Breaking Barriers

BY ABIGAIL MARTIN

Over Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) 60-year history, we have seen time and time again how many hands make light work to meet the basic needs of the people in our region. For more than 10 years, CAP and Rockcastle County Schools have partnered to support children and their families in the community through essential items like food and clothing. The partnership continues to flourish because of people like J.D. Bussell, the principal of Rockcastle County High School (RCHS).

Bussell was born and raised in Rockcastle County and has been a lifelong member of Our Lady of Mt. Vernon, where CAP’s founder, Rev. Ralph W. Beiting, was the priest. Bussell remembers Beiting well, but one of his distinct memories is seeing him stand at the courthouse preaching. Today, Bussell feels connected with Beiting when he stands at the courthouse to help raise awareness for food insecurity during CAP’s annual Hunger Walk event.

“He would stand at the courthouse, with white hair and a white collar, everyone knew who he was. He would preach right there,” Bussell said. “Now look at what it has become! All of his work, Christian Appalachian Project, and my connection with it now even more so. It’s always been special to me just to have that connection.”

Hunger Walk is just one way Rockcastle County Schools partners with CAP to fight hunger in the community. Many local schools have food drives for the Hunger Walk, and items donated are distributed to families in need through CAP’s Grateful Bread Food Pantry. Students at RCHS also have many opportunities to give back by serving their community through the pantry and CAP’s Grateful Threadz Thrift Store.

“It’s great that we have that relationship with CAP. I think it will continue to grow,” Bussell said.

CAP works closely with the Family Resource Youth Service Center in Rockcastle County to ensure the needs of students and their families are being met. The Youth Service Center coordinator sends out surveys, and teachers send referrals to local agencies, like CAP, about students who may need assistance. The Youth Service Center strives to remove obstacles for student success. Grateful Bread Food Pantry also assembles around 150 weekend food backpacks every week to send home with students so they will have food to eat while they are not at school.

“Youth Services has always been good to coordinate with CAP. It’s hard to fund all the clothes and food, so we’re really glad that CAP is there to help with that,” Bussell said.

During his 25-year career with Rockcastle County Schools, Bussell has served as a chemistry teacher, baseball coach, and principal at an elementary and high school. He is grateful for the opportunities he has been given through his time as both a student and now employee with the school system, and he hopes he can help set his students up for success as they transition from learners to leaders in the community and beyond.

“I could’ve gone anywhere I wanted to go. I had those opportunities that were given to me by Rockcastle County Schools,” Bussell said. “I hope to make a difference with our students. I want to be somebody that they can learn to trust and come to for advice. Every kid is different, and every kid has different opportunities. These kids keep hope, find what they’re good at, and explore it. One thing we do as teachers is break down barriers. We keep things out of the way for them so that they can succeed.”