The Mountain Spirit Fall/Winter 2022

IN THIS ISSUE n Out of the Ashes n Creating Hope n Feeding Through Faith n God's Perfect Timing

Spirit VOL. 41, NO. 2 | FALL/WINTER 2022

A BIANNUAL PUBLICATION OF CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT

Spirit

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR We all understand that the work that we do is bigger than ourselves, and that it takes all of us working together – employees, volunteers, donors, and participants – to meet the diverse challenges that families in Appalachia strive to overcome every single day. These challenges are not insurmountable, and day by day, we collectively do the work to overcome them and make a difference in the region.

Together we build hope, transform lives, and share Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.

Building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Tina V. Bryson Tina V. Bryson tbryson@chrisapp.org

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is a special place because it’s made up of individuals who go the extra mile to help other people. Sometimes, we don’t see them at all. They show up as a generous voice calling into the switchboard prepared to make a $35,000 donation to help flood victims. Other times, it’s a truck driver who has lost count of the many miles he has driven to take needed items to people in need, who, without complaint, prepares to drive the next 350 miles roundtrip to pick up additional items.

Sometimes, they show up as volunteers poised to shovel muck, prepare food, or build a ramp.

CAP’s newest program reflects our commitment to address food insecurity needs in Kentucky’s poorest counties. The Eagle Food Pantry officially opened June 2021 with 61 households in McCreary County. Today, we provide pantry boxes to 225 families and commodity boxes to 95 seniors each month. On page 28, read how Mike Higginbotham, who works in Facilities Management, was instrumental in completing this capital project.

The pantry project was achieved thanks to the commitment of numerous volunteer groups with a heart for Eastern Kentucky.

Likewise, Todd and Dana Morton were some of the first volunteers to respond to an urgent call from CAP to help close home repair projects started before the pandemic shutdown. They are a part of a national fellowship of Christian RV campers who accept shortterm volunteer opportunities. Read their story on page 22.

Like Mike, Dana, and Todd, we all come together to share Christ’s love through service in Appalachia. We all give of ourselves to make an impact in the lives of participants like Shelia Burden and her family whose home was damaged in a house fire. CAP Home Repair crews, volunteers and AmeriCorps members, corporate donor partners, and many others have been working to complete the extensive project for nearly 10 months. Learn more about her story on page 6.

It takes all of us together. CAP is not just a charity. It’s a family.

We’re glad you’re part of it.

COPY EDITORS Dennis Jacobs, Amy Schill

PHOTO CREDITS Joe Beaudoin, Sarabeth Brownrobie, Tina V. Bryson, Shelia Burden, Sam Ford, Mike Higginbotham, Rachel Howard, Brianna Stephens, Jeff Winfrey

CONTACT US By phone: 859.269.0635 Toll-free: 866.270.4227 Email: capinfo@chrisapp.org Website: christianapp.org

SUBSCRIPTIONS The Mountain Spirit is published twice a year. The suggested donation is $20.00. Subscription requests and other correspondence should be sent to: Christian Appalachian Project The Mountain Spirit P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555-5911 Copyright 2022. Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved.

Christian Appalachian Project is a nonprofit 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.

ON THE COVER: Mattilyn Stanley is all smiles at Grateful Threadz Thrift Store which had been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contents Meet the Writers

Sarabeth Brownrobie

Faith

6

Out of the Ashes

10

Welcome Home

14

Sarabeth is a CAP volunteer recruiter.

When a house fire caused major damage, Home Repair staff aided by volunteers from WorkFest, Mission Groups, and AmeriCorps stepped in to aid the Burden family.

Welcome Home was the perfect theme after Camp AJ was closed for two years and Camp Shawnee was closed for three.

A Time to Serve A volunteer was introduced to CAP by his sister when he was a child.

She was fulfilling a year of service. His wife and parents joined him on this volunteer opportunity.

Service

Shannon Holbrook Shannon is a freelance writer based in Central Kentucky.

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Feeding Through Faith

20

Creating Hope

22

One Operation Sharing partner agency in Moulton, Alabama, serves the local community with a food pantry and community garden.

Meet Michaela Fisher, the newest addition to the Family Life Counseling Service team. She interned with the program and is now using the experience she gained to address mental health needs in Appalachia.

Home Away From Home Todd and Dana Morton travel to mission opportunities using their RV as a base of operations. They have been to CAP four times to serve.

Compassion

Brianna Stephens Brianna is a CAP staff writer.

Find BONUS stories in the digital version of the magazine at issuu.com/themountainspirit.

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God's Perfect Timing

28

Be a Blessing

Operation Sharing continues to help families recover following the Western Kentucky tornadoes that wiped out more than 75% of homes in Dawson Springs.

People like Mike Higginbotham work behind the scenes. His passion for the community shows in his work building a new pantry in McCreary County and expanding volunteer facilities as well.

Appalachia Spotlight

30

Changing the Narrative

32

Celebrating Our Musical Roots

Kentucky to the World shares compelling stories of extraordinary people with Kentucky roots, who are shaping our world through their creativity, intellect, and passion.

The Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates 20 years of bringing recognition to Kentuckians who have made a significant contribution to the music industry.

Spirit News Grateful Threadz Thrift Store reopens In June, CAP’s Grateful Threadz Thrift Store reopened to the delight of the community and staff. The store originally opened in 2012 to provide affordable clothing and household items to the Mount Vernon, Kentucky, community but closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic.

Grateful Threadz provides the community a place to find clothes and shoes, as well as small furniture items, housewares, toys, books, and jewelry. There is something in the store for every member of the family. The thrift store also partners with Rockcastle County Schools to meet the needs of students with clothing, hygiene items, and other basic needs. Even during the pandemic, staff worked with the schools to make sure that young ladies did not miss prom because they didn’t have a dress. Staff also work with CAP’s Family Advocacy Program to assist families who have lost their homes to fire or natural disasters.

Operation Sharing celebrates dedication of first satellite hub CAP’s Operation Sharing Program celebrated the dedication of its first satellite hub in Appalachia through a partnership with the City of Manchester and the Clay County School District in Manchester/Clay County, Kentucky. A local business owner provided a 12,000 square foot facility free of charge to the county.

The hubs will allow Operation Sharing to expand its capacity to reach smaller communities with basic essentials donated by corporate partners. This will help continue CAP’s mission by distributing these items to people in need in their area.

“Our partners help us get the product into the hands that need it the most,” said Ben Ridner, a manager of CAP’s Operation Sharing Program. “This would be almost impossible for us to do on this large of a scale without them. We are blessed for all of our partners who are helping us expand our impact in the region.”

