Living 50 Plus Winter 2022

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Inside This Issue 6 9 11 13 15 16 20 23 29

Silver Sneakers: How Seniors Stay Active at the YMCA A Checklist for Good Senior Health and Wellness Big Sandy ADD Medicaid Waiver Program Understanding Hospice Guest Column - Seasons of Life: Caring for Mom Grandfamilies: From Empty Nest to Full House Willie Runyon: Volunteering Knows No Age Limit Angie Woolum: Answering the Call Five Retirement Readiness Hacks

LIVING 50 PLUS Winter 2022

A Special Supplement To Appalachian Newspapers Inc. 129 Caroline Avenue, Pikeville, KY 41501 606-437-4054 • 800-539-4054 PUBLISHER

Jeff Vanderbeck PRODUCTION MANAGER

Bobby Gilliam

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Danny Coleman EDITOR

Russ Cassady LAYOUT & COVER DESIGN

Tracie Vanderbeck

ADVERTISING DESIGN

Jamie Beckett Emma Compton Karri Gibson Jenny Jones

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CONTENT WRITERS

Bruce Justice Katie Kelley Terry L. May Lisa Selsor Gary Slone Trevor Thacker Nicole Ziege

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

Peggy Bailey Rita Brock Gina Ferguson Lynn Massey Barbara Skeens

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Silver Sneakers:

How Seniors Stay Active at the YMCA STORY A N D P H O TO S B Y N I C O L E Z I E G E

Inside an exercise room on the second floor of the Pikeville Area Family YMCA, the song “Dancing in the Street,” by Martha and the Vandellas, blares over a speaker. Pikeville YMCA Director of Health and Wellness Amber Godsey stands in front of a class of about a dozen participants — all over the age of 55 years old — and she leads them in various work-outs and stretches while shouting words of encouragement.

This is the Wednesday “Silver Sneakers” class, where older adults and senior citizens can engage in exercise and activities to help them stay active throughout the week. The class also allows them to engage in fellowship before, during and after the class.

Godsey has led “Silver Sneakers” for several years, both at the Pikeville YMCA and at an assisted living facility in town. At the YMCA, the program takes place at 9 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and it offers a variety of activities, including steps, weight-bearing and circuit. Godsey said she has enjoyed leading the class over the last few years.

“Not only do I get to instruct class, I get to share my love and knowledge of strength training,” she said. “But, I get so much more. I soak in all the wisdom and friendships with the most wonderful people this world has to offer.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, regular physical activity is one of the most important things a person can 6

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In addition to the physical health benefits of the “Silver Sneakers” program, for participants over the age of 55, there are the emotional and social benefits as well. do for their health as an older adult. It can prevent many of the health problems that seem to come with age. It also helps their muscles grow stronger so they can keep doing their day-to-day activities without becoming dependent on others.

Therefore, the Pikeville YMCA has several programs designed to promote a healthy lifestyle for older adults and senior citizens, including Silver Sneakers and indoor aqua aerobics, which takes place in the mornings during two days of the week. Starting in 2022, there will also be an afternoon aqua aerobics class offered. In addition, the facility offers weight rooms, courts for racquetball, Pickleball, tennis and basketball, among other things.

Pikeville YMCA Executive Director Shelly Fouts emphasized why the YMCA offers a variety of activities for older adults.

“We have those three foundations: Healthy living, social responsibility, and youth development. We’re developing our youth in other departments and programs, but healthy living, we want to make sure we cross off all those boundaries,” Fouts said. “Everyone has a right to a healthy life and to be able to develop healthy lifestyles. For those classes, we want to make sure we’re inclusive for them, and we have an environ-

Pikeville YMCA Director of Health and Wellness Amber Godsey stands in front of a class of about a dozen participants — all over the age of 55 years old — and she leads them in various work-outs and stretches while shouting words of encouragement. ment they can go into and participate in a class that they feel comfortable in.”

If you are 5 years old or older, are generally t and have no limiting health conditions, the CDC has provided recommendations for the physical activities that you can do to stay active. The rst example of physical activities is moderate-intensity aerobic activity, like brisk walking, for 50 minutes a week. This can be broken up into 0 minutes a day, ve days a week. Also, along with that activity, the CDC recommends muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days a week that work all major muscle groups legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms).

