in honor of my grandpa and so many like him. Helping people in need has always been a hallmark of our family. I suppose you can say that generosity is a virtue handed down as a gift to share with the world.” – Margaret D., Ohio

The people, places, things, and events that first inspired our supporters in the power of generosity.

Building Hope, Transforming Lives

BY TINA V. BRYSON

CAP and Appalachia Service Project (ASP) were joined by Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman to raise the final wall on a home for the Ritchie family. The partnership between CAP and ASP will build 10 new homes for flood impacted families.

The rain continued to fall as news of devasting floods in Eastern Kentucky was publicized across national media. Employees from Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), who were attending a conference, huddled together with their laptops precariously balanced on their laps or on swiftly pushed together café tables. The need for assistance was urgent, and they knew CAP donors would want to know how they could help. The staff was right — and help they did. Donors generously responded to CAP’s emergency appeal to help thousands in the region who’d found their homes and their belongings underwater.

“When families are struck by natural disasters, we rally our volunteer base to help with immediate needs, like muck-outs and assessments,” said Guy Adams, CAP president/CEO. “But we also know that recovery is a long journey for many families. CAP has always been here to help immediately following a natural disaster — but also for the long haul, months and years later to help families get back on their feet. Strategic partnerships have helped us meet those needs.”

"CAP has always been here to help immediately following a natural disaster — but also for the long haul, months and years later to help families get back on their feet. Strategic partnerships have helped us meet those needs.”

– Guy Adams

Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman speaks with Della Ritchie, homeowner.

“Both ASP and CAP are dedicated to getting families back into homes that are safe, warm, and dry as quickly as possible. This partnership is a great way for us to bring more resources to that end.”

– Bryan Byrd

Tina Bryson, CAP assistant director of Communications; Guy Adams, CAP president/CEO; Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman; Walter Crouch, ASP president/CEO; Reggie Ritchie, homeowner; and Bryan Byrd, CAP director of Home Repair, stand in the Ritchie family’s framed home.

Representatives of CAP’s Home Repair and Disaster Relief programs attended the wall-raising ceremony for the Ritchie family's home. Pictured are, from left, Jamie Conley, Teresa Gullett, Robyn Renner, and Jill Stafford.

ASP crew members installed subflooring on the Ritchie family’s home in the days leading up to the wall-raising ceremony.

The outpouring of generosity from donors was remarkable, and CAP partnered with Appalachia Service Project (ASP) to multiply the impact of the support being provided to families who were still struggling to get back in their homes after the flood’s destruction. Both organizations have decades of housing expertise, and, by joining resources, they sought to build quality homes as quickly as possible for flood survivors primarily located in Floyd and Knott Counties.

In recent years, ASP has expanded its outreach to include building new homes for low-income families whose homes were destroyed by fire or flooding and for others whose homes are simply beyond repair.

“Having witnessed the great work CAP does throughout the region over the years, this partnership is a wonderful opportunity for ASP to work with CAP in a very direct way, rebuilding flood-recovery homes for the families both organizations have served for decades,” said Walter Crouch, ASP president/CEO. “Personally, I hope this opens the door for more partnership opportunities in the future. The people of Central Appalachia deserve our most effective efforts.”

Through this partnership, CAP and ASP plan to build 10 new homes for families in Eastern Kentucky. Regular homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover flooding, and

FEMA reports that only 4% of people applying for housing recovery assistance after the floods in July 2022 had flood insurance. The maximum FEMA grant per household is less than $40,000, and it is currently the only source of funding for many residents in the area.

“For more than 50 years, CAP and ASP have called Eastern Kentucky home, serving families in substandard housing and providing life-transforming experiences for volunteers, families, and communities,” said Grant Vermilya, ASP’s flood recovery coordinator. “While we’ve worked together in different capacities in the past, it takes intentional partnerships, like this one with CAP, to serve these communities in a new way: providing new homes for flood survivors.”

The inland floods, a type of disaster made worse by climate change, stretched across more than a dozen counties. Hundreds of families had to move into government-run shelters, but generous donations from CAP supporters continue to bring new hope to the region.