4 The Mountain SPIRIT

Disaster Relief meets needs after flooding CAP's Disaster Relief Program and Operation Sharing Program coordinated efforts after devastating flooding struck multiple Kentucky counties.

“This is the most deadly, devasting flooding any of us have seen in our lifetime,” said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who visited CAP’s Lexington office to thank community volunteers.

“The people that are fortunate to still be here have lost everything. It’s our job to pick those folks up, to help them out when something like this happens, and to get them back on their feet.”

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Faith

“I love the fact that I work for an organization that makes it possible for people to get involved in a variety of ways.” — Robert Moore

6 The Mountain SPIRIT

Faith

Out of the Ashes

BY TINA V. BRYSON

T

he fire started before Christmas and destroyed the second floor of the Burden family’s home.

Shelia Burden called the phone company to have her line disconnected. When the staff heard her story, the company sent out an email to all employees asking for assistance for Sheila and her husband Scott, who have welcomed more than 22 foster boys into their home since 2017. As God would have it, one of those phone company employees had a spouse who worked for Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) and she encouraged Burden to reach out for home repair assistance.

That was just the beginning of the many connections that brought CAP and the Burden family together again.

The relationship began like so many others, with an act of generosity.

“I had volunteered with CAP in 2012 to help with tornado clean up and later served in the command center in Paintsville in 2021 after flooding in the area,” Burden said. So, she was no stranger when she called and heard the familiar voice of Jill Stafford, one of CAP’s Home Repair Program caseworkers. “I recognized her name right away because she had come to our church to do a natural disaster preparedness fair.”

Burden is her church’s emergency preparedness specialist. When the tornadoes touched down, all five counties in her service area were affected. That volunteer experience put her in ongoing contact with CAP staff involved in community engagement. So, Stafford was familiar with the family and worked to assess their needs.

The extensive work on the Burden home will repair the damage from the fire and address other safety and structural issues with the home. They are anxious to have the work finished since the family of 10 are now staying in her cousin’s three-bedroom, one-bathroom house. The family includes her 81-year-old father, her husband, five foster children, her biological son, and his fiancé.

A house fire destroyed the second floor of the Burden family home in November 2021.

Robert Moore, a Home Repair crew leader, started work on the home in February and WorkFest crews pitched in during March and April. The next month, Mission Groups began work on the home. Not surprisingly, the Burden family has played an integral part in the repairs as well. They insulated the home, and installed and sanded the drywall to prepare it for painting. When repairs are finished, the home will have nine bedrooms.

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Faith

Shelia Burden (right) helps with the extensive repairs to her family's home.

The Quonset hut home is on property that originally belonged to Burden’s grandparents. Burden’s stepfather built Quonset structures for the military while in Vietnam and brought home the design, which is a semicircular prefabricated structure made from corrugated steel.

“It would have probably taken us about five years to do all of the repairs if CAP hadn’t been able to help us,” Burden said. “We just did not have the resources on hand all at once. It would have been a little bit here and a little bit there.”

Moore acknowledged that Burden has put in a lot of sweat equity to get the repairs completed. “Shelia’s been out here almost every day. She’s here before our crew arrives and she works on the home after we leave and on weekends. The family helps

8 The Mountain SPIRIT

too,” he said. “When I heard that they were taking care of five foster children, I knew I had to help them.”

The wiring was the main reason the fire occurred, and, after inspection, CAP knew the 3,000 feet of wiring would need to be replaced.

According to Moore, numerous groups have worked on the Burden home with approximately 14-15 people on site each day to complete the extensive job.

“The neat thing about CAP is that it gives people the opportunity to give of their time or to contribute financially to help Appalachian families like the Burdens,” Moore said. “I love the fact that I work for an organization that makes it possible for people to get involved in a variety of ways.”

Moore added, “As foster parents, the Burdens have a ministry too. I

am glad to help somebody that is helping others. Shelia and Scott are hard workers. If there was work to be done, they were willing to do it.

Plus, Shelia is helping flood victims as a volunteer at the distribution center. Even though she is dealing with her own situation, she still wants to help others.”

As a matter of fact, because of the extensive damage from flooding, Home Repair crews are assisting with the disaster relief which puts projects like the Burdens on hold temporarily.

“I am grateful. I would tell donors to keep giving because it means an awful lot to us and to other families,” Burden said. “We have the floods going on right now in Eastern Kentucky. There are going to be a lot of people who need assistance with home repair.” n

VOLUNTEER FOR A WEEK, A MONTH, OR A YEAR!

YOU can make a difference difference in inthe thelives livesof ofchildren, children, their families, families, andand the seniors in Appalachia.

Appalachia At CAP we highly value the diversity of volunteers and believe that everyone has something to offer. We accept recent graduates, retirees, and everyone in between. Married couples are also welcome, as well as volunteers of different faith traditions.

Apply today to join our January Cohort!

I’m always excited to talk to prospective volunteers about what CAP has to offer them.

There are so many different opportunities to serve here. Are you feeling led to join us?

Please contact me!

Contact Ashley to begin your volunteer journey!

606.392.4679 (o) | 606.308.2329 (c) aellis@chrisapp.org christianapp.org/volunteer

Faith

“When camp is going on, nothing else is important.

Everything we do is for these kids.”

— Pat Griffith

10 The Mountain SPIRIT

Faith

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

A

s the bus full of campers crunched onto the gravel road to Camp Shawnee, its horn echoed through the woods in celebration. The ascension up the winding mountain road built anticipation for the week to come for the cheering campers inside. At the top, Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) employees, volunteers, and AmeriCorps members greeted the bus with cheers, smiles, and tears in their eyes. For the first summer since 2018, they welcomed home campers to Camp Shawnee.

“For some of the kids who come to Camp Shawnee, this is where they know they can have unconditional love, they are fed and taken care of, their needs are met, and they know they are safe,” said Pat Griffith, manager of CAP’s Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Program for Johnson, Floyd, and Martin Counties. “When camp is going on, nothing else is important. Everything we do is for these kids.”

Camp Shawnee was closed for overnight camping in 2019 because of needed repairs to its road, but employees and volunteers still hosted day camps in the community that summer. Then in 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic halted in-person camp activities completely. After the challenges many families faced because of the pandemic over the past two years, CAP waived the camp fee for campers this summer. The camps also operated at around 50% capacity to reduce the risk of COVID to campers and staff.

Even though camp was closed for three summers, several improvements were made for the day when campers would return, thanks to the financial and hands-on support of our generous donors.

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Faith “We were all coming back home this summer and doing what we’ve been waiting for so long.

You could feel the happiness and excitement in the air.”

