IN THIS ISSUE nn Operation Sharing Delivers nn Camp Staff in Schools nn Building a Home nn Fifth Annual Hunger Walk
Vol. XXXV No. 2 Fall / Winter 2016
THE CHALLENGE IS URGENT. THE TASK IS LARGE.
THE TIME IS
NOW CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT SETS ITS SIGHTS ON THE FUTURE
A Publication of Christian Appalachian Project
editor’s letter
Spirit
“Go at it boldly, and you’ll find unexpected forces closing round you and coming to your aid.”
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Clay Lester
– Basil King, 1921
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he business of meeting the basic needs of people struggling with hunger, substandard housing, and a lack of resources can sometimes seem like an uphill challenge. The poverty of Eastern Kentucky, and central Appalachia on the whole, is significant and demands a substantial response. You continue to boldly answer this need and in doing so are able to move mountains in the lives of children and their families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. The leadership of Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) recognizes that there are many more mountains of poverty to move and endeavors to embrace its mission boldly, setting a future vision of expanded services, increased impact, and sustained support. As the single largest organization providing direct human services exclusively to Appalachia, CAP is invested in and dedicated to building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love in the region for decades to come. For the lives of people in need right here in America, CAP must embrace its future by casting a vision that will inform its present (pg. 6). This issue of The Mountain Spirit celebrates these bold dreams, bolstered by equally bold actions. You will read the story of a mother who can finally rest well, knowing that her six children have a permanent home (pg. 19). You will read the story of a community rallying to nourish the hunger of friends and neighbors (pg. 12). You will learn about an innovative partnership that is enhancing the educational experience of children in Eastern Kentucky and developing leaders for the next generation (pg. 14). You will hit the road with a truck driver who is delivering hope to people well beyond CAP’s primary areas of service (pg. 24). These stories of faith, service, and compassion are glimpses into the work you are supporting in Appalachia. These stories are made possible by your generous donations, your volunteerism, your encouragement, and your prayers. You have helped write these stories and we can look toward the future boldly because we know you will help us write tomorrow’s stories.
Blessings,
Clay Lester Editor-in-Chief & Creative Director 2
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tina Bryson, Dennis Jacobs, Clay Lester, Debbie Smith CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Tina Bryson, Clay Lester, Sarah Uzzle
CONTACT US By phone: 859.269.0635 Toll-free: 866.270.4227 Email: publications@chrisapp.org Website: christianapp.org Mail: Christian Appalachian Project P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555
SUBSCRIPTIONS The Mountain Spirit is published twice a year. The suggested donation is $20.00. Subscription requests and other correspondence should be sent to : The Mountain Spirit Christian Appalachian Project P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555
OUR MISSION
Building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.
contents faith A Bold New Vision
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A Tradition of Service
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service Going the Extra Mile
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After Summer Ends
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A Good Night’s Sleep
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compassion On the Road
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CAP Recognizes Partners
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arts + culture Copyright, 2016, Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Christian Appalachian Project is a non-profit 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.
The Valley of the Drums 29 Dennis Jacobs
Stargazing 30 Debbie Smith
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Direct service and intentional community in Eastern Kentucky. Christian Appalachian Project volunteers serve people in need in Appalachia through educational programming, home repair projects, elderly services, hunger and poverty relief, and much more. Join us to transform lives—including your own.
Serve for a month, a summer, or a year. Contact us today for more information or to receive an application!
christianapp.org volunteer@chrisapp.org 800.755.5322
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A Bold New Vision n A Tradition of Service n
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A BOLD NEW VISION FOR APPALACHIA “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20 NIV “Everything begins and ends with mission,” explains Guy Adams, President & CEO of Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). “Our organization, our leadership, our supporters – we know who we are, we know how we serve, and we know our core values. Over the course of the past two years, CAP’s Leadership Team, informed and inspired by our mission, has been casting a bold 30year vision for the future of our organization.” For more than 50 years, CAP has been committed to the mission of building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia. This mission has been manifest in many different programs operating within many different communities in the region over the course of CAP’s history. CAP has been a living, breathing part of Appalachia, focusing its resources toward the areas of highest priority at any given time, moving to meet the needs of people wherever they are greatest. For families and individuals 6
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in need in Eastern Kentucky, CAP’s history has been intertwined with their own and its future most certainly will as well.
“We focus on reducing the effects of poverty at the human level.” “We make a difference – one individual, one family at a time. Our approach is a major boost toward empowerment for many families and individuals. These participants, particularly the individuals involved in our self-help and educational programming, end up feeling less isolated, less helpless, and less hopeless. We focus on reducing the effects of poverty at the human level,” Adams explains. It is with this approach in mind that he sought to establish some concrete, measurable goals for the future of CAP. Adams, alongside CAP’s Leadership Team, initiated the first steps toward a vision for the future five years ago with the adoption of a strategic plan. As goals and objectives from that plan were set and achieved,
faith new ambitions and benchmarks emerged. The current iteration of this strategic plan is driven by the vision statement, “CAP will be the leading organization changing the future of people in need in central Appalachia.” This lofty aspiration challenged the leadership of the organization to consider not only dayto-day and year-to-year operations, but to dream of days and years to come.