“Both ASP and CAP are dedicated to getting families back into homes that are safe, warm, and dry as quickly as possible. This partnership is a great way for us to bring more resources to that end,” said Bryan Byrd, director of CAP’s Home Repair program. “I’m excited to see lives changed and hope restored through our joint efforts.” n

ASP volunteers screw in supports for the final wall of the Ritchie family’s home.

EXPANDED TERRITORY

BY TINA V. BRYSON

The nearly 100-degree heat in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, didn’t stop volunteers at New St. Hurricane Missionary Baptist Church from organizing donated items received through Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Operation Sharing program. According to the U.S. Census, 35% of families in Pine Bluff live below the poverty line. For more than a year now, the church has partnered with CAP to provide desperately needed items to people in need in the community.

“We diligently work to serve our community to the best of our ability,” said Derick Easter, who has pastored New St. Hurricane for the past nine years. “During the

pandemic, we saw needs rise to extreme heights. We wanted to get involved even more in the community, and we learned about Operation Sharing. We built a larger outreach distribution center to serve our local community, the county, and beyond through this strategic partnership.”

Operation Sharing began nearly 40 years ago with a donation of books that were distributed among partner agencies to promote literacy in Appalachia. Today, books are still shared with partners like the church’s Hurricane Distribution Center. The center then partners with schools and agencies to distribute these books to promote the importance of literacy at a young age.

“I assist with meeting needs of families,” said Shawn Jackson, one of seven social workers with the Pine Bluff School District. “New St. Hurricane donated books to us for the entire elementary school. We encourage families to read with their scholars. We don’t want anyone to slip through the cracks. When the church partners with us to assist the students, we have a better future for this generation.”

According to Pastor Easter, New St. Hurricane has a rich heritage of helping the community. The original church was founded by slaves on a plantation over 160 years ago. The congregants kept the name following emancipation but added “new” as they envisioned building new lives for their community.

“We’ve always been involved in the community,” Easter added. “We have a variety of outreach programs that provide food and clothing, but we are very proud of our Pine Bluff Reads initiative. Literacy is a passion of mine. It was one of our first outreach projects.”

Through the initiative, mentors and volunteers work with students in area schools to ensure they can read on grade level by the third grade.

The partnership with Operation Sharing not only provided the opportunity for New St. Hurricane to expand its physical presence in the community through the building of the distribution center, but it

New St. Hurricane hosts distributions in the community with items received from Operation Sharing, such as food, cleaning supplies, books, small household items, furniture, and more.

“We built the outreach center to minister to our community in greater ways. Pine Bluff is a great community with great people, but we also have great needs.”

— Derick Easter

Faith

also expanded the types of support they could provide to families.

“It was new territory for us to provide household items,” Easter added. “If we could provide a bed frame, toaster, or blow dryer, whatever household items that were needed, that’s money that could be used for essential things, like food and medicine. We have helped families that were in homes with no furniture. These items from Operation Sharing helped us help these families.”

Pastor Easter was connected to Operation Sharing when Marilyn Bailey, a community member, suggested the partnership. Her longtime friend, who had worked with Operation Sharing for years, had passed away and she was committed to finding someone to assume the mantle.

“I knew the work the church was already doing in the community, I knew I could trust Pastor Easter with this partnership, and I knew the members would be all hands on deck to carry out the partnership,” said Bailey, executive director of Early Head Start Childcare Partnership Project, which serves families with children birth to age three. “They have just exceeded all expectations, and leadership starts at the top.”

Bailey credits the volunteers with making the distributions a success. “As families come to pick up items, they are greeted by members and they feel welcome, that they are wanted,” she said. “From time to time, each of us in our lives need a little help, and that is what this partnership is all about.”

The mission of New St. Hurricane is to embrace salvation and service. Pastor Easter teaches his congregation that fully embracing salvation means to give themselves away in service to their fellow man.