— Emma Krall

In addition to repairs to the road at Camp Shawnee, this year campers enjoyed a new swimming pool and pavilion with bathrooms, a new playground and swing set, new tables in the dining hall, a former deck that was enclosed and turned into a media room, a new boat dock, and exterior upgrades to the boy’s dorm.

Emma Krall has served as a camp counselor at Camp Shawnee since 2018. Even when camp was not in person, she traveled to Eastern Kentucky from her home in Virginia to help host day camp, prepare at-home camp activities for campers during the COVID years, and served as a one-year volunteer and AmeriCorps member through the YES Program, serving in local schools and helping to plan preparations for in-person camp.

The YES Program is comprised of summer camp, in-school services, and a Teen Leadership Program for Appalachian youth.

“Camp is a magical place,” she said. “Seeing our campers come up the mountain for the first time in three years was breathtaking. We were all coming back home this summer and doing what we’ve been waiting to do for so long. You could feel the happiness and excitement in the air.”

Now 9 years old, Brooklyn looked forward to the day she would be able to come back to Camp Shawnee.

She spent two summers up on the mountain before the camp was closed for three years. Her favorite things about camp this summer were the new pool and spending time with her counselors, like Krall, again.

“Camp makes me happy because I can see my friends.

It was hard to see them when I couldn’t come here,” she said. “It feels awesome to be back. This is like my home. I loved doing tricks in the pool and fishing. I got to canoe for the first time, too.”

For 7-year-old Levi, it was a magical summer too. “This is my first time at camp, but I want to come back,” he said.

“I am going to tell my family it was fun and I made a lot of new friends. I can’t wait for next summer.” n

12 The Mountain SPIRIT

Faith

W

ith the first summer back at Camp AJ since 2019, the staff and campers of Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Youth Empowerment Services Program (YES) saw it as a return to some semblance of normalcy after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The campers needed and wanted that sense of belonging, and camp is a great place to share memories, make friends, and learn new things,” said Liz Phelps, manager of CAP's YES Program in Rockcastle, Jackson, and McCreary Counties. “The electricity and excitement was contagious as the new counselors got to experience it for the first time. There was such an energy and relief that camp was able to once again give back to the children in Appalachia.”

Chase Weaver, a former camper now part of the Teen Leadership Program, came back to camp this year as a junior counselor to help make a special summer for new and returning campers.

“I was excited to meet the new and returning campers, but mostly to see camp be alive again. It has been a rough two years,” he said. “I was excited to help the kids and set an example of kindness, courage, and honesty for them to look up to. My biggest goal was to find at least one camper to help feel more confident and be honest and kind to everyone.”

Like Camp Shawnee, Camp AJ made some improvements to the camp over the past two summers, thanks to the support of our gracious donors. They replaced the heated holding cabinet and ice machine, repaired the swimming pool, completed a concrete walkway in front of the main dorms, and updated video and security measures. This summer campers were also able to enjoy new canoes that were provided through the Kentucky Colonels award which the camp received in 2020. n

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Faith

A Time to Serve

BY SARABETH BROWNROBIE

C

hristian Appalachian Project (CAP) volunteers and AmeriCorps members are building ramps and repairing houses every day through their generous gifts of time and talent.

Augie and his wife Greta are two of those volunteers/ members who have chosen to spend months, post-graduation, serving elderly participants in Appalachia.

“We both grew up with families that described the incredible way the people of Appalachia meet great poverty and hardship with cheerfulness, toughness, and faith,” explained Augie, who visited his sister Amanda in 2003 when she was serving as a volunteer in CAP’s Child and Family Development Center in Mount Vernon, Kentucky.

“I remember playing “duck-duck-goose” at the center with the kids and getting a new Scooby-Doo book that I loved,” he recalled with a laugh.

Like so many others, Greta also had a powerful CAP connection. Her parents volunteered in Martin, Kentucky (1993-1994). Greta’s mom served in the Adult Education Program – CAP’s “little red school bus.” Her dad provided leadership to Home Repair volunteers, gave rides to seniors through Elderly Services, and delivered seeds for CAP’s Gardens and Seeds Program.

When choosing a short-term service position, Augie and Greta were looking for meaningful service in the

Appalachian region. “A dedication to service has always been an integral part of our relationship,” he said. “It was natural for us to want to begin our married life together on the foundation of a year of intentional service.”

He believes that serving together has strengthened his bond with his wife and with God. “I also believe that in service, we challenge each other to grow and learn more than anyone else could,” he expounded.

One participant story will stay with Augie when he reflects on his time as a volunteer/member. A senior in Salyersville needed a new set of steps and a short ramp to make her home accessible.

“She was over 80 years old,” he recalled. While serving on the site, they learned that the ramp was not for her, but for an adult son who had gone blind. “But she still welcomed in her son and was taking care of him.

I believe that anyone who meets her would be able to see the joyful light within her, and her love and faith in God.” While this period of transition between their undergraduate degrees and graduate school made it possible for the couple to serve, Augie and Greta had been planning for this opportunity for several years. “The suspension of student loan debt payments this year was a considerable help in enabling us to dedicate time to ser-

“I also believe that in service, we challenge each other to grow and learn more than anyone else could.”

— Augie

14 The Mountain SPIRIT

Faith

Dan and Rita, their son Augie, and his wife Greta, came together to serve on an Elderly Services worksite.

vice; however, we felt strongly enough about wanting to spend this time in service, that we would have done whatever was necessary to make it work,” he added.

been inspired by the witness he gives to the ways God has worked in his life, and deeply touched by his kindness, compassion, and hope,” he said.

While they have left an indelible mark on the participants they served and the housemates with whom they lived, they are also bringing those experiences with them into the next phase of their journeys. Augie was particularly impacted by the time he spent with his housemate, Eddie. “I have

Kindness, compassion, hope, and service. Most certainly these are the building blocks of community.

Through their year of service Augie and Greta were able to make homes safe, warm, dry, and accessible for many elderly participants. That act of service is pretty incredible. n

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Service

Feeding Through Faith

PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHEL HOWARD/RAW IMAGES

BY SHANNON HOLBROOK

16 The Mountain SPIRIT

Service

W

“We find the need in the community and fill it.

People are so glad to have these things.”

hen you enter The Kitchen in Moulton, Alabama, the rich aromas of savory roasted turkey and brown-sugared ham greet you as warmly as the big smiles and firm handshakes of the volunteers welcoming you inside. Friends old and new fill the cozy space with their laughter and chatter, enjoying a hot, homecooked meal at the area’s only soup kitchen.