The next example is vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, like jogging or running, for 5 minutes, or hour and 5 minutes, every week, and muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days a week that work all major muscle groups legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms).

The third example is an equivalent mix of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or a mix of walking and jogging running, on two or more days every week, along with muscle-strengthening activities that work all major muscle groups legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms).

The CDC states that if you go beyond 00 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity 0 minutes a day, 5 days a week , or 50 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity 0 minutes a day, 5 days a week , or an equivalent combination, you will gain even more health bene ts.

Talk to your physician about the ways in which you can implement physical activities into your daily life.

In addition to the health bene ts that social activity programs, like Silver Sneakers, can offer, Fouts said that she has seen participants gain emotional and social bene ts from nding a community with others who participate in the programs.

“It’s a social aspect for them, also, because they come in, they fellowship before class, and then they get together and fellowship after class, too. It’s not even just the classes. You’ll also see the social aspect

in our weight rooms, in our cardio rooms. People will walk by one another and talk and chat. It’ll be about their workouts or their personal lives. That’s the social responsibility aspect, too.”

Local resident Terry Smith, who has come at the Pikeville YMCA for several years to exercise, said that he enjoys participating in Silver Sneakers because of the community aspect, as well as the health benets.

“I have been coming for years to exercise. Especially with the group is one of the best things you can do for your emotional and physical health,” Smith said. “I love the friendship of the class and the excellent instructors. I urge everyone to become involved in the many activities the YMCA has to offer. We all have a great time, and I, for one, and many others I am sure look forward to our classes.”

The Pikeville Area Family YMCA is located at 2 Bob Amos Drive, Pikeville. The facility’s hours of operation are 5 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Monday-Friday a.m. - p.m. on Saturday and p.m. - p.m. on Sunday. For more information about the YMCA’s programs or schedules, call, 0 -9 22, email, info pikevilleymca.org, or visit, www.pikevilleymca.org. You can also visit the “Pikeville Area Family YMCA” Facebook page.

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A Checklist for Good Senior Health and Wellness

As you age, your health needs change. Staying on top of senior wellness activities is important, but it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Creating a list of health and wellness to-do’s can help you stay organized, so you look and feel your best.

“Aging well is living well and it all starts with a combination of activities that can improve our mental and physical well-being,” says Dr. Scott aiser, chief executive of cer of Determined Health, member of the Tivity Health Healthy Aging Coalition and a physician specializing in geriatric medicine. “Although health and wellness may seem to get increasingly complicated with age, it doesn’t have to be a struggle. A few simple - and fun - steps can keep us on the healthy aging path. By taking a proactive approach and prioritizing health, seniors can live their best life.”

Dr. Kaiser shares a simple senior-health checklist to help keep you or a loved one focused on wellness: Annual physical: Everyone’s health is different. Even if you see specialists for certain conditions, it’s typically recommended to get an annual physical with your primary physician. This is an opportunity for important health screenings that may include tests to evaluate blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, bone density and more. It’s also a good time for you to ask any questions and discuss concerns.

Vaccinations: Staying current on recommended vaccinations can help you stay healthy and limit the spread of disease. Cold and flu season has arrived, so now is the time to ask your doctor about getting an influenza vaccine if you haven’t already. The risk of severe illness from COVID also increases with age. COVID vaccines are safe and effective in preventing severe illness and you can help protect yourself and the people around you by getting vaccinated.

Physical activity: All seniors eligible for Medicare bene ts through a Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement or group retiree plan may be eligible to join SilverSneakers at no additional cost and have access to live and on-demand virtual workouts, including nearly 2,000 activities and

classes per week in a variety of lengths and formats. Check eligibility at SilverSneakers.com.

Social connection: Maintaining friendships and connecting with others is an important component to supporting physical, mental and emotional wellness. Set up coffee with friends. Join community groups. Check out social engagement opportunities through programs like SilverSneakers where working out with a group of peers can build friendships and community.

Mental health: Although prioritizing mental health is now more widely accepted, it still can be a challenge for older adults to admit they need help.