“It’s not ‘either/or’ for us — it’s both,” Easter said. “I get to put plans in place that God has put on my heart for our church to serve our community. We built the outreach center to minister to our community in greater ways. Pine Bluff is a great community with great people, but we also have great needs. We serve hardworking people who go to work every day but don’t make enough to cover everything they need. Having a partnership with Operation Sharing provides an opportunity for people in the area to volunteer in service to their own community and meets needs that allow families to reallocate those funds to critical needs, like food, medicine, shelter. Operation Sharing has been a major blessing to our community.” n

New St. Hurricane built a distribution center to receive donated goods from CAP's Operation Sharing program. The church partners with local agencies to distribute goods to people in the community.

TRUST GOD

BY TINA V. BRYSON

The car drives slowly through the Arkansas neighborhood where Keely Easter’s mother-in-law lives. The damage to her home has been repaired, but the road to recovery is long for so many others. Blue tarps still cover roofs of homes, a gas station, and the local Kroger. The trauma is still fresh for many residents of Little Rock since the EF3 tornado hit in April — but the community impacted by it has come together.

“When the tornado hit my mother-in-law’s house, she said, ‘I can hear it. It’s here.’ Her house suffered minor damage, but then across the street, some of the areas were flattened. Our uncle’s house, three blocks up, was completely gone,” said Easter, who coordinates deliveries with Ben Ridner, manager of Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Operation Sharing program in Corbin.

“As people are starting to rebuild, we are assessing the needs and reaching out to families that still need help,” Easter explained. The church continues to trust God to help them meet the greatest needs.

“We had to build this distribution center to facilitate the partnership with Operation Sharing. When we received our first load, I was overwhelmed and thankful,” said Dannie Daniel, a member of New St. Hurricane Missionary Baptist Church and part of the team that coordinates distributions.

“We have doors and furniture that we have received from Operation Sharing. We try to target people that we know have lost their homes,” said Daniel, who also leads

(Top photo above) Cleanup continues months after a tornado cut a 30-mile path through Central Arkansas earlier this year. (Directly above) Operation Sharing sent essential items, like food, water, and cleaning supplies, to New St. Hurricane to distribute to people in need after the disaster.

the prayer line during distribution. “After the tornadoes, people had lost everything. People wanted prayer to have their homes rebuilt. We care about them, and we want to make sure they feel valued.”

Items provided through Operation Sharing will continue to help families recovering from devastating tornadoes, as well as provide essential goods and household items for families struggling to overcome the challenges of poverty.

“We are grateful that donors give back, because the need is great,” Easter said. “All I can say is, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.’” n

Overcomers

BY TINA V. BRYSON

The water kept rising and rising, higher and higher. And there was nothing Michael Caudill could do to save his home or his mother’s home across the street. They were no match for Mother Nature, who was determined to swallow everything in her path with a deluge that swelled the Appalachian creeks. Caudill sat on higher ground with his family, as the water, inch by inch, washed away the life he and his wife had worked so hard to build.

“I had lost my dad in May, so there was a lot going on,” said Caudill, whose family got to know the Home Repair staff from Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) when his parents’ home was repaired in 2015. “We had flood insurance, but we had to fight for four months just to get that first check to start. CAP brought materials for my mom. So, I would work a day or two at my house, then

drag my tools across the street, and work a couple of days there. I was exhausted.”

Jamie Conley, who was the manager of Home Repair in Johnson, Floyd, and Martin Counties, called Caudill to assess the needs of the family and determine how CAP could help. Because there were so many homes in CAP’s service area that needed repairs, she had to figure out how best to meet those needs.

“We had approximately 100 homes to evaluate in the beginning, and that list continued to grow,” Conley said, remembering an elderly man who refused to believe that the home he’d lived in his entire life was beyond repair. “We wanted to be able to help everyone in this tragedy, of course, but in some cases, that was not possible.”

Water from a nearby creek rose to unimaginable levels during historic flooding last year, devastating the Caudill’s family home. The water reached nearly to the top of the family's trampoline.

Since the Caudills were getting materials from CAP, the family decided to help Michael’s mom first. Conley had seen their homes submerged in water on the local news and remembered helping the family in 2015. “They were still mourning, and now they were displaced from their homes. My heart just broke for them. Michael wanted to get his mother back into her home as soon as possible to feel closer to his father.”