Lashundra Craig, the founder and director of the Church of Christ Food Pantry, known as The Kitchen, ladles out sweet-spoken affirmations to other volunteers and patrons from behind a heaping pan of buttery mashed potatoes.

Feeding people is Craig’s language of love, and she offers a generous spoonful here.

The Kitchen, a new partner agency of Operation Sharing, receives items like food, cleaning supplies, and furniture for distribution throughout the community as needed. “We find the need in the community and fill it,” Craig said. “People are so glad to have these things.”

Craig feeds her hometown and the rural communities of Lawrence and Morgan Counties struggling with food insecurity. Every Tuesday and Thursday, over 100 cars start to line up an hour early, wrapping around the building to pick up meals for the week, and they keep coming from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“I hate for anyone to go hungry and there was such a need for a food pantry here,” said Craig, who started The Kitchen in 2005. “We started with seven volunteers, and now we have 25.”

CAP’s Operation Sharing Program serves all 13 Appalachian states, from

— Lashundra Craig

(above) Lashundra Craig founded The Kitchen in 2005. Community residents enjoy a hot meal and fellowship at the county's only soup kitchen.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RACHEL HOWARD/RAW IMAGES

New York to Mississippi. “We are able to expand our impact and our mission by partnering with organizations like the Church of Christ Food Pantry,” said Brian Conley, who coordinates CAP's partnerships outside of Kentucky. “We are excited to have three partner agencies in Alabama.”

The donations from Operation Sharing help Craig to continue to impact her community and help more people. She had been saving and giving her own money to local parents who didn’t have enough to put on their children’s school lunch accounts.

“I really wanted a soup kitchen because I wanted to offer hot meals, especially for the kids and elderly,” she said. “There are few affordable grocery options here. Many of our elderly receive just $16 in food stamps a month.”

The local agriculture extension office helped Craig establish a community garden behind The Kitchen, to provide fresh produce and help residents learn to grow their own food. The garden is managed by her brother, Marcus Echols, who Craig said has been integral to The Kitchen’s success from the start.

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PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LASHUNDRA CRAIG

Service

(top) Volunteers serve Thanksgiving meals. (left) Marcus Echols manages the community garden (pictured above).

PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHEL HOWARD/RAW IMAGES

The soup kitchen is becoming a type of community center. Along with the community meals, The Kitchen donates meals to the area’s homeless population and hosts cooking classes and recipe demonstrations, like this past summer’s peach salsa class for the youth given by the extension office.

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During the pandemic, it became a drive-thru pantry.

Craig donates her time, working six days a week with no salary. She is trying to secure grants for funding. She credits local businesses for donating money to help open the pantry. “If it wasn’t for them, we

wouldn’t be open,” she said. “But I always have enough to pay the bills, to keep the lights and electric on and feed people. God always provides what we need.”

Visit the COC Food Pantry Facebook group page to learn more about the mission of The Kitchen. n

CHURCH RELATIONS “Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16 Whether your church is on the East Coast, West Coast, or anywhere in between, it can help make a difference to people in need in Appalachia. By volunteering, giving monetary contributions, or donations of gift-in-kind items, your church can help us continue to be the hands and feet of Christ for years to come.

To learn more about how your church can become involved as a church partner, please contact Diane Vego at 606.308.8094 or email churches@chrisapp.org.

Guardian Angels Are Their Protectors Because you’ve shown compassion and generosity to the people in Appalachia, we invite you to become a Christian Appalachian Project Guardian Angel.

When you make monthly gifts as a Guardian Angel, you deliver critically needed services every single day. You ease more suffering and protect more lives by: • Providing healthy food to additional hungry children • Making more home repairs to keep families safe, warm, and dry • Caring for isolated seniors through home visits and other services Plus you’ll feel a deeper connection with the people in Appalachia who pray for your help.

Scan to learn how you can do daily good as a Guardian Angel.

To be a CAP Guardian Angel, please provide monthly donations of $8 or more. Thank you.

SCAN ME

Service

“If I can help one person live a better, healthier life with improved mental health, then I will have achieved what I set out to do.”

— Michaela Fisher 20 The Mountain SPIRIT

Service

Creating Hope

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

M

ichaela Fisher came to know Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) through the fun and love she experienced as a camper at Camp Shawnee. CAP came back into her life in 2015 when the Disaster Relief Program helped her family after their home was impacted by intense flash flooding. Fisher always knew she wanted to dedicate her life to helping other people, and now she is giving back to her Appalachian community through CAP as a counselor in the Family Life Counseling Service (FLCS).

“This area and the people here have been so good to me and have given me many opportunities,” Fisher said. “In Appalachia I feel that mental health has always been underpromoted and underappreciated. I feel counseling is one of the best ways I can give back to the community that has been so good to me.”

As a child, Fisher received her first mental health counseling sessions, which she said were life-changing and inspired her passion for the field. When pursuing her passion for counseling, Fisher followed the same footsteps of her stepmother, who is also a counselor, studying at Lindsey Wilson College and earning an internship with FLCS. While she began her internship during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fisher quickly learned how to work virtually with people of all ages through telehealth services on top of building her skillset and caseload. She also helped provide training related to COVID-19 fatigue with CAP employees and volunteers alongside other FLCS counselors.

After graduating with her master’s in December 2021, she was excited to accept a counselor position at CAP to continue serving people in the region. “I enjoyed seeing Michaela transition from an intern to a licensed professional as a CAP employee,” said Dale Hamilton, an FLCS counselor who supervised Fisher during her internship.

“As a clinician Michaela is very intentional in setting a positive expectancy for her clients in therapy. This gives

her clients an increased likelihood of more positive outcomes. Her therapeutic practice of consistent, genuine empathy and effective therapeutic interventions is an agent of healing and transformation.”

As she navigates her early career, Fisher said the best lesson she has learned from the FLCS staff is there is always something to learn and to advance professionally. She was excited for the opportunity to use her training skills at the Camp Shawnee staff orientation this summer. The goal was to equip counselors with the training to utilize self-care and mindfulness practices with the incoming campers. She is also interested in advancing her training in trauma by obtaining the Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) certification and as well as the Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) certification.

“It seems most of my clients’ mental health problems have been exacerbated by the pandemic and the negative consequences that follow. I want to be able to help them anyway I can with a variety of services,” Fisher said. “If I can help one person live a better, healthier life with improved mental health, then I will have achieved what I set out to do.”

CAP’s FLCS has served people in Appalachia for more than 25 years with the staff performing around 1,000 counseling sessions each year. As professional counselors, the staff’s services are focused on restoring families by strengthening the family unit and caring for everyone's emotional well-being.