County Economic Status in Appalachia, Fiscal Year 2017 (Effective October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017)
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“CAP will be the leading organization changing the future of people in need in central Appalachia.”
WEST V IRGI NI A K E N TU C K Y
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Citing John Maxwell’s maxim, “Everything rises and falls on leadership,” Adams discusses this shift in thinking toward long-term organizational help. “Those of us in leadership won’t be around to see the fulfillment of this 30-year vision, but it is the decisions we make now that will lay the foundation for that vision. If we have the faith and discernment to set our course with a clear, defined destination in sight, we will be able to make substantial accomplishments toward that end.”
IMAGINE “The future has several names. For the weak, it is impossible. For the faint hearted, it is unknown. For the thoughtful and valiant, it is ideal. The challenge is urgent. The task is large. The time is now.” – Victor Hugo, Les Misérables Imagine a time when CAP has expanded its mission programming, which is focused to serve, empower, and strengthen participants, families, and communities. • Imagine a time when CAP has active and alumni members of a youth leadership training and development program. • Imagine a time when CAP operates and/ or partners in increased numbers of child development centers. • Imagine a time when CAP operates and/or partners in multiple food pantries. • Imagine a time when CAP and our partners have eliminated a substantial percentage of substandard housing in CAP’s primary service counties. • Imagine a time when CAP’s resources have
GE OR GIA
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M IS S IS S IP P I A L A B A MA The Appalachian Regional Commission uses an index-based county economic classification system to identify and monitor the economic status of Appalachian counties. See the reverse side for a description of each economic level.
County Economic Levels Distressed (84) At-Risk (114) Transitional (210)
Map Created: March 2016 Data Sources: Unemployment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS, 2012–2014 Income data: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, REIS, 2014 Poverty data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2010–2014
Competitive (10) Attainment (2)
increased and led to substantially expanded human service programming. The silhouettes and outlines of these images are not difficult to envision, but it will be the culture, values, and action of CAP’s staff, volunteers, and supporters that will breathe life into this dream. Adams references the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth in addressing the type of effort that will be necessary to achieve such outcomes: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Corinthians 9:24 NIV).
“For each of these people in need, we must set our sights high and we must act boldly.” The needs of the people of Appalachia are so great as to demand the highest possible response from anyone in a position to participate in CAP’s mission. As the largest human services organization serving Appalachia exclusively, CAP bears an extraordinary burden to continue to provide care to the poorest FALL / WINTER 2016 | christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive
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faith creative energies and labors of CAP toward a shared vision of the future. This vision is laid out in order to bridge the divide between imagination and reality. Over the course of the next 30 years: We will develop and grow a leadership training and development program for youth in CAP’s primary and secondary service counties with at least 1,000 active and alumni members; We will operate and/or partner in five additional (seven total) child and family development centers; We will operate and/or partner in six additional (seven total) food pantries; We will work and partner to eliminate 80% of the substandard housing in CAP’s primary service area; We will support expanded human service programming, building increased capacity for financial resources and support.
CAP President Guy Adams
communities in the United States. Meeting the future needs of this region will require the excellence of every single CAP employee and volunteer, the unwavering support of community partners and churches, and the compassionate generosity of donors throughout the country. And it will require a great deal of faith.
TO THE MOON “We choose to go to the Moon! We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win.” – President John F. Kennedy, 1962 In the fall of 2015, Guy Adams shared his vision for the future of CAP with the entire organization. It was and is intended to inspire, challenge, and focus the 8
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These are intentionally bold targets, but as Adams articulates, “This vision is my dream for CAP. Because I know that if we can go from two child development centers to seven, and if we can go from one food pantry to seven, and if we can clear the backlog and erase 80% of substandard housing in our primary service area that we will have impacted that many more lives. We will have given hope to that many more children and their families, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. For each of these people in need, we must set our sights high and we must act boldly.” n
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A TRADITION OF SERVICE
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fter a nine-hour drive from Maryland, a team of skilled men from New Life Foursquare Church step into the mountains of Eastern Kentucky ready for their annual work in CAP’s Elderly Housing Program. For these men, the long drive is worth it.
expand missions’ opportunities to help people close to home too.” Hendershot and his wife had been long-time financial supporters of CAP. Rick Bussard and Lee Lambert, also from New Life, joined Hendershot on a visit to CAP programs to determine if it would be a good fit. “When we left, we had the feeling that we could do this – that we need to do this!”