Seeing the stress Caudill was under trying to repair both homes, Conley called to offer him hands-on help to fix his home. That help would come from WorkFest, CAP’s alternative spring break service opportunity for college students.

“I was trying to use some of the flood money from my house to help my mother,” Caudill explained. “When

Jamie called, that took such a burden off my shoulders. To have these volunteers come out, to me, they are angels sent to help us.”

Conley added, “Michael was always taking care of everyone else. His selfless attitude and humble nature inspired me. I felt more than honored that we were able to help them. Michael gives so much to his family and his community. I look forward to the day I can see him and his family back into their home.”

Caudill works for the state highway department, and he remembers the details of the night the devastating destruction began well. There was a mudslide, and he had been called in to help at about 1 a.m. He said it didn’t feel right. When the rain came down, the creeks rose so fast, it had no place to go. Within two hours, the water had risen and started to cover the roads. He knew he had to make sure his family was safe. “The road past my house became a river. The water moved trailers. It was unreal,” Caudill said.

Although their home is 6 feet off the ground, when he arrived, the water on the sidewalk was already at his ankles. He woke his family and started to get them in the truck that he had moved to higher ground.

“We were walking out. When we hit the bottom step, my 13-year-old daughter, she had her belongings — it was up to my knees — I heard her holler, ‘Dad, I can’t move!’ I realized that she was in shock. There was so much water, and it was so dark. I carried her to the truck. My family was safe on the bank up from the house,” Caudill recalled.

“When Jamie called, that took such a burden off my shoulders. To have these volunteers come out, to me, they are angels sent to help us.”

— Michael Caudill

College students from across the country helped make steady progress in repairing the Caudill’s home during CAP’s annual WorkFest event. The home was stripped down to the studs and has been rebuilt on the inside. The home repair project is expected to be completed this fall.

“I called our neighbor — he’s the mayor — woke him up, and tried to help him move his belongings. It was already at my waist. When it reached my chest, I told him that had to be our last load. We sat on that bank almost 10 hours before the water went down,” Caudill said, as he began to choke up remembering the traumatic event. “There’s nothing you can do but sit and watch everything you’ve worked for wash away.”

The Caudills’ home was among the 10 homes repaired during WorkFest. Volunteers provided 5,440 hours of

service. Half of those projects were completed at that time, with the remainder expected to be completed by the fall.

“To the donors, to the people coming out helping, to the recovery teams from all across the country, thank you,” Caudill added. “We have elderly people in the community that have gone through this for more than 60 years. It’s not much, but it’s home. This is such a close-knit community. You don’t just up and leave that because you’re leaving family. We choose to overcome.” n

“To the donors, to the people coming out helping, to the recovery teams from all across the country, thank you.”

— Michael Caudill

RELIEVING THE BURDEN

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

The sounds of construction are echoing once again through Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) as the organization continues to grow and meet basic needs in the region. In Mount Vernon, a new facility is being built for CAP’s Grateful Bread Food Pantry next to its current structure. The pantry shares a small building with CAP’s Grateful Threadz Thrift Store, and, while the two have operated side by side for years, the new construction will give each program adequate space to continue to grow and best serve children, their families, and seniors in the area.

“We’ve never had a full pantry space, just part of a building,” said Carolyn Lindsey, manager of both the pantry and the thrift store. “Now we will have a 4,620-square-foot pantry on its own. We are excited for what we’ll be able to do and the ease with which we can serve our participants.”

The new Grateful Bread Food Pantry was inspired by the successful expansion of CAP’s Eagle Food Pantry in McCreary County. Shortly after opening a small pantry in 2021, a 2,700-square-foot expansion was added to Eagle

Food Pantry, offering a layout more conducive to daily pantry operations. Similar to that expansion project, the new Grateful Bread Food Pantry will include more storage space for food, a large shopping space for participants to pick their own food items, and a covered drive-thru.