“Our counselors can change the course of our participants’ lives in a very literal way,” said Chris Griffith, manager of the program. “Unresolved issues can be healed, new skills are developed to lead functional lives, and people can become more resilient and self-reliant. The most powerful aspects of counseling, far more important than the method or techniques, is creating hope.

That’s what we do.” n

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Service

Home Away From Home

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

P

hotos of Todd and Dana Morton’s five smiling grandchildren and homemade crafts with their small handprints decorate the walls of the Morton’s RV. Their passion for service takes them all over the southeast to serve with several ministries they have chosen to support. Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is one of those ministries.

The Georgia natives have traveled more than seven hours away from home on four separate occasions to volunteer with CAP. “It’s home away from home,” said Dana, who began mission work with her husband in 2010. They joined

Campers on Mission, a national fellowship of Christian campers who accept short-term volunteer opportunities across the country. Since that time, Todd has been involved in construction projects, while Dana has learned how to sew and make dresses to send to girls overseas.

While on a mission the Mortons learned about CAP from another volunteer and made the decision to get involved.

“At CAP you will have the best experience, especially with the other volunteers and the staff that you meet,” Todd said. “Here you are around those with a similar heart to serve people in need, and it’s encouraging and inspiring.

You get more out of this experience than you give.”

Georgia natives Dana and Todd Morton have traveled to CAP four times to serve in Eastern Kentucky.

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Service “This experience can make you realize your blessings, but you leave knowing you have made a difference in someone’s life.”

— Todd Morton

While COVID-19 delayed their first trip to Eastern Kentucky, Todd and Dana continued to reach out to CAP to see when they would be able to serve. When the urgent call for volunteers was made to help close home repair projects CAP had started before the pandemic shutdown, the Mortons were some of the first volunteers to respond and came to the Foley Mission Center in Martin, Kentucky.

In anticipation for the need of RV service volunteers across CAP’s service area, several RV hookups were added to volunteer lodging locations, including Foley Mission Center.

“CAP has done a great job with these RV sites because there is power, water, and sewage hookups. The accommodations are so nice,” Dana said. All short-term and seasonal volunteers who serve between March and November, whether they stay in an RV or the mission center, play a significant role in helping people in need in Appalachia.

“With skilled volunteers like Todd, additional home repair projects can be completed, allowing more homes to come off of CAP’s lengthy waiting list of individuals and families in need,” said Becky Neuenschwander, manager of CAP’s Mission Groups Program. “Dana serves the volunteers who work out with the home repair crews by preparing and serving hot meals each day, as well as the needed items to pack lunches for meals. Both types of service are critical to the needs of CAP’s programs to help continue our mission.”

Although CAP’s annual WorkFest, an alternative spring break trip for college students, was canceled along with their plans to make their first trip to CAP, Todd, a retired

firefighter, was able to take part in the 30th anniversary of the event earlier this year. His favorite part of the experience was getting to interact with the students who came to serve, and the families too.

“This is a unique opportunity because you not only get to do the work, but you make a connection with the people you are helping,” Todd noted. “Sometimes we live in a bubble, and we don’t know the challenges people may face. This experience can make you realize your blessings, but you leave knowing you have made a difference in someone’s life.”

Working in the kitchen, Dana is grateful for the opportunity to serve and enjoys working with other like-minded people from across the country who are passionate about service and CAP’s mission of building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia. After she was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2021, the Mortons were not sure they would be able to come back to CAP. But God was on their side, and Dana was cancer free by the spring.

“My God is good. I owe all my thanks to him, and I can’t do enough to repay him,” she said. “The Bible says, ‘To whom much is given, much is required.’ That is part of why we love being able to serve with CAP. We have been so blessed, and our goal is to run this race of life and finish well.”

People interested in serving for a week or for a few months with CAP can contact Kelli Bryant, Volunteer Groups admissions advisor, at kbryant@chrisapp.org to begin the application process. n

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive 23

Compassion

God’s Perfect Timing

BY TINA V. BRYSON

I

t was more than 100 degrees, but nothing could dampen the spirits of community members from Dawson Springs, Kentucky, waiting for the arrival of essentials from Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Operation Sharing Program. The tractor trailer emblazoned on the side with the words “We Deliver Hope” felt like hope personified in a town where seven months prior nearly 75% of homes were destroyed by an EF-4 tornado.

“The tornado was horrible. It came through and destroyed one side of the town. When I arrived at the church that morning, the whole roof was peeled back and I just stood there and wept,” said Jeff Winfrey, pastor of the Dawson Springs Primitive Baptist Church. “The Holy Spirit said it’s a building, go check on your people.”

24 The Mountain SPIRIT

He did just that and says he found some miracles of people who survived, and stories that broke his heart like the sisters whom he’d known all his life, their home was just flattened. They were found together about 80 yards away. Their sons were devastated that their mothers had not survived the storm.

“There were times I nearly cried, in the middle of the night sometimes was the hardest times.

The Spirit Himself just gave me encouragement,” Winfrey recalled describing the community as a Mayberry kind of town, where everyone knows each other and looks out for each other. “Since those early days, we have seen help and money pour into this town, like you can’t imagine. There’s a lot of good folks in this world.”

Compassion PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF WINFREY

“The timing was perfect.

God is awesome and CAP is a blessing.”

— Jeff Winfrey

Early after the tornado, the church used the donated funds to buy building materials for a warehouse to keep the truckloads of donated food that had been sent to Dawson Springs. The Amish provided the labor to rebuild some homes and the much-needed warehouse. Then, the church financed the building of a food bank in the downtown area, so that people in need would have easier accessibility to the food.

“When Operation Sharing called with a donation of bathtubs, kitchen sinks, and vanities, we had just moved the food,” Winfrey said. “Now we had this warehouse to house those essential household items that could help families when they are ready to rebuild.

The timing was perfect. God is awesome and CAP is a blessing.”

The community developed a LongTerm Recovery Committee to determine how to help families when they get to the point of rebuilding. Local leaders and volunteers help coordinate donated items and funds, and work with groups outside the area on logistics to get building supplies, furniture, and other household essentials to help families get back on their feet.

In many cases, when there is a natural disaster, Operation Sharing is

(top) The tornado ripped the roof off of the Dawson Springs Primitive Baptist Church. (above) Operation Sharing delivers bathtubs, kitchen sinks, and vanities to the community.

the first CAP program to respond bringing in water, cleaning supplies, and other necessities. Wesley Howard, a CAP tractor trailer driver, has been on the frontlines making sure that these items make it to people in need immediately following a disaster and months later when families may be still struggling to put their lives back together.

because the tornadoes tore up so much including the warehouses to store items.”