“I feel obligated to do things right here in this country,” acknowledges Rohn LeGore, the coordinator of this year’s mission trip. “I love serving with CAP because Men from New Life have “Many folks from our they back up what they say. worked with the Housing congregation had served in and Elderly Services Programs When you arrive, they are ready for you to help those international missions, but we on projects ranging from that have the greatest need. wanted to expand missions’ replacing rotting flooring and When you’re here, you learn cracked foundations opportunities to help people repairing a lot about poverty, but also to painting and building decks close to home too.” about resilience,” he said. and constructing handicap“Participants have some skin in accessible ramps. the game. It’s not just a hand out. They tend to get in and work right alongside you. Lambert, who passed away in 2014, was so passionate It’s great to be a part of giving hope.” about serving others that his son, Matthew, continues to extend the compassion his father began. Pastor Dave Hendershot initiated the relationship with CAP in 2009. “Many folks from our congregation “My first trip to CAP was in 2009, after I graduated had served in international missions, but we wanted to from high school, but I saw it as a continuation of what FALL / WINTER 2016 | christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive
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faith “After New Life groups had traveled to Eastern Kentucky to work with CAP for several years, my father had the vision for the high school students at New Life Christian School to take a mission trip here too,” Matthew says. “The experience had been eye-opening for us and my father knew it would be for the young people too. We saw poverty first-hand. My father understood the impact this would have on the lives of adults and teenagers. Now, the junior class participates in YouthFest every year during Spring Break.”
“There is always a story or a root cause as to why someone ends up needing a little help. For us to be able to step up and help meet that need is very rewarding.” According to Hendershot, every person with whom the New Life team gets a chance to partner has a story. “There is always a story or a root cause as to why someone ends up needing a little help. For us to be able to step up and help meet that need is very rewarding.” Hendershot recalls a story of repairing the home of a young man attending community college. This young man inquired of Hendershot how much the team was getting paid to come assist his family. He had trouble even fathoming why strangers would not only work for free for a week, but also actually pay to come help his family.
I felt was a calling on my life. I had been to Mississippi twice after Hurricane Katrina and on another mission trip to Honduras,” Matthew Lambert says. “When I came to Appalachia for the first time, it was a different experience from those relief efforts and overseas missions. I loved it because it was a chance to help in a place that felt close to home.” Matthew says he loved having the opportunity to serve the people of Appalachia alongside his father. They shared many memorable moments while replacing floors and patching the roofs of elderly widows. 10
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“I hope he understood that Christian Appalachian Project is about being Christ’s hands,” Hendershot says. “Like CAP’s founder said, this is a “project” because it is ongoing and never-ending. We always come to serve, and whatever that looks like, we want to leave knowing participants are safe, warm, and dry. It’s heartwarming to provide real help, but also to give hope. We show up and serve and put hope in their hearts. That’s a good feeling.” n
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Going the Extra Mile n After Summer Ends n A Good Night’s Sleep n
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Going the Extra Mile
Fifth Annual Hunger Walk Raises Awareness in Eastern Kentucky
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hristian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Grateful Bread Food Pantry brought together staff, volunteers, community members, and Rockcastle County Schools to bring awareness to hunger-related issues in Appalachia at its 5th Annual Hunger Walk on September 14. This year, more than 600 walkers participated and the pantry collected 1,267.5 pounds of food, which will provide 25 families with supplemental food for a month. “Our community is not immune from hunger issues,” explains Carolyn Lindsey, manager of the Grateful Bread Food Pantry. “In Rockcastle County last month, we served 921 families. That is 1,748 adults and children in our community who needed help.” In fact, hunger and food insecurity issues exist in every community in the United States. More than 48 million Americans lived in food insecure households in 2014. That means that 15.3 million children under the age of 18 in the United States live in households where they are unable to consistently access enough nutritious food to maintain a healthy life. Families in Kentucky face a disproportionately high rate of food insecurity in comparison to the rest of the country.
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“I know that many of us here today are blessed to have access to food around the clock. However, that is not the case for all people living in Eastern Kentucky,” says Kerrigan Medley, a student at Rockcastle County Middle School, who addressed the crowd. “These are more than just numbers. They are the kids with whom we go to school, the people we see at church, our neighbors. These are people in our community who we see every day.”
“These are more than just numbers. They are the kids with whom we go to school, the people we see at church, our neighbors.” The food insecurity rate in CAP’s service region is 19.7%, which means that many children and individuals live in households where they are not guaranteed their
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next meal. This food insecurity rate is 4.3% higher than the national average. While the annual Hunger Walk aims to highlight the continued need for hunger aid in the region, CAP is concentrating as many resources as possible toward the cause. In addition to the work of Grateful Bread Food Pantry, the organization participates in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program, fills backpacks with food each week for hungry children, and provides emergency food assistance to families in need. In the coming years, CAP aims to expand its hunger initiatives throughout the region by opening and/or partnering in six additional food pantries. This will require more resources and increased funds to underwrite the growth, but the need is critical and demands immediate action. “There is still a need within our community to help those who are hungry,” Medley says. “So whether you’re the founder of an organization feeding thousands each day or you go donate a box of spaghetti to a local pantry, you’re feeding someone who is hungry. That is my request to you – feed someone who is hungry.” n FALL / WINTER 2016 | christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive
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AFTER SUMMER ENDS O
ne tiny hand after another dart toward the sky, like distress signals from different corners of the low-lit classroom. While the teacher patiently offers assistance to students at the front of the class, two young women slowly make their way to each of those outstretched tiny hands, kneeling to provide one-to-one counsel. This scene plays out in this same manner for the subsequent 30 minutes and is then replicated across the hall in another classroom immediately after.
