The Mountain Spirit News

That Sounds Fun live podcast tour features CAP

This summer, CAP joined New York Times bestselling author and podcast host Annie F. Downs for her first That Sounds Fun live podcast tour. As a charity sponsor of the tour, CAP’s mission and programming were featured by Downs during her show in 12 cities across the Midwest and Southeast. Downs is a partner of CAP and has a passion for helping people in need in Appalachia. She has visited CAP’s service areas to experience programs and to serve. During her tour, Downs raised $2,932 to help support CAP’s programs.

Grateful Bread Food Pantry hosts first fresh produce distribution

CAP’s Grateful Bread Food Pantry partnered with God’s Pantry Food Bank to host its first fresh produce distribution at First Baptist Church Mt. Vernon in July. God’s Pantry delivered 12,019 pounds of food for the distribution to residents of Rockcastle County. This included Kentucky grown tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash provided by the Farms to Food Banks program; corn, cabbage, and potatoes purchased by God’s Pantry; and bread items that came from God’s Pantry’s retail donation partners through food rescue.

CAP partners with Toys for Tots and Good360 for second year

After two pandemic-impacted years of school, CAP joined Toys for Tots and Good360 for a second consecutive year in the distribution of toys, books, games, and snacks to children in Appalachia this summer. While Toys for Tots is the nation’s flagship children’s Christmas charity, the organization has expanded to meet additional needs of children and their families. Through this partnership, CAP was able to bring smiles to 6,097 children.

Camp In A Box promotes literacy in Appalachia

With in-person camp on hold again this year because of COVID-19, CAP’s Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Program still brought the magic of camp to children in need in Appalachia through another round of Camp In A Box. The boxes were given to campers with supplies and instructions for camp activities to do at home. In addition to the activities, YES also hosted a book drive so youth books could be added to each box. One mother thanked Camp AJ staff for the books her children received. She said her son was excited to have a copy of “Eli the Good.” He started the book in school but was afraid he wouldn’t be able to finish it before summer break. Her daughter was excited with her copy of “Where the Wild Things Are” and asked to have it read to her three times when they got home from Camp In A Box distribution.

“We wanted to encourage summer reading, get children away from computer screens, and provide opportunities to connect with regional authors by fostering an appreciation for artists from Appalachia,” said Liz Phelps, manager of CAP’s Camp AJ. “We were thrilled at the response from our donors and friends who sent books.”

Camp Shawnee completes facility projects

Several facility projects have been completed at Camp Shawnee over the past year. The Camp Shawnee road project was completed in fall 2020, restoring safe access to the camp. The road was closed in spring 2019 after heavy rains caused the mountainside to slip and the access road to the camp to buckle. This year a new bathroom facility for the camp’s pool was added, and a dorm for campers received new windows, doors, siding, and stain. Camp Shawnee staff are in the process of adding a new playground after receiving a private donation. Staff hope to have the playground installed before next summer.