Meeting Needs Across Appalachia

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

Since 2020, Good360 has helped facilitate a partnership between Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) and Marine Toys for Tots to distribute toys and essential items to children and their families during the summer. In 2024, around 40,000 toys and up to $5 million worth of essential items were distributed to 12,000 children and their families through the partnership between the three organizations.

“These distributions are helping ease some financial stress off of families in our region, which will help them be able to buy gas, a few more groceries, or whatever they are struggling to afford,” said Ben Ridner, manager of CAP’s Operation Sharing in Corbin.

Some families, like Kendra Blanton’s, are facing challenging situations. Two weeks prior to the distribution in her community, Blanton’s home caught fire. Her family, including her 4-year-old son, lost several belongings.

“I wanted my son to have toys again. When I told him we were coming to the distribution, he was so excited,” Blanton said. “We are in need of everything, because we lost everything. It is very tight for us right now. It’s overwhelming because our situation was unexpected and devastating. All of the items we received mean so much to my family because we are in need.”

Operation Sharing serves communities in all 13 Appalachian states, as well as the two Ozark states of Arkansas and Missouri. For the first time this summer, CAP hosted two out-of-state toy distributions in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and St. Albans, West Virginia.

“When we go to other Appalachian communities, we see a dire need just as we see in Eastern Kentucky,” said Aaron Thoms, manager of CAP’s Operation Sharing in Paintsville. “We hear stories about families barely making ends meet or saving the toys until Christmas. Things are tight for everyone. It doesn’t matter what your demographic is or where you are from, we all need a little bit of help some time.”