“Everybody knows us from summer camp, and everyone always asks the question, ‘what do you all do the rest of the year?’”
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These two young women providing aid to the students of Sand Gap Elementary School in Jackson County, Ky. are Alexus Hornback and Jenette Vogt, long-term volunteers with Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). Hornback and Vogt spend four to five days per week in classrooms assisting local teachers in their instruction by providing support, tutoring, encouragement, and whatever other services may be needed. They also aid in leading various additional curricula, including antibullying, conflict resolution, and consumerism courses. This is all conducted under the banner and leadership of CAP’s Camp Program, which may come as a surprise to some. Mike O’Brien, coordinator for Camp AJ, understands the surprise expressed when people learn about the camp’s deep level of involvement in the school system. “Everybody knows us from summer camp, and everyone always asks the question, ‘what do you all do the rest of the year?’” In fact, one could argue that the work done by CAP’s Camp staff and volunteers throughout the school year is the very heart of the program. By providing muchneeded support to underfunded schools and teachers,
service the camps are quickly becoming an essential part of the educational process in the region. “In recent years, CAP has become a valuable partner to what’s going on inside the school building. The approach has become like a partnership, where camp plays an integral part to academics within the school building,” explains Sand Gap Elementary Principal, Robert Williams. “We’ve always had a good relationship with Camp AJ and we’ve used them in a supplementary manner, but now they have become integrated as part of the educational process within the school. They are a valued partner and their contributions couldn’t be replaced, because we just don’t have the funding. We don’t have a large pool of volunteers from the community to do what CAP is able to do for our school.”
“We’ve always had a good relationship with Camp AJ and we’ve used them in a supplementary manner, but now they have become integrated as part of the educational process within the school.” While the majority of CAP’s services are intentionally focused on meeting the immediate needs of individuals and families, the Camp Program is in the unique position to enact positive change for the future of the region and has the potential to break cycles of generational poverty. Listed as a basic human right by the United Nations, an effective educational experience is as valuable to the children of Eastern Kentucky as the food, shelter, and clothing that CAP seeks to provide. Williams provides some context for the unique challenges facing students in Appalachia. “We can talk about Appalachia in general and it goes back to socioeconomics. We live in a depressed area. We have high unemployment and a very high free and reduced lunch rate. 65-75% of our students receive free and reduced lunches. You can put poverty in there as an obstacle. We have the constraints of the topography, where many of the kids have never been more than 50 miles from home. They don’t get to experience anything beyond the culture in which they live, which puts them
at a disadvantage to peers of their age in other places in the world in different socioeconomic brackets.” Another long-term volunteer, Emily Dumont, studied Math and Religious Studies in college and worked as a classroom teacher for a year before feeling called from Maine to Kentucky to serve with CAP. “I really like that we’re able to go in and ask the teachers ‘what do you need us to do?’ and we can do whatever they want. That’s very nice, because having been a teacher I had no support. I know how hard it is to give the students the attention they need. It’s different at every school and in every classroom we serve – we provide something different. But we’re able to support the teachers however they need us to.” The presence of non-native Kentuckians, like Dumont, in local classrooms provides children the added benefit of being exposed to glimpses of the world beyond their own. Dumont expounds, “At the beginning of our introduction lesson, we tell them where their teachers are from. We talk a little about ourselves. They often ask me, ‘Why are you here?’ I tell them I came here once FALL / WINTER 2016 | christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive
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the teacher to focus on the kids who are further behind. We also work with that group of students and give them one-on-one or even two-on-one attention. One of the reasons they’re behind is because of the wedge between their parents and the education system. They are infrequent attendees. They miss class, they miss tests, they miss instruction, so we are able to give them that individualized attention to help them get caught up with the rest of the class, so they don’t continue to fall further behind.”