“It gives you a sense of pride that you can help people in need,” Howard said. “CAP builds hope in these communities by delivering the items they need the most.

It takes some time to figure out how to get the items to the people

“It’s sad to see the devastation firsthand. What you see on the news just doesn’t do it justice when you see the damage for yourself,” Howard said.

“I’m glad we can play a part in letting them know that people are thinking about them and want to help.” n

Seven months after the tornado's impact, Howard estimated he had driven over 10,000 miles delivering goods and supplies to partners at the local level that can manage the distribution in the community.

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive 25

Operation Sharing Program Christian Appalachian Project’s Operation Sharing Program has more than 1,300 partners that impact the lives of people in Appalachia in many ways. Operation Sharing provided gas dryers for electrical technology students at Floyd County Area Technology Center to learn how to repair them. In Buffalo, New York, and Frostburg, Maryland, the program helped promote literacy by delivering books for partner agencies to distribute to children, families, and teachers. Through a partnership with Toys for Tots and Good360 for the third consecutive year, more than 40,000 toys were distributed in several communities to nearly 5,500 children.

26 The Mountain SPIRIT

Congratulations Dr. Thomas Vierheller

Southland Christian Church

CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT'S

CHAMPIONS of Appalachia 2 0 22 Sponsored by NetGain Technologies, Inc.

Compassion

Be a Blessing

BY TINA V. BRYSON

I

lies, and the elderly who struggle to have enough food to eat. “I feel like when you drive up to the Eagle Pantry, there is a feeling of refuge and hope that overwhelms me.”

“Most of us have never experienced hunger, but it does exist,” said Higginbotham, who choked up thinking of the children, their fami-

A smaller pantry opened in June 2021 to meet the changing community needs when the Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) preschool at Eagle closed because the public schools were meeting that need for families. The expansion includes a 2,760 square foot facility with offices, a covered area for drive-thru service, a shopping area that will provide participants the opportunity to select what they need for their families, freezer space for

t seemed like if you blinked you would have missed how quickly the two trailers and small playground were transformed into a fully functional pantry that serves the Parkers Lake community in McCreary County.

Mike Higginbotham, Facilities Management, led the construction of the new pantry and renovation of facilities which will allow larger mission groups. The expanded living space for volunteers increased the outreach capacity in the county.

perishable items like meats, and a loading dock to accommodate large deliveries for the pantry.

“I have been blessed to know that I have touched a vital part of someone’s life by working and overseeing this building project,” Higginbotham said. “I want the pantry to be a place of help and hope, a place that will be here for the long haul that loves, cares, and gives hope to all people.”

Supply chain shortages and price increases were a major part of the challenges the team faced in getting both projects completed.

Higginbotham credits teamwork with getting them through. “We suc-

“When you can help someone who needs it, that’s a good day. God will bless those who are a blessing.”

— Mike Higginbotham 28 The Mountain SPIRIT

Compassion

Facilities Management led the expansion project for Eagle Food Pantry which is 2,760 sqare feet.

ceed as a team and without the entire team being all in, we would have never accomplished anything.”

The team led by Danny Purcell, who has worked at CAP for more than 35 years, includes Rodney Miracle (now retired), David Ratliff, Paul Shelton, Chancy Cooper, and Danny Rowe.

“Working behind the scenes is Kendra Duck. She does everything from payments to schedules to records. Everything would have been a train wreck if it hadn’t been for Kendra,” he added. “And now, the Eagle staff are signing up new participants almost daily. Everyone working together to help honest, hard-working people put a good meal on the table, that’s a blessing.”

According to Feeding America, in 2020, the food insecurity rate for the county was 20.6% and 21.6% for children. These numbers have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19

pandemic and inflation. Pantry staff are developing partnerships in the community to reach as many children and their families, as well as seniors who need access to nutritious food. There are no grocery stores in the Parkers Lake area so the community must rely on prepackaged foods or fast-food style meals that are available at nearby convenience stores.

The Eagle Pantry currently serves 225 families with pantry boxes (553 people) and 95 seniors with commodity boxes each month. CAP anticipates nearly 800 families in the area need pantry assistance.

Next month, Higginbotham will celebrate his six-year work anniversary with CAP but is no stranger to CAP’s mission of building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia.

He was introduced to CAP in 1994 when his church hosted a volun-

teer group in McCreary County that worked on some home repair projects. He helped provide meals and fixed some maintenance issues during their stay.

The work on the pantry was expedited because of the commitment of many volunteers who came alongside Facilities Management staff.

The expanded accommodations for mission groups makes it possible for larger groups to stay on the Eagle campus with increased sleeping capacity and shower facilities.

“I am grateful for everyone who worked on these projects,” Higginbotham added.

“I hope that at the end of each day, staff and volunteers in McCreary County can go home feeling that they have made a difference in the lives of the people they served that day. When you can help someone who needs it, that’s a good day. God will bless those who are a blessing.” n

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive 29

Appalachia Spotlight

CHANGING THE NARRATIVE

BY SHANNON HOLBROOK

K

entucky is well known for horses, bourbon, and bluegrass. But what about the people?

When you picture Kentuckians, do you envision NASA engineers? World-renowned ballet dancers? Nobel or Pulitzer Prize winners?

The Commonwealth has them all in spades, with plenty of visionaries on the horizon: award-winning chefs, authors, actors, Olympians, poet laureates, and presidents of worldwide companies from every corner of the Commonwealth.

Kentucky to the World (KTW), a Louisville-based nonprofit created to impact the way the world views Kentucky, shares stories of extraordinary people like these through live programs, multimedia platforms, and student educational programs. Their team of creatives and thought leaders develop short-form documentaries about successful Kentuckians and their innovations.

Its founder, Shelly Zegart — world-renowned for her work with American quilts — was inspired to start KTW upon seeing influential Kentuckians frequently appearing on the national stage.

“We have some of the most amazing people, and we need to use that as ammunition to tell the story of this state,” she said.

Shelly Zegart (left) and Sam Ford (right) collaborate to tell Kentucky stories.

30 The Mountain SPIRIT

An example is Sam Ford, executive director of AccelerateKY. The Ohio County native, MIT graduate, media innovator, and strategist is a catalyst for economic and workforce development in Kentucky. He collaborated with KTW to develop “Kentucky: Resilience in the Face of Economic Change,” a series that shares stories of Kentucky innovators and discusses the realities of and opportunities for its evolving economy.

Appalachia Arts +Spotlight Culture

(left) llustrated playing cards spotlight Kentucky natives. (below) Sam Ford and Shelly Zegart work together to promote cultural pride in Kentucky.

“You have to tell the stories of the future you’re working toward.”