“Grateful Bread has been in this community for a long time and has made a huge impact,” Lindsey said. “What I hope the people in the community see with this new building is that CAP is serious about the services we provide and that we are here for the long haul. I think the new pantry will provide a better atmosphere and shopping experience, while giving us the capability to hold more inventory to feed our community.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grateful Bread saw a decrease in the number of participants served as government assistance was given to help families and individuals afford food and other necessities. Since that assistance ended, and with the increasing cost of food and other living expenses, the number of participants the pantry serves is beginning to increase again. Regardless of the situation they face, each participant that walks through the pantry’s doors is welcomed to a loving space where

Construction of the new Grateful Bread Food Pantry facility is expected to be completed this fall.

they are supported physically with food and spiritually by the employees and volunteers.

“Sometimes our participants need more from us than just food,” said Sherri Barnett, community coordinator for Grateful Bread and Grateful Threadz. “We give them a space to tell us what is going on and offer them a listening ear, love, and prayer. Just that contact is so important and can make a difference for them. They become like family to us.”

Because of the generosity of donors, Grateful Bread employees and volunteers are able to ease some of the burdens families in Appalachia face. One family they serve is a sibling group who lost their mother and grandmother. The eldest, 18, has taken custody of her three younger siblings and is balancing the challenges of going to college, paying their bills, and meeting the family’s basic needs all on her own. When she needs help with food, she knows Grateful Bread is there for her.

While helping to meet the need for food in the area, Grateful Bread employees and volunteers, like Michael Garisek, build close relationships with participants during their visits to the pantry.

“I can’t thank our donors enough for what they make possible,” Barnett said. “We wouldn’t have or be anything without them. We are blessed to be able to serve the participants we have and know that we can help take some of the burden off them.”

The new Grateful Bread Food Pantry is expected to be completed this fall. Once the pantry moves into the new building, Grateful Threadz will utilize the current pantry space for additional storage and create a new donation drop-off area to accept large pieces of furniture for the store. n

“We are blessed to be able to serve the participants we have and know that we can help take some of the burden off them.”

— Sherri Barnett

God Will Make a Way

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

The echo of an engine hummed through the holler as a car rolled across the twisting road. It was the 1980s, and behind the wheel was a young Michelle Ault who, at the time, was a new volunteer with Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). She was on her way to visit an elderly participant. When Michelle first came to serve with CAP in the Elderly Services program, the organization was in its early years of operation, but it was already making transformative changes in the region. Now, after nearly 40 years, Michelle has made her way back to CAP for a year of service, this time alongside her husband, Steve.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming back, but the core of CAP hasn’t changed at all,” said Michelle, who served under CAP’s founder, Rev. Ralph W. Beiting, during her first volunteer experience. “There are different programs now than when I was here before. I like that CAP grows and changes to meet the needs of the area.”

As one-year volunteers and AmeriCorps members, the Aults serve as facilitators of CAP’s Foley Mission Center, a lodging facility for volunteers and mission groups who travel to Appalachia from across the country to serve with CAP. In their facilitator role, the Aults stay in the center and offer hospitality to volunteers, help prepare meals, maintain the facility, and assist in administrative duties as needed.

“Michelle and I consider it an opportunity to meet and greet new friends,” Steve said. They also acknowledge the importance of taking care of volunteers so the volunteers can take care of CAP’s participants.

Like many others who come to CAP, the Aults have a heart for service and adventure. While Michelle was fulfilling her first service commitment with CAP, Steve was serving as a missionary in England. Once they were married, the couple became involved in their church’s activities and missions.

The Aults found their way to CAP after they retired. After deciding to combine their love of service and adventure, they invested in a square-drop trailer and hit the road, traveling to 25 states together. When it came to finding a volunteer opportunity, the Aults found it challenging to find an accommodation where they could stay with their trailer, which is not self-contained, meaning it lacks a toilet and shower.

While driving through Eastern Kentucky, they passed a sign for CAP and prayed about the opportunity to serve with the organization. Within a few weeks, they were accepted into the Volunteer Program, parked their trailer, and began their next adventure in service in Appalachia.