when I was in college (to volunteer during WorkFest) and I really, really liked it. I want them to see the good things that an outsider would see about the place where they live. I don’t think they always recognize what those things are.” Williams claims that, with the exception of about ten years, he has been at Sand Gap Elementary his whole life – as a student, a teacher, and now, as principal. He sees some significant positive movement in educational trends for his student population and considers CAP’s involvement to provide complimentary support to the trends. “What we’re doing now, in what I would call the “response to intervention” age in education, is looking at the children who are least successful – the struggling learners. We’re focusing our instruction on those students in an effort to remediate them so they make gains every year. The CAP staff and volunteers are an integral part of this response.” O’Brien explains, “We target the students who are close to where they need to be, but not quite. The teachers can give us a group and we give them individualized attention to get them up to speed. That also frees up 16
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“I really like that we’re able to go in and ask the teachers ‘what do you need us to do?’ and we can do whatever they want.” “It feels like sometimes this is a big heavy thing that we’re doing,” O’Brien continues, “but day-to-day, we just get to go hang out with kids and have fun. But it’s the consistency, the year-round support, and meeting kids where they are every day that is making the impact. The fact that we are here and that CAP has been here – that’s the cool thing about the schools, they let us in because they know that we’re going to be here. A lot of other programs, even long-term programs, have come and gone, but we’re still going to be here. I think they know they can count on us, whether it’s a different face or a different time or a different service that we’re providing, we’re going to be here when we say we will.” It is clear from the conversations of the camp staff and volunteers that the goals of camp and the goals of inschool leadership training are complementary. “When I think about Reverend Beiting starting the first camp more than 50 years ago, he wanted to
service give kids a safe place to come during the summer. It expanded into what we’re doing now. It’s always been about building those relationships with the children, with their families, and with the community. We’re getting more intentional because of the continuity,” explains Liz Phelps, Manager of Camp AJ. Dumont also sees the connection between camp and in-school service. “Being able to see the kids in different aspects of their lives is so special; we get to see the kids in the classroom and then we see them in math club and then we see them at camp. So they know us and they trust us. They want to do their best for us, because they know us from so many different areas – they want to prove to us that they can do it. It’s nice to see them work hard. I’m lucky because I’ve gotten to see a lot of the students grow up a little bit. I’ve gotten to see them become more motivated, more independent in their work, I’ve gotten to see them gain new understanding.” The coordinator for Camp Shawnee, Caitlin Speigle, also provides services to local schools, but is limited by a need for additional volunteers and resources. Describing herself as a “one-woman show,” Speigle visits four schools on a regular basis, providing both antibullying curriculum and character-building education.
According to Speigle, “We are planting seeds, and we may never get to see them germinate and grow, but we get to know that we helped develop essential life skills and instill good character in these kids. Even if we are just making a difference in one child’s life who is being bullied, feels alone, and doesn’t know what to do, that’s enough for me.” O’Brien echoes the need for additional resources and volunteers, saying, “The need is definitely there. If we had 20 volunteers, we would have something for every one of them to do all day, every day. There are some teachers who use us so well, we could put a volunteer in that classroom every single day.” For every little hand sending up a distress call in Sand Gap Elementary, vital aid is being provided to ensure their success. Principal Williams enthusiastically states, “We have our CAP folks here and we know we can depend on them, we know they’re going to do a good job, we know their hearts are in the right place. And the fact that they come in here and make a difference with the students who need a difference made – I kind of like these guys and gals. We want to get the news out that something good is happening in the hills, and these folks are an integral part of it.” n
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Stay connected. You can connect with us and other
Christian Appalachian Project supporters on the social networking sites you’re already using. Use the hashtag #shareCAP to join the conversation and see what others are saying about our mission.
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A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP J
ust days before she was due to give birth to her son, Tina’s home was destroyed by fire.
Tina, Robert, and their children were not at home when the fire started, thankfully, but they lost everything they owned. Prior to the fire, Robert had been severely injured at his job, resulting in multiple surgeries and long-term neck and back pain. The family, who had worked tirelessly to prepare their house for the arrival of the new baby, was left with few options. The soon-to-be family of eight moved into a small two-room house in dire need of repairs, but this was not going to be a longterm solution.
“...when you don’t have much income, you’ve got to go wherever you can.” Tina recalls the situation. “After our house burned down, we moved down here and rented this little house. We needed to be close enough to care for our
animals and to be near Robert’s mother, who was sick and needed care. All six kids shared a room. They all had their own beds, but they were crowded into the one room. They didn’t like it, but when you don’t have much income, you’ve got to go wherever you can.” In the midst of their struggle, Robert Jr. was born. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and the two-room house presented little space for his physical therapy. Tina, familiar with Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) from her time at Camp Shawnee as a child, applied for a room addition through the Housing Program. She was desperate to take care of her family and they were running out of options. Robert, still recovering from his injuries, struggled to keep the children fed by taking on odd jobs whenever and wherever he was able. Tina, Robert, and their six children held out faith that their luck would eventually change. Around this same period, Jamie Conley was just settling into her new position as a CAP Housing Program caseworker when a unique opportunity presented itself. “There was a group, Civil Engineers of Southwest Ohio (CESO), that contacted the Housing Program requesting that we submit eight stories of FALL / WINTER 2016 | christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive
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service families in need of homes,” explains Conley. The owner of CESO was interested in partnering with CAP in order to fund the material costs of a new home build, so Conley began sifting through the applications that were on the waiting list for repairs. “I found Tina on our waiting list and submitted her story because she had such a high priority score. Her story was eventually selected by the engineers to fund the home build,” Conley says. The home where Tina, Robert, and their six children lived after the house fire.
be ready for the family. At any given point during this three-week construction blitz, Robert could be found engaging in as much labor on the worksite as he was physically able and Tina could be found in deep conversation with the students.
Tina, Robert, and five of their six children.
This was the beginning of the process for CAP, CESO, and the family, who would all spend the subsequent few months drafting plans and preparing for the construction. It was determined that the most effective use of resources would be to engage in the most intensive construction efforts during the three weeks of WorkFest, when hundreds of college students would be volunteering their time and labor with the Housing Program.