— Sam Ford

One of those stories features Rusty Justice, a civil engineer who made the pivot from coal mining to data mining when co-founding the software and app development company Bit Source in Pikeville, Kentucky.

Bit Source has employed several local residents who reskilled/upskilled from jobs around coal mining.

“You have to tell the stories of the future you’re working toward,” Ford said.

Zegart and Ford are collaborating to both tell these stories and help write new ones. This fall, KTW moved into a space where new innovators’ stories will be born — a second headquarters at Western Kentucky University’s Innovation Campus in its Collaborative SmartSpace, a 30,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art workspace. Partnering with strategists and creatives there, they’ll develop and present content, with a goal to attract talent from outside of Kentucky to work at the facility.

“We’re becoming more connected to economic development,” Zegart said.

In its 10th year, KTW continues to promote cultural pride in Kentucky and encourages Kentuckians — who they

know to be fiercely loyal to their state — to help them.

Zegart encourages every Kentuckian to have a positive story ready about a Kentucky innovator they can share.

KTW also has a series of illustrated playing cards featuring famous living Kentuckian profiles so you can learn who won NASA’s highest honor, who that Nobel Prize winner is, and innovators from your part of the state.

“Change the narrative,” Zegart said. “Learn about the innovators, the changemakers, here.”

“Kentucky is not an overly braggadocious state,” Ford said. “Telling your story is not to pat yourself on the back but to inspire others — show them what we can do. Be proud to be a Kentuckian; think about your roots and our generations of innovation. There’s no one more innovative than someone who’s kept their family farm alive.”

Learn more at kentuckytotheworld.org. n

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive 31

Appalachia Spotlight

BY SHANNON HOLBROOK

32 The Mountain SPIRIT

Appalachia Arts +Spotlight Culture

PHOTO BY ALLISTER ANN

TEE DEE YOUNG

CARLY PEARCE PHOTO COURTESY TEE DEE YOUNG

C

ameras flash against sequins and bright, white-toothed grins. Excitement mounts on a red carpet tucked within the lush green foothills of the Appalachian Mountains for the induction ceremony at the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum, located in Mount Vernon, Kentucky.

You don’t make it this far unless Kentucky blood runs through your veins and music fuels your soul.

This year’s ceremony celebrates seven inductees and the museum’s 20th anniversary. Artists from all music genres have been inducted from Loretta Lynn to members of Backstreet Boys. Inductees must be from Kentucky and have made a significant contribution to the music industry.

The 2022 class is no different, with a variety of modern art-

ists and legends from across the Commonwealth. The board of directors chooses from nominations by respected industry professionals and past inductees.

This year’s honorees will include popular country singer/songwriter Carly Pearce and award-winning blues artist Tee Dee Young.

“Kentucky is the place that made me,” said Pearce, a Taylor Mill native, who has released multiple award-winning albums. “It’s the place that made me fall in love with country music and where all my dreams were born.

To be recognized in this way, and to forever be a part of Kentucky music history, is one of the greatest honors I’ll ever have.”

“This is truly a blessing, and a great honor,” Young added. “Kentucky is a beautiful place; a lot of well-known musicians grew up in Kentucky.”

Lexington’s Young performed at places like The Cotton Club, Albert King’s Club, and Kington Mines. He’s played with blues legends and regularly performs in his hometown.

“Every single inductee I have met has been deeply humbled,” said Jessica Blankenship, executive director of the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Laurel County local is a knowledge and networking powerhouse in the region’s country music scene. She graduated from Berea College, where a research assignment at the Appalachian Center led to her calling.

“That was the start of me loving Appalachian history, country music, and the stories of the people who made it,” she said. “This is a dream opportunity for me.”

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive 33

The museum features inductees’ artifacts and memorabilia, Kentucky music history since the 1800’s, and interactive displays. An outdoor amphitheater, gift shop, and rental cabins complete the music campus.

The museum was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and staff deep cleaned and inventoried items.

“Now we have a fresh display for the uptick in travelers we’re seeing,” Blankenship added. “Renfro Valley’s back up and running with festivals and concerts. They’ve been selling out quite a few shows and renovating the old barn.”

The museum features inductees’ artifacts and memorabilia, Kentucky music history since the 1800’s, and interactive displays. An outdoor amphitheater, gift shop, and rental cabins complete the music campus.

There are weekly events too, like a singer-songwriter series, music exhibitions by gospel groups, and vocal lessons. More temporary and historical exhibits are coming, and guests

34 The Mountain SPIRIT

can visit the new inductees’ memorabilia year-round from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Each of our inductees are wellrespected. They are really good ambassadors of Kentucky,” Blankenship added. “We encompass all genres of

music and hope that music fans will take a chance to listen to each of the inductees.”

To learn more about this year’s inductees visit kentuckymusichalloffame.com. n

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KENTUCKY MUSIC HALL OF FAME

Appalachia Spotlight

B O N U S CO N T E N T >>> n Fight Against Hunger n For the Greater Good

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive 35

Bonus

Fight Against Hunger

BY TINA V. BRYSON

C

hristian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) partnered with local schools, businesses, and community organizations to spotlight food insecurity in Eastern Kentucky. The annual Hunger Walk, held each September, collected 18,240 pounds of food which will be used to help families in need in CAP’s service area. The food supports CAP’s pantry network in Rockcastle, McCreary, and Magoffin Counties.

“Hunger Walk is an opportunity to raise awareness in the communities that we serve about hunger issues faced by our neighbors. The event gives people practical ways that they can help,” said Carolyn Lindsey, Grateful Bread Food Pantry Program manager in Rockcastle County. “It brings the community together so that we all can make a difference.”

In Appalachia, 1 in 5 children are food insecure. Texas Roadhouse and Hunt Brothers Pizza sponsored this year’s walk. The generosity of donors brought in $19,905.

Funds generated from the Hunger Walk help provide food for children and their families in CAP’s service area.

“The Lord has called us to turn outward to be a blessing to people. My father founded this company with a passion for serving people. He met CAP’s founder

36 The Mountain SPIRIT

in the 70s and was passionate about helping eliminate food insecurity. We can all do our part,” said Erin Hunt Ferguson, CEO of Pizza Wholesale of Lexington, a founding distributor of Hunt Brothers Pizza.

School partnerships like Rockcastle County Schools and Lexington Christian Academy (LCA) in Fayette County increase awareness among young people and help them be a part of service opportunities that make a real impact.

“We see the way hunger affects our student body.

Learning, athletic participation, and social interaction are all made more challenging on an empty stomach,” noted Silas Durham, president of the Rockcastle County High School Honors Club. “These are our friends, co-workers, classmates, and neighbors. It is our responsibility to do what we can to support and love our community in the fight against hunger.”