Talk with your doctor about how you feel and mental health concerns you may have. There are many ways to help with a variety of mental health concerns, including learning mindfulness techniques to reduce anxiety, seeing a therapist and medication.

Mental enrichment: Cognitive decline can occur as you age, so it’s important to be proactive to help support brain health through mental stimulation. Read books. Join a weekly game group. Check out GetSetUp, new for SilverSneakers members in participating health plans. This program provides an online learning platform designed speci cally for seniors with a wide range of live video classes - over 2,000 hours per week on more than 1,800 topics - to support mental enrichment.

Nutrition: What you eat fuels your body and mind, so it’s important to pack your pantry and refrigerator with wholesome foods. Stock up on fruits, vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, beans and low-fat dairy. Then explore recipes you can try to experience new flavors and keep mealtime exciting. If you need help or have strict dietary concerns, consider working with a nutritionist for additional guidance.

Doesn’t it feel good to check a few things off your list? For more ideas on how seniors can stay active and connected, visit SilverSneakers.com.

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Big Sandy ADD Medicaid Waiver Program

Provides Assistance to Participants Living at Home STO RY B Y T R E V O R T H A C E R

The Big Sandy Area Development District has long provided help to the people of Eastern Kentucky.

The district offers many programs under its umbrella of services and speci cally has programs to aid those 50 years and older with everything from help with groceries, to house cleaning services.

One extremely helpful program is the Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver Program.

This program provides assistance to maintain participants in the home.

An applicant must meet certain criteria for the waiver program, according to Peggy Mc enzie, PDS Participant Directed Services Supervisor at Big Sandy ADD. “There’s a few quali cations. One, is you have to have Medicaid. If someone does not have Medicaid, we assist them in the process of going through that to get approved for Medicaid,” Mc enzie said.

It’s a comfort to know that the staff at Big Sandy ADD will guide you through every step of enrolling in the program.

Once a participant has received Medicaid, their next step will be to apply for approval of services. The staff at BSADD will assist you in learning if you meet the criteria for the program.

Services under the HCB Waiver Program include Home and Community Supports Personal Care and Homemaker and Respite.

Participant Directed Services PDS allows the client to hire their own employee and set their own schedule for services.

Mc enzie states the HCB Waiver Program was intended to allow participants to live more independently and private.

“This program was set up to keep people out of the nursing home, and in their own home. And what helps with that is, you have to meet so much of the criteria that you need assistance with to get in the program,” Mc enzie said.

Even though a participant may receive Medicaid bene ts, going to a nursing facility may not be an option. “ ust because they get those Medicaid bene ts, they may not meet the level of care that it takes to be placed in a nursing facility, so they will be eligible for the program,” said Mc enzie.

Once a participant receives approval of Medicaid, it takes approximately four to ve weeks for services to start.

“If someone does not have Medicaid, and they have to start with the actual Medicaid application and the process of getting that, it could take anywhere from eight weeks plus,” Mc enzie said.

The process is much easier for those who already have Medicaid, However, Mc enzie wants potential applicants to know they shouldn’t be discouraged if they don’t. She and her staff will assist people with any questions or concerns one may have.

After a participant is approved, they will be assigned a case manager.

Those in the program shall choose from two ways services are provided.

First, the Participant Directed Services PDS allow for the person to hire a worker of their choice, who will be paid by Medicaid.

If an applicant doesn’t have a worker in mind, one can be sent to the home and will be paid 0 hours per week by Medicaid.

If you would like more information about the program or are interested in applying for the HCB Waiver Program, you can contact Mc enzie at 0 -2 , or visit www.bigsandy.org. This program is bene cial to families who are seeking help with elder family members. Children of aging parents are encouraged to call or visit the website to see how Big Sandy ADD can offer assistance.

The Big Sandy Area Development District serves a ve county area including Floyd, ohnson, Magof n, Martin and Pike Counties.

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Understanding Hospice: What it Means, When to Consider Hospice Care S TO RY B Y K AT I E K E L LY

Headquartered in Lexington, Bluegrass Care Navigators provides hospice care in 32 counties across northern, central and Eastern Kentucky. In addition, the agency supports those facing serious illness or chronic disease with private duty nursing, home primary care, transitional care, adult day health care, and palliative care services. The Greg and Noreen Wells Hospice Care Center, located in Hazard, is part of Bluegrass Care Navigators system.