“I really loved WorkFest. I’m actually still in contact with a few of the students and long-term volunteers...” In March of 2016, throngs of college students from across the country poured into the foothills of Eastern Kentucky and converged on the plot of family land designated for Tina and Robert’s new home. Crews of volunteers and trained Housing Program staff darted about the property erecting frames, installing siding, laying flooring, painting drywall, and engaging in a thousand other projects to ensure that the house would 20
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Tina reminisces on the experience, “I really loved WorkFest. I’m actually still in contact with a few of the students and long-term volunteers from those three weeks. I talk to a lot of them on a daily basis.”
“I feel like God sent us this house, because this is the one thing we really needed.” As grateful as Tina is for the service of the volunteers to help build a home for her and her family, it is immediately evident that she is equally appreciative of the relationships that developed and the community of care that was formed last March. As she scrolls through her phone contacts, she pauses at each volunteer name and reflects on their personalities, the jokes they shared, their hometowns (which are all a great distance from Kentucky), and the bonds that were created through the experience. “I really connected with one of the girls and it’s funny, because she reminds me so much of a younger version of myself. She wasn’t your typical idea of someone who you think would volunteer. We both cried when she left and still talk almost every day,” Tina says with a smile. After years of struggle, hard work, and steadfast faith, the family was able to move into their new house this past summer. Tina acknowledges, “I feel like God sent
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One of the handcrafted name plates that adorn each child’s new bed.
corridor. As she climbs the stairs to the second floor, Tina turns and nonchalantly points to the terrarium that houses the family’s pet snake. Unmistakably, Tina’s favorite rooms in the house belong to her six children. She beams with pride and satisfaction as she points to each of their beds, all affixed with a custom, handcrafted name plate. Each room is painted and adorned in a theme appropriate for each child. For children who have spent much of their lives crowded into a single bedroom with their siblings, this space is a luxury they’ve never known. The family celebrates with CAP staff and volunteers at their new home dedication.
“Since seventeen I’ve had to work to take care of myself and my kids – it felt like it was us against the world. And now we have a house – and I love it,” Tina declares. “The thing for me is that my kids don’t have to move any more. That’s the biggest thing. We’ve had to move from place to place to place and now we have a permanent home. And we don’t owe anyone anything. It’s weird – I used to have trouble sleeping at night. But now? Now, we all just go right to bed.” n
A WorkFest crew lifts the frame for the family’s new porch.
us this house, because this is the one thing we really needed.” Today, the house looks lived-in, comfortable, and echoes the personalities of Tina, Robert, and the children. Photos of the family cover almost every inch of the walls in the living room, which is otherwise decorated in a camouflage motif. Tina and Robert’s love of the outdoors and animals permeates every room and FALL / WINTER 2016 | christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive
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The future is in your hands. Charitable Gift Annuity Program Make a gift to Christian Appalachian Project and receive an income for life. This is possible when you fund a CAP charitable gift annuity. A charitable gift annuity is a contract between you and CAP. In exchange for cash or other assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.) of $10,000 or more, CAP guarantees to make fixed payments for the rest of your life (and the life of a second beneficiary, if desired). Following your life, the assets remaining are used to fund the work of CAP. Please use the following information to calculate my charitable gift annuity: Name (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss)__________________________________________ Address__________________________________________________________ City_________________________________State______ Zip_______________ Telephone (_____)___________________Birthdate: _______/_____/________ Amount of Gift Considered $___________________________ Frequency of Payment Desired: qAnnual qQuarterly qMonthly
Yes, I am interested in a Two-life Charitable Gift Annuity illustration.
q
Name of Second
Beneficiary____________________________Birthdate______/_____/________
• Rates far superior to CDs or Money Market funds. • Fixed payments for life. • A charitable income tax deduction the year the charitable gift annuity is funded and an additional five years, if necessary. • A portion of each lifetime payment considered a taxfree return of principal. • An opportunity to make a significant commitment to Christian Appalachian Project and enable us to help people in need in Appalachia.
Please Complete & Return Form to: Christian Appalachian Project Planned Giving Department P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555 or Call: 1-866-270-4CAP (4227) (All information provided is confidential)
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On the Road n CAP Recognizes Partners n
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On the Road
O
ver the low rumble of the truck engine, Wesley Howard explains some of the keys to piloting a tractor-trailer. “You always have to be watching. And not just watching the cars right around you, but the cars way off in the distance. You have to be able to anticipate and plan for anything that might happen down the road.”
the financial significance of these gifts is the impact they were able to make on the region. Operation Sharing distributed these goods to more than 1,300 partner organizations in all 13 Appalachian states, Missouri, and Arkansas, who in turn dispensed these essential items to more than 1.5 million individuals. Operation Sharing drivers like Howard play a vital role in this process.
For Howard, driving a truck for CAP’s Operation Sharing Program is second nature. Much of his life has been spent on the road, running his own trucks for more than 20 years before coming to CAP in 2010. Like all CAP employees, Howard was drawn to the organization because of the aid and resources it provides for people and communities in need. “I enjoy the work we do and the reason we do it.”
