Love Thy Neighbor

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

When someone comes through the doors of Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Grateful Bread Food Pantry, they are greeted by familiar smiling faces, like that of Lillie Bullock. For more than 16 years, she has helped ensure children, their families, and seniors in Rockcastle County do not go hungry.

“The pantry is my home away from home,” the 79-yearold volunteer said. “I love what CAP does. Without this pantry, people in our community would go hungry. We serve a lot of people through the pantry, especially senior citizens and children.”

Before Grateful Bread Food Pantry was established in 2007, Bullock volunteered to distribute food items from another CAP facility in Rockcastle County. Today, she serves pantry participants nearly every day with kindness and compassion, helping them fill their shopping carts with fresh produce, meats, dairy, and pantry items. Being a native of Eastern Kentucky, Bullock is familiar with the struggles many people in the region face from her own personal experiences.

Bullock grew up in a coal camp outside of Hazard. While several members of her family worked in the coal mines, she remembers the challenges they faced financially. Through that difficult time, Bullock learned from her mother the importance of hard work and caring for your neighbor.

“I was close to my mom. We didn’t have a lot of money, but she would give the shirt off her back to you if you needed it,” Bullock said. “I do the same as she did. I love being able to help others through CAP.”

After getting married, Bullock moved to Rockcastle County, and she later became acquainted with CAP as a participant in our programs. In the 1980s, the Home Repair program replaced the roof on her family’s home. Since then, the program has made other repairs, like replacing the siding on her home and building a new front porch and stairs.

“At times, my house felt like it was falling apart, but CAP was there to help me,” she said. “I appreciate the help of the employees and volunteers who came to fix my home.”

Bullock and her son were also participants of Rainbow Respite, a CAP program from 1985 to 2012 established to serve the needs of families of children with disabilities. Bullock’s son is a person with an intellectual disability and requires constant care. Rainbow Respite was a safe place she knew she could trust to leave her son to have fun and be cared for while she was able to rest and take care of other needs.

With a twinkle in her eye, Bullock reflected on one of the most meaningful experiences she’s had as a CAP participant. It was Christmastime, and her family did not have a lot of money to purchase presents. However, that year, because of CAP’s Christmas Baskets program, her family did not go without. Each year for Christmas, the initiative, which now falls under CAP's Family Advocacy program, helps provide gifts, small household items, and a ham to families in need in Eastern Kentucky.

Bullock remembers the overwhelming feeling of joy she had walking through the tables of gifts and picking presents for her family to open on Christmas morning. “It was the first time we ever got to have presents like that, because we didn’t have a lot of money at the time. CAP really helped us,” Bullock said.

After being connected with CAP for so many years, Bullock considers the employees and volunteers she has met and serves with her second family. She hopes to continue serving through the pantry to help make a difference in her community alongside an organization that has impacted her life.

“I hope that 10 years from now, I am still coming to the pantry to serve,” she said. “It’s important to volunteer, because a lot of people in this community need our help and need food. CAP has been good to me, and I love coming here and doing what I do for the people here.”