Dr. Scott Wells, LCA’s Head of School, added, “Many of our neighbors in Appalachia struggle with food insecurity as well as right here in Lexington. Because we are blessed beyond measure, we are called to give back. If you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, nothing else really matters.”

Bonus

Community leadership also showed their support by participating in the walk including Rockcastle County Judge Executive Howell Holbrook, Mount Vernon Mayor Mike Bryant, and Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton. They were joined by Rockcastle County School Superintendent Carrie Ballinger and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles.

A special highlight of this year’s community awareness was the inaugural Hunger Bowl hosted by Rockcastle County High School and sponsored by Momentum Courier. During halftime, Sam Hamilton, founder and president of Momentum Courier, donated $1,000 to Grateful Bread Food Pantry and pledged another $9,000 to support Hunger Walk. n

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive 37

B on us

For the Greater Good

BY BRIANNA STEPHENS

W

hile an individual’s efforts for a cause can be great, when we work together as a community or as partners, we can make a greater impact. This year, Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) honorees for the annual Champions of Appalachia award

credit their success and efforts to partnerships and teamwork.

The annual award recognizes individuals and organizations that have had a positive, long-term impact in the lives of people in need in Appalachia. This year Southland Christian Church was recognized

for their partnership that has helped not only support CAP’s mission but meet the needs of people in Appalachia. Thomas Vierheller, Ph.D. a professor of biology at Big Sandy Community and Technical College in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, was also recognized for fulfilling educational and physical needs in his community.

Southland Christian Church has provided more than 7,200 hours of volunteer service to CAP. One program the church has served through is Disaster Relief by helping sort donations for flood victims (left) and mucking out and repairing damaged homes (above).

“Service is good for your heart, but it’s a blessing to be able to just be a part of building those relationships and helping people understand what Christ’s love is all about.”

— Mark Perraut

38 The Mountain SPIRIT

Bonus

Thomas Vierheller, Ph.D., talks with visitors at the East Kentucky Science Center.

Vierheller had a hand in establishing the center in Prestonsburg.

“Southland Christian Church is an excellent example of how CAP and its partners can work together to help people living in poverty in Appalachia. Through thousands of volunteer hours, donations of supplies and financial support, Southland Christian Church is a champion of Appalachia,” said Marci Hartness, CAP philanthropy office and coordinator of this year’s Champions of Appalachia event.

“Dr. Vierheller’s deep connection with his community and love for the region and its people embody what a champion of Appalachia truly is.”

In early 2021, floods struck Eastern Kentucky and CAP needed volunteers to muck out homes and make repairs. Mark Perraut, the missions pastor for Southland, visited an area impacted by flooding to see the need firsthand. The next week, he brought a full team of skilled volunteers to help with disaster relief.

During their first disaster relief project, the group connected with a hus-

band and wife who needed much of their insulation and dry wall cut out, their floors taken up, and furniture removed. Their bathroom was also destroyed as well as the new kitchen cabinets the couple saved so long for and installed three weeks before the flood. Southland’s volunteers built a strong bond with the family and continued to return to Eastern Kentucky to help the family rebuild until the work on the home was complete.

“Service is good for your heart, but it’s a blessing to be able to just be a part of building those relationships and helping people understand what Christ’s love is all about,” Perraut said.

When disaster struck again with deadly flooding this summer, Southland was there to help CAP with disaster relief efforts through mucking out homes and processing donations to help flood victims.

In addition to disaster relief, Southland volunteers have served in CAP’s Home Repair Program to

make homes in Appalachia safe, warm, and dry. They have also served at CAP’s Grateful Bread Food Pantry and Grateful Threadz Thrift Store in Rockcastle County. Since April 2021, Southland has provided more than 7,200 hours of service to CAP’s programs and supported CAP through gift-in-kind donations and financial support.

“We are appreciative of this award, but we are more appreciative for Christian Appalachian Project,” Perraut said.

“We are grateful for all they do and the opportunities that they’ve given us to come alongside and help.”

CAP’s other Champions honoree, Thomas Vierheller, Ph.D. has taught at Big Sandy Community and Technical college for nearly 30 years, all while serving the Prestonsburg community. His passion for providing opportunities for science education has driven his partnerships and collaborations to create outreach programs and educational spaces, like the East Kentucky Science Center.

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive 39

B on us Before the establishment of the Varia Planetarium, located inside the East Kentucky Science Center, the closet planetarium was several hours away.

Pictured are Chrysta Ghent, center director; Thomas Vierheller, Ph.D., a 2022 Champions of Appalachia honoree who helped develop the center, and Susan Scott-Goble, center educator.

Vierheller said the center is the epitome of people in a community coming together for a cause. Before the East Kentucky Science Center was established, the nearest planetarium was several hours away. There was a need for a planetarium in the area to encourage enthusiasm and an enhancement of science education in the community. Vierheller also helped establish a nature trail on Big Sandy’s campus, which teaches local ecology and the importance of water quality and protecting water sheds. Both the center and the trail are integrated into Vierheller’s curriculum for his students.

“It is important to me to invest in this area. I see people that could be left out that I know would have great possibilities if given the opportunities,” Vierheller said. “Even at the community college, there are some students that haven’t had those opportunities, but then they are able to get them in my classroom. I’ve seen how educa-

40 The Mountain SPIRIT

“It is important to me to invest in this area.

I see people that could be left out that I know would have great possibilities if given the opportunities.”

— Thomas Vierheller, Ph.D.

tional opportunities can really help them and make a difference.”

In addition to science, Vierheller’s passion to fight food insecurity and promote good health led him to be a part of the development of a community garden on the college’s campus 10 years ago. The garden provides fresh produce to the community and is distributed by the Fishes and Loaves Food Pantry, which serves hundreds of families in the area each month.

“I want to emphasize that whether it is the garden, the outreach programs, the science center, even my role

teaching biology at the college and beyond, all of them have been made possible by partnerships,” Vierheller said. “While I am being recognized with this award, these efforts were about different groups coming together for the same purpose.”

The annual Champions of Appalachia celebration is underwritten by NetGain Technologies, LLC, a leading provider of Information Technology services and solutions since 1984.

NetGain’s sponsorship supports CAP’s mission of building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia. n

Stay connected.

You can connect with us and other Christian Appalachian Project supporters on the social networking sites you're already using.

Join the conversation @ChrisAppProj and see what others are saying about our mission.

The Mountain Spirit P.O. Box 55911 Lexington, KY 40555-5911

christianapp.org/MtSpiritGive