On this cool October morning, Howard’s destination is Abundance of Rain Ministries in Salt Lick, Ky., one of the many partner organizations ensuring that trailer-loads of essential goods make it into the hands of the people with the greatest need. As he skillfully maneuvers his rig into position on the gravel lot next to a small warehouse, a team of Abundance of Rain volunteers assembles at the mouth of the loading dock. The moment the trailer doors swing open and the loading ramp is secured, the team springs into action with their small forklift. Each pallet is inventoried and unloaded into its designated section in the warehouse – organization is essential, because these goods will soon be moved again to the distribution headquarters a half mile down the road.
“When you see the need, you have to act.”
Howard’s drive from Corbin, Ky. to Bath County is a frequent one; it’s a route he travels every few weeks. The trailer is completely packed with household essentials, non-perishable food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other odds and ends – all gifts from corporate partners who have generously donated their excess goods to the people of Appalachia. In the past year, corporate gifts-in-kind to CAP were valued at more than $73 million. More impressive than 24
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The gentleman operating the forklift while calling out directions to the other volunteers is Pastor Wayne Gifford, founder of this community ministry. Abundance of Rain Ministries is a massive operation
compassion serving hundreds of individuals and families in Bath County (as well as some surrounding counties), but it all started in 2008 when Gifford sought to meet the needs of one individual. “There was an elderly woman whom, I found out, had resorted to eating cat food because she had to choose between paying her electric bill or buying groceries. She chose her electric bill and used what was left to purchase the only food she could afford. We started a soup bean drive to try and help her out,” details Gifford.
The network of nonprofits established through partnership with Operation Sharing relies on the generosity of CAP’s supporters. This was a transformative moment for Gifford and his congregation. Through a series of serendipitous events, including a truck of food that was offered by a stranger, the operation soon took off in earnest. Gifford continues,
Volunteers at Abundance of Rain Ministries sort through a shipment from Operation Sharing.
“When you see the need, you have to act. That moment is when I really saw for myself the poverty of the area. I have found that in this community, because of the high levels of poverty, you don’t throw away anything of potential value and you don’t turn down any donated item – someone will eventually need it and use it.” Gifford expresses both the extreme need and resourcefulness of the people with whom his ministry works, explaining, “I’ve seen people take the tiles we’ve offered them and they will lay it on the ground and glue it to cover up holes in the floor. They’ll take the insulation that CAP gives, range insulation – they’ll take that and pile that into their attics, they’ll use it to stuff into the holes in their walls.”
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Essential goods distribution at Abundance of Rain Ministries.
A ministry on the scale of Abundance of Rain could not exist without CAP’s Operation Sharing Program. Howard explains “Even though the goods are donated by corporate partners, the cost to ship and deliver the donations makes it prohibitive for most individual nonprofits, particularly in Appalachia, to receive them. Operation Sharing, through the resources of CAP’s donors, is able to incur these freight costs and has the facilities, infrastructure, and equipment to transport these goods directly to the smaller organizations.” The network of nonprofits established through partnership with Operation Sharing relies on the generosity of CAP’s supporters. And CAP needs community organizations like Abundance of Rain to distribute the vast amounts of donated goods into the hands of children, their families, and the elderly throughout the Appalachian region. The next morning, after having transferred their truckload of food, supplies, toiletries, and assorted other items to their distribution compound, the Abundance of Rain volunteers prepare for their weekly community offering. More than an hour before the slated start time, the parking lot is already teeming with carloads of families and individuals. The multi-generational pool of volunteers has swelled to more than 20 people, all working intently at various tasks throughout the compound to sort, prep, and stage the donated goods for swift distribution. One-by-one, after having registered and signed in, the cars are directed into a line that snakes and stretches around the main building and spans the length of the parking lot. It is obvious that this procedure has been meticulously orchestrated and routinely practiced over the course of Abundance of Rain’s existence. Each car pulls through multiple stations at the back of the building, where volunteers race to load their trunks, 26
christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive | FALL / WINTER 2016
Pastor Wayne Gifford, founder of Abundance of Rain Ministries, unloads a shipment from Operation Sharing.