“CAP has always been a part of me even when I’ve not been here,” Michelle said. “Today, I see the positive influence CAP has been on this area, and we are excited to be a part of it.”

Steve and Michelle Ault are one-year volunteers and AmeriCorps members at CAP. They serve as facilitators at Foley Mission Center.

For more than 50 years, thousands of people like the Aults have joined CAP’s community as volunteers. These individuals have tirelessly given their time, prayers, sweat, talent, and so much more to carry on the legacy of CAP and serve children, their families, and seniors in need in Appalachia.

“The kind of person that serves is the kind of person who has a compassionate heart. I would encourage anyone interested in serving to try it,” Steve said. “At CAP, we have been building bonds between people and bonds between people and God, and it has been life changing. If it is your time to serve, God will open those doors for you like He did for us when we thought there was no way we could. If it is something God wants done, He will make the way for you.”

For more information about opportunities to serve with CAP, visit christianapp.org/volunteer. n

As part of their service, the Aults offer hospitality to volunteers, help prepare meals, maintain the facility, and assist in administrative duties as needed.

“Today, I see the positive influence CAP has been on this area, and we are excited to be a part of it.”

— Michelle Ault

The Road to Success

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) programs are taking on the open road in McCreary County. The launch of a mobile classroom, in partnership with Save the Children, brings CAP’s services directly to homes in the area. The initiative ensures children from birth to 3 years old receive critical developmental care through CAP’s Infant/Toddler services and acts as a gateway to additional programming to help meet the basic needs of families in the area.

“It has been documented through several studies that poverty is one of the leading risk factors for infants and toddlers,” said Lisa Meldrum, a CAP Infant/Toddler caseworker. “Typically, it doesn’t allow access to a lot of tools that children need to develop and explore the world. We can really make a difference by bringing those things directly to the home. So many things happen to a child’s brain and development in those years, birth through 3, that you can really affect a child’s life and a family’s life.”

Through CAP’s Infant/Toddler services at Eagle Community Center in Parkers Lake, Meldrum offers screenings and personalized sessions to help children reach developmental milestones. She models for parents how to use tools such as toys, manipulatives, and activities to help their children’s progress.

Because Meldrum firmly believes healthy children start with healthy families, in addition to her Infant/Toddler services, she offers maternal health screenings and resources through other CAP programs for families.

“In order to make sure a child is developing on time and getting everything they need, we need to take away any stressors their family may be facing,” Meldrum said. “We can set them up with CAP’s food pantry, home repair, counseling, and other essential items like diapers and wipes. We also provide resources for grandparents raising grandchildren. All of these resources can be provided directly from the mobile classroom.”

Marissa's son, Sawyer, loves his sessions with Lisa Meldrum, a CAP Infant/Toddler caseworker, in the mobile classroom. The new initiative brings developmental services directly to the homes of children from birth to 3 years old.

In addition to the lack of resources available in Appalachian communities, the mobile classroom helps tackle another stressor families face: transportation. Marissa faced the challenge of getting to Eagle Community Center for her 13-month-old son Sawyer’s sessions because her husband needed the family car to travel for work. With the mobile classroom, both Marissa and Sawyer now receive their sessions in the convenience of their driveway.

“I’m excited about him learning because it is so important,” Marissa said. “This is a very poor community, and from what I’ve seen, there are not a lot of resources available for young children. The mobile classroom is a huge one. I want Sawyer to be as far ahead as he can be and the best person he can be, whether he’s the president or a laborer, like his dad.”

Sarah is excited to see a resource like the mobile classroom on the road to serve families and children like her 8-month-old daughter, Winnie. Before the mobile classroom was active, Sarah and Winnie traveled to the Eagle Community Center campus every other week for their sessions with Meldrum.

“I think it will be very beneficial for the families that are interested in it, and I hope more become interested in it as they see that it’s a big help,” Sarah said. “I think it’s good they are coming to your home and letting your kids play and interact while also helping you out as the parent. If I need something, I am pointed in the right direction for that service. Lisa is very knowledgeable in what she’s doing, and I think she’s a good fit to do oneon-ones with children and families.” n

“In order to make sure a child is developing on time and getting everything they need, we need to take away any stressors their family may be facing.”