“Bluegrass Care Navigators is actually an organization that’s comprised of multiple different service lines, one of them being Bluegrass Hospice Care which is available for home care and an in-patient setting, which is the Greg and Noreen Wells Hospice Care Center,” said Tiffany Hollon, executive director of Bluegrass Care Navigators. Hospice care, she said, is holistic medical care for individuals who are no longer seeking curative treatments for an illness or disease, and instead choose to focus on care to improve comfort and quality of life.

Bluegrass Care Navigators, said Hollon, offers in-home care type services for patients who are chronic and seriously ill with a life expectancy of six months or less with any type of diagnosis. Additionally, she said, during hospice facilities provide all related and necessary medications and medical equipment to patients.

“A common misconception with hospice is that it has to be cancer, because when hospice was started in the 70s it was just cancer but now it is any diagnosis that is six months or less as deemed eligible by a physician,” said Hollon.

Hospice, she said, can be an option for any age range, however, most of their patients are members of the elderly population who cannot manage their conditions. “Our primary demographic would de nitely be 50 plus,” said Hollon. “We utilize the in-patient unit for our hospice patients that are having uncontrollable symptoms that are not able to manage in the home,” she said.

Hospice care is provided by an interdisciplinary care team of caregivers including a physician, a nurse, a nursing assistant, a social worker, a chaplain, and volunteers. This personal team of caregivers, said Hollon, starts by understanding what is most important to the patient and family, then works to manage pain, assist with daily activities, manage medications and equipment, provide emotional and spiritual support, and give respite support to caregivers. The providers, she said, establish relationships with patients to build trust for better service.

Hospice care, Hollon said, is often misunderstood and there are many barriers providers must face. Hollon said hospice providers try to ensure that patients and their families understand that hospice is a decision that lasts for weeks and months of life, not just days or hours.

Additionally, she said, they try to keep patients comfortable with pain management and provide care wherever home is, including private homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. Hospice is covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most insurance companies, said Hollon, and is able to include personal doctors and does not replace them. Hospice, she said, is for families who want to create memories together when time may be short.

“I would say the most common barrier to care that I can think of is that hospice means that you’re dying today, like right now, and that’s not the case. Hospice means that you have a life expectancy if the disease progresses at a normal rate of six months or less. But no one has a crystal ball, we can only make our best assumption,” said Hollon.

“Hospice is a very scary subject for a lot of people at least at the beginning. The word is scary to some people,” said Hollon, stating that Bluegrass Care Navigators wants people to see the hospice providers are just extra support for patients and their families.

For more information about Bluegrass Care Navigators, call 855492-0812 or visit www.bgcarenav.org.

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Seasons of Life: Caring for Mom

BY LISA SELSOR

Life is made up of many seasons. During my season as a young wife and new mother, there were “How-To” books on creating domestic bliss or raising perfect children; but no one told you that in the midst of this season just what it would be like to navigate work, school, and the crazy schedule of extra-curricular activities, not to mention the fun of living life with three girls and those crazy hormones.

Finally the day comes when you can breathe a big sigh as you realize you made it! Just as the light at the end of proverbial tunnel with an empty nest at the finish line starts to brighten, you are hit with a season you did not see coming… becoming a caregiver to a parent. Nowhere in the “How-To” books do you read how to care for your children and your parents at the same time. For many of us, this is uncharted territory and it can feel like a boat with a broken rudder drifting on an open sea.

Several years ago, I found myself in this very boat. My husband and I were on quite the journey of parenting three daughters with ages spreading out over 17 years. Our oldest was in college, our middle daughter had just entered high school, and our baby had just turned three when my mother was diagnosed with the dreaded “C” word. The thought of losing her was certainly not something I was ready to face.

My mom had always been my rock and one of the strongest women of faith I have ever known. She had a smile that was contagious and a zest for life that was inspiring. She was 78 with the energy of a 50 year old and then… just like that… our lives took a drastic turn. Mom went in for surgery to hopefully help her in her battle and came out pretty much bedridden for the last six months of her life. Those months seemed to be on a continuous loop of days spent going from the hospital to rehab and back. Ready or not, life as parents and parental caregivers became our new normal.

Mornings were spent with mom and the rest of the day was spent at school events or helping with homework. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. I wish I could tell you I was supermom/daughter, but I would be lying. Life was hard. I am normally a “glass half full” kind of person, but there were days that my glass was flat out empty. However, God used those days to grow me and teach me great truths. I would like

to share some of those with you.

First, when I found myself having to take care of mom, I had to remember she was still my parent. On one visit to see mom, I was emotionally drained. I felt like I was being pulled from every side and that I was doing no one any good. My mom knew me well and instead of asking questions, she simply scooted over in her hospital bed, patted the empty side, and opened her arms up for me to curl up in. In that moment, I needed my mom and she needed to be my mom.

Second, live in the right now. Looking back wishing for what was or looking forward wishing for something different only leaves you wanting what you can’t have. I learned living in the right now was best, no matter what that looked like. Some “right nows” were full of joy, some tears; but taking them one prayer, sometimes one breath at a time made them manageable.

Lastly, remember, your children are watching. My girls watched mom battle with a peace and strength she found in her relationship with God. They saw her radiate joy knowing He was with her whatever the outcome. That is a beautiful legacy. They watched me love and care for mom daily. They learned what it means to honor our parents as God instructs us to… not just when it is easy or because we have to, but because we want to. Watching both of us taught them to be women of faith and strength.

If you find yourself on this journey, remember you are not alone.

God is right beside you, loving you as you go. I’m glad God doesn’t fill us in on the future… we would probably turn and run and then miss the biggest blessings. It is in the living through these days that you will learn to not only survive, but to thrive and come out on the other side stronger.

Lisa Selsor wears many hats. She is a wife, a mother, and Lolli to two of the absolute best grandchildren ever. She served as Children’s Minister and Middle School Minister for over 20 years and is a contributing columnist to Appalachian Newspapers, Inc. These days, she fills her time with writing, decorating cakes, and being a mom and Lolli.

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From Empty Nest to Full House Delbarton grandfamily bonds together through good times and dif culties S TO RY B Y T E R RY L . MAY

During the “golden years” – those after age 50, most people are looking toward retirement, travel or just a quiet lifestyle. But after the second millennium has nally taken hold of the world, our culture has seen a vast change in the normal paradigm.

Since 2015 and beyond, West Virginia has seen a rapid and consistent rise in what has been coined “grandfamilies.” These are households in which grandparents nd themselves taking in, raising and, oftentimes, adopting their grandchildren. The reason behind this phenomenon is a varied as each of the individuals involved.

According Healthy Grandfamilies, a service of West Virginia State University Department of Social Work and the WVSU Extension Service, there were more than 35,000 children in West Virginia during 2020 that lived in the primary custody of their grandparents. The National Center for the Analysis of Healthcare Data in its 2020 report claims that number should be closer 43,000 children.

Nowadays, instead of grandparents heading for the rocking chair on the front porch or planning their next vacation, they now nd themselves packing school lunches, making appointments with pediatricians or trying to t sports or other activities into their daily routines. Gone are the days of sleeping in late or making last minute or impromptu plans. These, instead, are the days of rushing to make it to the bus stop on time. Instead of creating an empty nest, they are designing nurseries for babies and decorating rooms for teens.

This is the situation Andy and Becky Fouch of Delbarton found themselves a little more than two years ago. At that time, they had been married for about ve years and had a couple for eight years prior to that. They had raised their respective families and had settled into a lifestyle designed for two with the exception of family visits and get togethers.

They could go places at a moment’s notice. They could watch horror movies on TV. They could do nothing if that was their choice.

Then one day Becky got a call from her daughter-in-law saying Child Protective Service was at their house and was looking a safe place for her granddaughter Ariana to stay.

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Photo submitted.

Andy and Becky Fouch of Delbarton with their adopted grandaughter, Ariana. it was turned upside down.

“At rst I was reluctant to do it,” Becky said. “Andy was more receptive to the idea than I was at rst. I wouldn’t know what to do without him and the support he has given me. Because of my job, he gets her ready for school in the mornings, brushes her hair and takes her to the catch the bus. Then he helps her with her homework.”

“We (he and Ariana) are both in the third grade together,” Andy laughed. “Becky handles all the different doctors’ appointments and things like that. That is where I am lost. We have developed a routine that works for us.”

The beginnings of this new relationship were a bit tentative.

“She had to get used to us and we had to get used to her,” Becky said. “For the rst little bit, we didn’t know if Ariana would be staying with us or be returning to her father. She didn’t either and for a

long time she thought she was just visiting.”

The Fouches, Ariana, her father and stepmother, her mother and aunt then set out on a journey to nd the best course of action regarding Ariana’s situation. Becky and Andy said that drugs were 100 percent the reason Ariana was placed in that situation. During the initial period, her mother tried to straighten her life up to be able to take Ariana back but was unsuccessful in those efforts and shortly afterwards was killed in a pedestrian accident.

Also, Ariana for a short time lived with her aunt, whom she still visits.

“Then one night, Ariana called and said she was homesick and wanted to come back home,” Becky said. “That was all it took. Andy was on his way out the door heading to Logan at one o’clock in the morning.”

Becky and Andy make concerted efforts to ensure that Ariana remembers her biological family pictures of everyone abound.

They talk to her openly about why she is living with them. They want her to know she is safe.

Now, fast forward two years later, Becky and Andy have completed the process and formally adopted Ariana. Does this mean they are nally living a life without struggles and hardships Of course not.

“It has de nitely been lifechanging,” Becky said. “It is getting easier as we go along. We are adapting to situations as we need to.”

Photo submitted.

The Fouch’s have developed a new routine since adopting Ariana that works for them. Andy Fouch and Ariana pose for an Easter photo with the family dog.

Photo submitted.

According to Becky, the entire dynamics of the Fouch family has changed, but admits it is worth it and she wouldn’t want to be without Ariana. Through everything they have bonded as a family and grown closer together.

“She is now a 100 percent ours. We are happy with her and I think she is pretty happy with us,” Andy joked and then turned serious. “The situation did put a strain on our marriage. We had to work our way though it together. It wasn’t easy sometimes, but it has been worth it. I wouldn’t want to be without her.”

“Through everything, we have bonded as a family,” Becky said.

“We have all grown closer.”

The situation has also affected the entire dynamics of the Fouch family. Becky and Andy have seven other grandchildren.

“We have to do more for Ariana now that she is our daughter and we have the responsibility of raising her,” Andy said. “Sometimes the other grandchildren can’t understand that.

This is all part of Becky, Andy and Ariana’s transition from mamaw and papaw to mommy and daddy. It is another situation fraught with its own challenges. Ariana goes back and forth with the terminology but she realizes she now has a permanent home with Becky and Andy.

The trio have many more years of their life together as a family.

Memories will be made. Dif cult situations will arise. Challenges will be face head on. However, they will go through everything as a family. Together, they will nd their way.

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Volunteering Knows No Age Limit Willie Runyon, 89, not only volunteers but he’s the assistant chief and is one of the founding members of the Millard Volunteer Fire Department.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY GARY SLONE

W

hen you think of volunteers, especially volunteer reghters, you probably think of people in their 20’s to their 50’s.

But in the small community of Millard in Pike County, entucky, there is a gentleman who is still responding to emergency calls at the young age of 9.

Willie Runyon not only volunteers but he’s the assistant chief and is one of the founding members of the Millard Volunteer Fire Department.

Born at Fishtrap, Y in 9 2, one of 9 children, Runyon worked in construction, in the coal mines for a time and nally in the bread business in Columbus, Ohio until his retirement in 99 when he came home to Millard.

Runyon served four years in the military during the orean War as a police of cer in the Air Force, three of those years in England.

“I got to protect Marilyn Monroe when she came to do a show for the troops,” Runyon recalled with a grin. “Now that was a special fun duty.”

After returning to Millard in 99 , a couple of tragedies started him thinking about serving the community.

“I had a friend who lived in Parson’s Trailer court on Rocky Road, and he had three little boys,”Runyon recalled. “His trailer caught re one night and they got out with only the clothes they had on.

“Only a few days later, another friend’s house caught re,” Runyon said. “We couldn’t

Millard Firehouse Plaque. Photo by Gary Slone. get any help and the closest re department at the time was in Elkhorn City and by the time they got there, there wasn’t anything left.

So, a bunch of us decided that we were going to do something about it,” Runyon said. “We took up collections in businesses with tin cans and we took up ,000 exactly in a roadblock. Between the collections we had enough to buy a used re truck.”

Runyon and a couple of others went to Downer’s Grove, Illinois, about 25 miles outside of Chicago and got a truck.

“Me and ohn Ray drove it back to Millard,”Runyon said. “It was a privilege to help drive that truck home.”

That one used truck started what is now known as the Millard East Shelbiana Volunteer Fire Department.

The department now has four stations, ve pumper trucks, ve rescue vehicles, four boats, dive team truck, side by side ATV and 0 volunteers including the Fire Chief Glen Adkins.

Runyon still responds, after 5 years, to not only re calls but EMS calls, he’s the dive master for the department’s dive team, search and rescue calls along with traf c accidents.

Willie Runyon. Photo by Gary Slone.

When not responding to calls for help, Runyon is an avid gardener and tends a large vegetable garden each year.

“I just love to see things grow,” Runyon said. “And I give vegetables away to my neighbors and friends too because I don’t want anything to go to waste.”

Runyon is involved with the department’s Santa Truck and enjoys seeing the faces of the little children.

“A lot of work goes into that event with the buying of toys and food items that we give away,” Runyon explained. “But it’s all worth it to see the children’s smiles.”

There are many stories Runyon can talk about but one in particular involves a very special young boy in the community ghting cancer. ooper Coleman, better known as Super ooper’, is a young -year-old boy battling a form of brain cancer and has undergone numerous chemo treatments.

After this past Christmas’ Santa Truck event, the entire department gathered at ’Super ooper’s’ house to give him presents and make him an honorary Millard reman, “ ooper loves anything dealing with the re department,” Runyon said. “It was the second year we all gathered together to see him and to pray for him and his family.

“A couple of summers ago, we got together with several of the area re departments and police departments and had a parade for his birthday up at Fishtrap Dam,” Runyon said. “He really enjoyed that.”

Runyon ended our conversation with this thought.

“We just need to help each other,” Runyon said. “Help each other and we’ll be alright.”

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Answering The Call

ingo ounty native Angie oolum is fulfilling her calling and now is on a mission

S TO RY B Y B R U C E JU S T I C E P H O TO S S U B MI T T E D

Mingo County native Angie Woolum says most of her time these days is taken up by her work as an inner-city missionary in Brooklyn, where she and fellow missionaries minister to more than 25,000 kids a week on the streets of New York City. (Submitted photos)

“I told God I’ll sell everything and do whatever you want me to do. After I heard his message, I was compelled to go because I felt I was in a period of transition and knew for certain what I needed to do.” ~Angie Woolum

Editor’s note: Although only 44 years of age, because Angie Woolum’s life’s work is, or should be, an inspiration to everyone, and because she plans to continue on with this calling for the remainder of her life, we concluded that in this instance 44 was close enough and decided to waive the 50 and over age requirement to also include her story in this publication 24

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hen initially contacted to gauge her interest in conceivably being a feature subject for this magazine, Angie Woolum replied in a very self-effacing but succinct manner: “I would be honored,” she wrote in her text reply. “But please let me know when—the best time to reach me is a Sunday or Monday due to my busy work schedule.”

For those who know her best, Angie is most assuredly an unassuming person. But generally she is also a person with little time to spare for anything other than her work.

As the current Brooklyn, New York, but native Mingo County resident alluded to in her reply message, the few minutes of time she does have available nowadays usually have to be sparingly parceled out.

The day she settled long enough for this interview, for instance, would microcosmically and perfectly illustrate Angie’s busy schedule.

After attending church services at her home church—the Regional Church of God in Delbarton—she managed to scrape up a few minutes to talk even though she would be busy that afternoon wrapping Christmas gifts for the

church’s outreach bus children for which a party was being held later in the week.

The vast majority of her time, she says, is taken up by her work as an inner-city missionary in Brooklyn, a job for which she left her outreach children’s pastor position at a Georgia church in January 2021 to begin performing full-time.

In that position, she and her fellow inner-city missionaries rise early and stay late on the streets of New York City where they minister to 25,000 kids or more a week as part of the largest Sunday School in the world. Worldwide, Metro World Child ministers to more than 250,000 kids per week.

So how did a former Burch High School Homecoming Queen, basketball and softball player; a professional women’s boxer who at one point was ranked 10th in the world; a twotime world champion in mixed martial arts; the holder of a Third Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu; and ultimately, one of only a handful of competitors invited to ght for Chuck Norris’s televised World Combat League, end up in New York City ministering to inner-city kids?

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Angie Woolum spent two weeks in Kenya in October 2021 working at a mission that ministers to over 100,000 children a week.

The easiest answer is Angie has been a Christian and a member of her church since early childhood and it simply would take her several years, up until around 200 speci cally, before she would come back home to Mingo County and truly understand what God, from the very beginning, had had in mind for her to do with her life.

“We’ve had a missionary coming to our church for about 30 years, Dr. Bill Wilson, and he has the world’s largest Sunday school,” she said.

“He would bring a team of missionaries from all over the world to our church for about a week, which was sort of a vacation for them.

“So I’ve known Pastor Bill since I was a teenager and he’s always tried to get me to come to New York. About 2 years ago, I nally decided to go, but it was just for two weeks to see what they did.”

Pastor Bill, Angie said, began Metro Ministries (now Metro World Child) 42 years ago in New York. Since then the program has spread worldwide and involved numerous overseas ministry trips for both him and missionaries like her.

Because many of those coming to Brooklyn from other parts of the world to do short-term missions (whose ages could range from 18 years of age to individuals over 50) were oftentimes physically accosted by native NYC youth, Pastor Bill initially and speci cally asked Angie to teach these individuals basic self-defense and basic awareness skills, which she did and would continue to do two times a year for the next 12 years.

“Pastor Bill told me it would take two weeks to really get a feel for what they did there, that one week wouldn’t be enough,” she said. “These missionaries put in many hardworking hours daily with no complaint.

“He said just come and see what you think, which I did, but I was also working full time here and was a children’s outreach pastor at my church on Wednesday nights, and I guess I really didn’t feel like it was where I was supposed to be at the time.”

She continued. “Three years ago I left my job here in West Virginia to become a full-time children’s pastor at a church in Georgia, essentially because I felt that’s what God always wanted me to do.

“Two weeks before Pastor Bill came to speak at our revival, I told God I’ll sell everything and do whatever you want me to do. After I heard

his message, I was compelled to go because I felt I was in a period of transition and knew for certain what I needed to do.”

Not only did she at that moment commit herself full-time to the inner-street ministry in New York, but God would also call her to “the nations…to go to the ends of the earth and do whatever it takes to spread the Gospel of Jesus…to help children and adults wherever I go.”

When in New York, Angie lives in a small apartment. Her only income is what she gets from people who support or sponsor her as a missionary. She comes back to Mingo County during the inner city ministry’s “off season” (a couple weeks in late summer and in early winter) to do public speaking and to get new sponsorships.

Her reason for being home now, during what otherwise would be the fall semester of the ministry and a very busy time, is because of her mother’s death in November and her need to be home and navigate through the grief with her family.

“I went back to New York for four days (in early December)…I just had to grab some things and say hello to everybody, but they basically told me to spend time with my dad during the holidays,” she said.

“I’ll be back and forth through January and February raising funds, as well as speaking in churches or hosting meetings for my support for 2022. But I’ll be back in New York at the end of February.”

While she has no doubt she will spend the remaining years of her life ministering to kids and adults somewhere, Angie is also pretty sure that, going forward, her ministry duties will be overseas in those parts of the world in most need of them.

If she didn’t know this for certain before she went to Africa in October for two weeks to get a feel for life there, all doubt was removed when these two weeks of her time on that continent were over.

“I met the director there, who is 62 now but began in her 50s, who also had doubts she was quali ed,” she said. “But Pastor Bill told her God quali es the called, all we need is someone to go.’

“She did, and now they’re ministering to over 100,000 kids a week in Kenya. So that’s where I went in October for 10 days, because I know that’s where I want to be…a director in one of the other countries, helping and ministering to those who so desperately want and need it.”

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