backseats, and truck beds with food items, household necessities, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. Assisting Gifford with the supervision of this program is Jessica Humphries, who is busy coordinating the volunteers’ efforts while intermittently leaning through car windows to chat with the drivers. According to Humphries, “The cars here represent 300 to 400 people, because a lot of them share rides to get here and then take the food and supplies back to their families. These are people who work everyday but can’t afford the necessities. And some people have just fallen through the cracks and are down on their luck, you know? So this partnership with CAP is a very good thing.” In the midst of the bustle, Gifford muses, “This has affected my preaching for the simple fact that, yes, we can preach about it, but there are people, our neighbors, in extreme need. So we’ve got to be the hands and the feet of Christ. Not everyone wants to be the hands and the feet, because it’s not easy work. We decided that this is important.” The line of cars is steady and remains so until late in the day when the distribution ends. There are still some items left in surplus to be distributed the next week, but the bulk of their wares have been depleted. They will make due with their remaining stock of commodities but will eagerly await the return of Howard and his replenished tractor-trailer. Today, like CAP’s other two Operation Sharing drivers, he is already hundreds of miles down road to another town in need, delivering his trailer of hope to another organization earnestly anticipating his arrival. n
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CAP Recognizes NetGain Technologies Christian Appalachian Project was pleased to recognize NetGain Technologies at the 30th Annual National Philanthropy Day Celebration, organized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Bluegrass Chapter. NetGain Technologies’ partnership has contributed financially and materially to the work of Christian Appalachian Project, actively participating in fundraising efforts, providing strategic IT support, and educating others of CAP’s vital work in Eastern Kentucky. “The time, passion, and resources contributed by NetGain Technologies provide critical support, enabling longterm enhancement of programs in Eastern Kentucky,” says CAP President, Guy Adams. “They are the embodiment of our mission to build hope, transform lives, and share Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.” NetGain Technologies developed into one of the world’s top 100 managed I.T. service providers by creating solutions for business problems. As a family-owned company with close ties to its community, NetGain Technologies encourages its 150-plus staff members to give back. The communities that NetGain Technologies serves have expanded rapidly since the Jacobson family founded NetGain Technologies in 1984. With seven branch offices throughout the area, the managed I.T. services provider works primarily with companies in the Southeast and Midwest regions, and serves additional accounts nationally. Christian Appalachian Project is blessed by the generosity and compassion of NetGain Technologies and proudly recognizes the significance of their contributions to our work and mission. n
Jim & Mark Jacobson, CAP President Guy Adams, and AFP President Patrick Robinson at National Philantrhopy Day. FALL / WINTER 2016 | christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive
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Berea College Named CAP’s 2016 Champion of Appalachia
CAP President Guy Adams, Lauren Roelofs, and Berea College President Dr. Lyle Roelofs at the Champions of Appalachia Awards dinner.
Christian Appalachian Project honored Berea College as a Champion of Appalachia at its second annual award celebration. Berea College has made a significant impact on the central Appalachian region. The first interracial and co-educational school in the South, Berea College is firmly embedded in Appalachia. “Berea College has served the needs of people in Appalachia for 161 years and CAP is privileged to recognize their service,” says Guy Adams, CAP President & CEO. “Through this award, we want to draw attention to individuals and institutions that have longevity impacting the region, specifically central Appalachia. Berea College exemplifies service and compassion in its commitment to transforming lives in Appalachia. CAP shares these values.” The Champions of Appalachia Award recognizes honorees who strengthen the mission and raise awareness of the work of Christian Appalachian Project in Eastern Kentucky. The award was accepted by Berea College President, Lyle Roelofs. “We are honored to be recognized by Christian Appalachian Project with the Champions of Appalachia Award,” says Roelofs. “Since its founding in 1855, Berea College has served Appalachia by addressing the social, educational, economic, and environmental needs of the region. Besides educating and equipping thousands of teachers, nurses, agricultural agents, and others to serve their home communities, Berea has a long history of bringing educational and social services directly to Appalachian people where they live.” n 28
christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive | FALL / WINTER 2016
arts + culture
The Valley of the
Drums In white I face the valley of the drums They beat me toward the final mountain pass. I go on though I know that I will come By endless miles of questions still unasked. What joy could ever be in my exam? And how could I appear in fleecy white? A brother of hypocrisy, I am Sins co-conspirator in light, unless The dark can turn and radiant light reveal Or somehow can incorporate the dark In day, and noisy shadows it can still to soundless hope. If these I can embark. In truth I know his Love dispels all wrong. In white I face the valley of the drums. – Dennis Jacobs
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arts + culture
Stargazing A dot, smaller than the rest, set apart in the center of the panorama, shines brightly. A dot, collaborating with neighboring dots, moves slowly across the sky. A dot, seemingly insignificant, is connected to those to which it belongs and forms an image renowned by all. A dot sitting still goes unnoticed until it is instantaneously propelled, leaving a trail all can see, but none can follow. A dot glowing in the grass like a piece of Heaven come down to Earth. The sound of my community sharing stories, so simple, but so profound. The sound of crickets performing love songs in an ensemble that have been sung for centuries. The sound of a screech owl calling out to the night. The sound of a still small voice telling me of my place in this world. – Debbie Smith, Volunteer Alumna 30
christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive | FALL / WINTER 2016
SHORT-TERM TRIP LONG-TERM IMPACT
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MISSION TRIPS
Christian Appalachian Project offers week-long (Sunday-Friday) mission trip opportunities for church, school, and corporate groups, ages 14 and up. We need your help to make homes safe, warm, and dry for people in need. Your group will transform lives, including your own! To learn more about any of our mission trip opportunities, contact us at
groups@chrisapp.org
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Christian Appalachian Project
P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555-5911 The Mountain Spirit
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Christian Appalachian Project