— Lisa Meldrum

Meldrum welcomes Sarah and her daughter, Winnie, onto the mobile classroom. The mobile classroom was made possible through a partnership with Save the Children.

“I just saw the need for the food and the clothing. The Lord has blessed me, and I need to bless others.”

— Laverne Winstead

As a community volunteer at Grateful Threadz Thrift Store, Laverne Winstead helps steam clean clothes and create eye-catching displays for shoppers.

Blessed to Be a Blessing

BY ABIGAIL MARTIN

Gently used clothing of all sizes hang on shiny silver racks in the sorting area of Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Grateful Threadz Thrift Store. Community volunteers, like Laverne Winstead, steam clean the clothes before setting up displays and racks sorted for children, teens, and adults to provide a high quality shopping experience for families in the area.

“We like to dress the displays up by putting a little jewelry on them or finding a pair of shoes that go with them to make the outfit more appealing,” said Winstead, who has lived in the community for most of her life and once owned an appliance store in Mount Vernon.

“We want to create a space, like walking into a department store,” she added. “When you see something displayed nicely, it makes you want to buy it. We put only the very best out on the floor. If I wouldn’t buy it, I’m not going to put it out on the floor. That’s the thing about Grateful Threadz, everything is so nice and some of it even has brand new tags on it.”

Winstead said she never shops anywhere else for clothes and buys all her outfits for church at Grateful Threadz. She likes knowing the money she spends there, like that of all our shoppers, helps buy items for Grateful Bread Food Pantry, which is next door to the store.

“Community volunteers are important when operating Grateful Threadz and Grateful Bread. Volunteers are what keep both programs running daily,” said Angela Howard, the program coordinator of Grateful Threadz and Grateful Bread. At the thrift store, volunteers help sort, organize, and price items.

“If you are looking for something to do in your life, if you have that giving heart, if you’re looking to get outside of your comfort zone — you can have so many experiences that are rewarding beyond explanation,” Howard said. “It’s truly amazing to get out and see, help, and work with our participants. To have them come in and ask for you by name, to greet you with a hug, cry with you, and ask for prayers … you will truly become part of their extended family.”

Winstead agreed. “They will pray with you, they’ll love on you, they genuinely care about you — and I’m talking about the workers and volunteers. When I get to meet the people from the community that shop at the ’Gratefuls’ that is a bonus,” said Winstead, who was first introduced to CAP when she was raising her grandsons and running her business.

One day, while observing how stressful it was having young children in the store, a friend suggested that her grandchildren go to CAP’s Family Life Child Development Center (CDC). She eventually signed them both up.

When Winstead’s oldest grandson began high school, he wanted to serve the community, and he chose to volunteer at Grateful Bread. At the time, he wasn’t old enough to volunteer without an adult, so Winstead stepped in and volunteered with him. After he finished volunteering, she stayed. She continued as a community volunteer after closing her business and retiring.

“I just saw the need for the food and the clothing,” Winstead said. “The Lord has blessed me, and I need to bless others.” n

Winstead volunteered at Grateful Bread Food Pantry alongside her grandson while he was in high school. After he finished volunteering, she continued as a community volunteer.

Fiber artist Vallorie Henderson is creating a unique piece, titled Rise Above, that represents the resiliency of the people who endured last year's floods in Eastern Kentucky.

Rise Above

BY KACIE RENFRO

Fiber artist Vallorie Henderson, a native of Eastern Kentucky, draws inspiration for her art from the vastness of the land and culture of the region. While it’s her Kentucky roots that first immersed her in the arts of quilting, weaving, and felting — and ultimately molded her into the creator she is today — it’s her Cherokee heritage that connects her to the pervasive essence of nature woven throughout all her work.

Henderson was raised in Somerset and then attended Berea College. There, the authenticity and uniqueness of her craft began to take root. It was also during those college years while attending Berea College, in the late 70's that Henderson first volunteered with Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), helping with flood recovery efforts.

Because of her long history with CAP, Henderson was honored when they selected her proposal for a commemorative piece to be displayed in our Lexington office as a tribute to the strength and resilience of the communities CAP serves.

“She brings her skills as an accomplished quilter and fabric artist along with her deep and profound commitment to celebrating and lifting up the culture of Appalachia,” said CAP Foundations Officer Dennis Jacobs, who recommended Henderson for this special project.

The piece she is creating for CAP is titled Rise Above, and Henderson drew her inspiration from the resiliency of the people who endured the most recent floods in Eastern Kentucky. One-third of the fibers she has thoughtfully chosen to create the piece come from materials gathered from people impacted by the flood. The next third will be made utilizing her unique handdyed and felted wool and silk, and the final third will be made from new materials.

Allotments, above, was created with hand-dyed and felted Merino wool and silk with hand stitching. Eco-dyed plant prints were also used.

Rise Above depicts a mountain ridge rising out of water. The water is not clean, as it represents the floodwaters, but the sun continues to shine directly on the mountain top.

Being from a rural Kentucky background lends itself to Henderson’s creative philosophy of making something out of what you have — something she grew up witnessing every day.

Henderson utilizes a Japanese process of felting silk and wool together in her work and hopes to travel to Japan to study her craft through their cultural lens.

Jacobs added, “Her unique artistry guarantees that the piece she is crafting will truly reflect the challenges and achievements of Christian Appalachian Project’s community of care.” n

“

Breathing New Life

BY KACIE RENFRO

You are the company you keep” is an adage that rings true when it comes to Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) and the organizational partners it is blessed to know and support in the region. Shaping Our Appalachia Region, better known as SOAR, is one such organization.

Historically, coal has been the main industry and economic driver for Eastern Kentucky. But the need for coal has decreased, mines and plants have closed, and those whose livelihoods depended on the industry are having a hard time finding work and making ends meet.

The annual SOAR Summit brings together elected officials, business leaders, nonprofit organizations, local residents and other change agents to focus on issues, activities, and innovations important to the region.

To help meet the need for work, SOAR has dedicated itself to helping innovative industries breathe new life into the region. “SOAR was founded about 10 years ago when the [coal] industry bottomed out, people realized it wasn’t coming back, and there was a collective ‘What’s next?’ that people asked,” said Colby Hall, SOAR's executive director. SOAR’s answer to that question includes greater access to the digital workspace and the economic opportunities that come with that access.

Broadband, which had been lacking in the region, is an integral part of SOAR’s blueprint for the future of Appalachia. “Broadband is a part of infrastructure that is just as important as water and electricity in a lot of ways,” Hall pointed out. SOAR supports local internet providers, like telephone cooperatives, and brings them together with city or county government and electrics to have the pivotal conversation of how partnerships might help them get internet to more areas faster and at an affordable cost.

SOAR’s programmatic impact in Eastern Kentucky is vast. Their Digital Equity Affordable Connectivity Program helps households physically connect to the internet. Operating in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission, SOAR provides a $30 a month subsidy, reducing the cost of internet for participants. Through Digital Equity, they also provide internet-enabled devices, such as laptops for people working remotely, and offer basic digital skills training that covers topics like computer basics and how to navigate the internet.

“SOAR Innovation is a program that works with early-stage founders and entrepreneurs living in the region. They offer services including basic website builds and search engine optimization elements to help people get on their own two feet and launch,” Hall said. “We then connect these people to potential funders and other resources across the state. Our team has provided services to 200 start-ups in Eastern Kentucky, leveraged over $3 million in private investments, and aided in the creation of 150 jobs from new entities and expansion.” n

Broadband is an integral part of SOAR’s efforts. Through programs and partnerships, the organization is able to reduce the cost of internet service and supply internet devices to participants.

To learn more about this organization, visit soar-ky.org.

“Broadband is a part of infrastructure that is just as important as water and electricity in a lot of ways.”

— Colby Hall

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive