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January-February 1991

The Mountain Spirit The Magazine of the Christian Appalachian Project

The Mountain Spirit

The Magazine of the Christian Appalachian Project

Vol. X, No. 1

January-February 1991

Contents Features 4 Harvest for the Future by Colleen Mitchell

Charlene Reynolds and her family have participated in many CAP programs over the years. In her experiences with CAP workers, though, Charlotte has provided an equal amount of ministry to them.

12 Need Information? Stop on By!

Carole Johnson, p. 23

by Glen Edward Taul

CAP workers are always happy to have friends stop by the offices on Crab Orchard Road in Lancaster to learn as much as they can about CAP.

16 Problems and Solutions by Margaret Gabriel

One of CAP’S missions is to keep the American public informed of the problems in Appalachia. CAP accom plishes that mission in a number of ways.

“We Are . . . 1 CAP’s Mission Statement not only tells others what the organization is about, it serves as a guide for CAP workers.

23 Tender Loving Care Ministries by Bette Y. Marshall

Not all of CAP’S volunteers live in Kentucky. Carole Johnson, of Living ston, New Jersey, works to help the Appalachian people, and to tell her neighbors of the needs of the area.

Departments 3

From Our President

Around the Project

The CAP Closeup

The Reynolds family, p.4

The January-February Theme In nearly every office and CAP program, a plaque with the heading “Mission Statement” is prominently displayed. Every component of CAP—economic development, crisis intervention and education—uses that statement as a guide for decisions concerning the direction and goals for programs and resources. This month we explore a few of the ways CAP follows the instruction of the mission statement. On page 4 volunteer Colleen Mitchell introduces you to Charlene Reynolds, who has shared many good times with CAP workers. On page 23 you’ll leam about the ways Carole Johnson works as a CAP volunteer—in New Jersey. On the COVER Charlene Reynolds reflects on life, as she holds her grandson on her lap (photo by Nancy Uschold). On the BACK COVER Colleen Mitchell works with a Rockcastle county GED student (photo by Lorraine Corsale).

22 Letters Published by the Christian Appalachian Project. Editor: Margaret Gabriel. Advisory Board: Father Ralph W. Beiting, Mike McLaughlin, Rose Price, Bill Begley, Ike Adams, Kathleen Ford Leavell, Barbara Delmonico. G raphic Designer: Elizabeth Reed Miller. Circulation: Linda Grider East. The Mountain Spirit is published six times a year. The annual subscription price is $5.00. Subscriptions and other correspondence should be sent to The Mountain Spirit, Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Road, Lancaster, KY 40446. Copyright, 1990, The Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Member, Catholic Press Association. The Christian Appalachian Project is a non-profit Christian service organization operating throughout Eastern Kentucky. The project operates on the philosophy that “helping people help themselves” is the best approach to Appalachian poverty.

“W T f e —you, the workers o f the Christian Appalachian Project and the people o f the mountains, with God’s help—can make a difference in life in the mountains. By working together and with your help, we believe that we can eliminate the neediness and despair that has plagued this area for so long. I pray that you will be generous and that God will richly bless you.” Reverend Ralph Beiting

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Christian Appalachian Project 322 Crab Orchard Road Lancaster, K entucky 40444-9989 (606)792-3051

From Our President As one of those management persons who met with Father Beiting some eight years ago with the express purpose of composing a mission statement, I take a certain amount of personal pride in what we as a team accomplished that day and in how the statement reads. While there has been an occasional word change or two since originally written, it would be fair to say that it has needed remarkably little reworking. From a position of personal comfort with the mission state ment, I offer a few suggestions about what the mission statement is not. But first some comments about the mission statements of corporations. It seems to me the need for a mission statement stems from the need to establish a corporate identity in the minds of employees and customers (in the profitmaking world). Corporations do tend to become some what impersonal over time, and a mission statement can return both employee and manager to the roots of the corporation. In times of rapid change, economic downturn, loss of market share, or in the face of the stresses and strains that can come from a thousand different directions, it can serve as a rallying point around which to re-group, to re-think ways of doing things. Adherence to a mission statement enables corporations to gather re newed and re-directed strength to go forth to meet the challenges of the day and of the future. Over time the mission statement becomes the creed of the corporation. It gives meaning where before there was confusion and instability. In a certain sense, the mission statement becomes a corporate religion around which all divisions and individuals must pay a certain amount of homage. Insofar as I have been fair to corporate mission state ments, I think you can sec the point to which I am coming: Does it become a substitute for true religion, and are we at the Christian Appalachian Project pro tected from that same error? The answer for others I am not wise enough to say; for their sake I hope they think about it now and then. For us at CAP, we have not had automatic protection from this danger, even though “Christian” is part of our name. If we recognize the potential problem, we are better prepared to deal with it should the need arise. While I am very proud of our mission statement, it is not an attempt to circumscribe our religion. Hopefully it points to a direction whereby we can put our religion into action as a corporate entity, and hopefully it can January-February 1991

Mike McLaughlin

help us take pride in what we are about and what we stand for. As I take a few moments to re-read it, it seems to describe the CAP that I personally know and to which I am committed. I observe, too, that the state ment flavors the atmosphere that permeates us through out. CAP’s mission statement, however, is not my religion. W e could try to make it so, but we have the focus to recognize and identify the difference, and to know from where our true religion comes. If I understand my Bible correctly, it is my personal “mission statement” from its first page to the last. It is the mission statement beside which all other mission statements pale into insignificance. W e at CAP must keep our Bibles before us if we want to live the life of fully committed Christians. CAP’s mission statement is for my work. My Bible and my church are for my life. How sad it would be if we did not know the difference. Our true nourishment, the wellsprings of our life, flow like a river from the Spirit of Christ, and for that source of deeper and eternal meaning there is no substitute. Our religion speaks of love: of forgiveness and re demption, of faith and covenants, of sacrifice and promise, of humans made in God’s image and of God Himself made a man in the historical presence of Jesus. We are proud that our mission statement links us indissolvably with such a total way of life, in which we as CAP can work together in harmony with the Spirit towards our small but essential role in the realization of God’s kingdom on earth.

From section V of the Christian Appalachian Project Mission Statement:

“Our work is in many fields (social, eco nomic, spiritual) and seeks to affect the root causes of problems as well as day to day needs. In all cases we seek to avoid give aways and dependency out of respect for the Appalachian people. Thus, we will involve the people themselves in the solutions to their own problems.”

Harvest For The Future

I t is not uncommon to find people who are involved in many CAP programs, people whose needs in social, economic and spiritual areas are addressed by CAP education or crisis intervention programs. In CAP’S child development centers, for example, the need for high school equivalency education came to light in parent group meetings, so CAP began to meet the education needs of child development parents. People in need of emergency assistance are also those who receive CAP Christmas baskets, and CAP counseling services are available to anyone involved in a CAP program, as well as others in the community. But it’s not accurate to say that only CAP is meeting needs. Indeed, in many ways the people that CAP serves meet the needs of the workers with whom they come in contact. Charlene Reynolds has been served by several CAP programs in several fields, but spiritually, workers will tell you, service is a two way street.

by Colleen Mitchell photos by Nancy Uschold 4

“C’mon up honey and getcha seat, don’t be afraid of him,” Charlene yells out to her approaching GED teacher. She speaks of her husband, Lin, who has a history of pleasantly harassing all visitors (especially unsuspecting CAP volunteers). Today is Wednesday and Charlene has been sitting on her porch, books in hand, patiently awaiting the arrival of her teacher, or anyone else who happens to drop i n . . . and many do.

The Mountain Spirit

Charlene is peculiar in the way in which she studies; she will do no visible work while the teacher is there, but will listen intently to the explanation of the exer cises she will have for the following week. She is one of the few students who insists on doing her “figurin’’ when she is by herself. And when she shows her teacher her accomplished work the next week, she has few mistakes. Charlene has been studying for her GED for approxi mately two years. She is 56 years old and hopes to get a job when her husband retires in a few years. She stopped going to school after the eighth grade because the high school was too far away and she had no transportation. Charlene first came in contact with the Christian Appalachian Project eleven years ago when, after picking up her monthly commodities (wheat, flour, sugar, etc.), former CAP worker Dorothy Williams asked if she would volunteer some time in helping distribute the commodities. She agreed, and has since been extremely active in many of CAP programs. In the process she has become a CAP favorite, frankly, it is no wonder. Charlene is a special type of person. Many volunteers have said that one cannot meet her and not fall instantly in love with her. Her appearance changes little from week to week; her long hair tied up in a bun, a cut off tank top. Charlene has a warm countenance whose most remarkable features are her soft blue eyes which clearly reflect a beauty she radiates from within. Her

Charlene Reynolds

personality is in no opposition to her appearance; simple, compassionate and sincere. She’s one of those people teachers would see weekly, even if they didn’t have to. Charlene Reynolds. That name rolls off the tongues of all who meet her with delight and admira tion, at least all those affiliated with CAP. Upon leaving her house, folks find themselves wondering if perhaps she hasn’t done more for them, than they have for her.

Story author Colleen Mitchell reviews Charlene’s GED lesson on

January-February 1991

Charlene’s grandchildren posed for a picture as they got off the school bus. Charlene believes that their time with CAP’S Family Life Child Development Center has made them better elementary school students.

If you want to find anything out about the Christian Appalachian Project, go talk to Charlene; she has been involved with many aspects of CAP (and if she doesn’t know about it, she’ll know where to direct you). After her first contact with CAP eleven years ago, she has since required some emergency assistance herself. Charlene’s most distressing emergency came last winter when, on one cold winter morning, part of her roof blew off. Charlene had no money but CAP was able to help her with repairs. This is one of a few incidents in which Charlene has found CAP to be a “saving grace” in her life.

their GED. One has since received her GED, the high school equivalency diploma, and is now working as a result, something she would be unable to do without an education. Two more are still in the process, but say that when they finish, they’ll begin taking business classes at the local vocational school.

Charlene has received help at other times, but not without somehow paying back, of which she is ex tremely proud. She has worked off many loans through many routes. For example, she frequently helps to pack Christmas baskets or distribute garden seeds. Charlene is still in the process of paying back some loans but insists that she would volunteer her time even if she didn’t have to because “CAP needs more help than what they give.” As a recipient herself, Charlene is aware and empathetic of the immediate day-to-day needs which people have, yet she believes that “people need to help them selves” in order to become a solution to their own problems, and ultimately, to make a difference in their own lives. Thus, Charlene has suggested other family members take advantage of the programs that CAP has to offer. She believes that they can begin to make a difference in their lives, a harvesting for the future. She has encouraged three of her daughters-in-law to get

For several years Charlene has helped wrap presents for CAP’S Christmas basket program.

The Mountain Spirit

Kuan-tzu, a Chinese sage, saw the need to “Harvest for the Future,” when he wrote, If you give a man a fish, he will have a meal; If you teach him to fish, he will have a living. If you are thinking one year ahead, sow seed. If you are thinking ten years ahead, plant a tree. If you are thinking one hundred years ahead, educate the people. By sowing seed, you will harvest once. By planting a tree, you will harvest tenfold. By educating the people, you will harvest a hundredfold. Charlene, realizing the necessity of education, sug gested several years ago that her two sons send their young children to the Family Life Child Development Center, CAP’s pre-school program in Rockcastle County, to “get ‘em good ‘n ’ ready for school.” Charlene believes that her grandchildren are doing well in school now because of their experience in child development. Those same children attended CAP’s summer Bible program for several years because, according to Char lene, “they needed to be taught things about the Bible and Our Lord.”

Charlene’s husband, Lin

Charlene Reynolds has been a conversation piece at the local volunteer houses for some time. For them she has been an educator in the customs and practices of the area, from cooking soup beans to bringing volun teers to witness a baptism in a creek, both of which are completely new to many volunteers. But, clearly, it is the compassion, simplicity and wisdom in her pres ence which attract many volunteers to her (and bring back many who have left). So, you see, Charlene has given much more than she has received. Charlene believes that CAP has helped so many people “because they have the love of God in their hearts. I know that they’ll have a reward in heaven because of how they help people.” She insists that if her husband dies before she does, she will become a CAP volunteer for the remainder of her life, a promise which may make the present volunteers stay indefinitely.

Charlene’s grandson proudly displays his pel for the camera.

January-February 1991

CAP’s service in many fields illustrates its holistic approach to people’s lives in the mountains. If only an increase in education were necessary to give people good choices about their lives, that need would be met. If needs were purely economic, the solutions to prob lems would be much easier. But with the involvement of people like Charlene, who gives as much to CAP programs as they give to her, the programs—and the workers—will find ways to blend solutions to prob lems, and eliminate the root causes of poverty.

Around the Project Estill County Fair Includes CAP Materials During the fall CAP workers Wendy French and Suzanne Fenton partici pated in a street fair in Estill County, one of the newer counties in CAP’S service area. Wendy, coordinator of elderly out reach services, and Suzanne, who runs the pre-school handicapped program in Estill County set up a booth at the flea market, and “passed out information about CAP programs in Estill County, and about CAP in general,” Wendy said. In the time that CAP programs have been present in the county, workers have established an elderly visita tion program, developed ParentsAre-Teachers (the pre-school pro gram), and distributed service schol arships and grants. Estill County residents also participate in CAP’S camping and respite care programs. “Suzanne read an article about the flea market in the local paper and thought it might be a good idea to give out some information in the county and get a little bit better known. She talked to Gloria [Jordan,

by the CAP News Service

PAT program manager], then got some brochures and annual reports to give out.” Suzanne and Wendy estimate that they spoke to over 200 people, some of whom knew of CAP services, but most of whom did not know of CAP’S work. “Our mission for the day was public awareness. We wanted to let the people know what CAP could do for the community.”

Teen Programs Begin In Floyd County Recently CAP began a third teen program, which joins those in Gar rard and Rockcastle counties. The program started in Floyd County, or has re-started after changing its fo cus in its early days. When the center first opened several years ago, it was available to young people ages 9 to 18. Senior vice presi dent of Martin operations Mike Sanders explained that the activities offered at the center were more suited to the younger than older teens. Because of staff limitations, and because there was more interest from the younger groups, the program changed its focus and became a

“youth” rather than “teen” center. The staff worked to instill values in children of these ages that would cany over into their teen years. And the program has been working very well, indeed. Recently, however, when Infant University began operating under private management and moved away from a CAP facility, space was available to re-open a teen center, with activities designed to appeal to young people ages 15 to 18. “We want to lean toward drop-out prevention,” Mike said. “We see that as a big need, and key to the program. We like to get kids to go back to school if they’ve dropped out, or to study for their GED, which is some thing else we can help with.” Volunteer Joan Hellebusch, from Union, Missouri, said that the teen center program targets young people who may be having a difficult time. “I’m really surprised at the number of kids I meet who tell me that they hate life, probably because they don’t have any goals or role models. I think sometimes they feel like their lives are over by the time they’re 16. I’ve had kids tell me that they were too old to skip—at age 17!” Joan said that it is a long slow pro cess to get drop-outs, or potential drop-outs, to take an interest in edu cation and setting life goals, but in the long run it’s worth the effort. “W e’ve been trying to get parents more involved, too,” Joan said, “by hosting parent-teen dinners at the center.” The staff cooks in their own homes, Joan said, and then trans ports the food to the center.

Wendy French and Suzanne Fenton set up a booth at a flea market in Estill County, where they distributed information about CAP, and sold Christmas Ridge brooms.

“We want parents to meet the staff, so they’ll know where their kids are, what they’re doing, and hopefully make them feel comfortable about the time they spend at the center.” The Mountain Spirit

around the project. . . continued

Grant to Help With Dental Services The Christian Appalachian Project was recognized as a major contribu tor to a University of Kentucky project that will provide free dental care to children in Eastern Kentucky. “Two years ago we made a match ing grant to UK for a dental van that will travel into the counties in Ap palachia,” said Sheila Helton, man ager of CAP’s grant program. Know ing that the program was a vital need to children in the area, CAP joined with several other contributors, in cluding the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels to fund the mobile clinic. According to the Lexington HeraldLeader, the 40-foot van features three patient chairs and a handicapped entrance. It is staffed by faculty dentists, eight dental residents and 40 student dentists. People who work in the Appala chian region know that lack of den tal care is a serious problem. Ken tucky children ages 5 to 17 are more likely to have cavities than children nationally, according to the 1987 Kentucky Health Survey. The dental disease rate in the Appa lachian region is high because of low incomes and a lack of good nutrition and fluoridation in rural water, said Dr. David Nash, dean of the UK College of Dentistry. Sheila, and Glen Taul, CAP’s pub lic relations coordinator, represented CAP at the ribbon cutting ceremony in Lexington, Kentucky. Sheila said she was most impressed with the van, and felt encouraged that CAP was able to contribute to an impor tant project, by combining knowl edge and resources with other or ganizations in the area. January-February 1991

CAP made a grant to help the University of Kentucky outfit a van which will travel about Eastern Kentucky providing free dental service to children of low income families.

CAP Sells Flower Business to Employee Until the summer of 1990 CAP was known among craftspeople as the largest producer of comhusk flow ers in the United States, making 1200 individually dyed and crafted flowers each week. That distinction now belongs to Miracle Makers of Stanford, Kentucky. When the flower operation outgrew itself as a viable business for CAP, economic development worker Pat Padgett and her brother and sisterin-law David and Leslie Miracle bought the business from CAP and continued producing the multi-col ored flowers in 12 designs.

Pat, David and Leslie hold work shops to teach interested people how to make flowers, and would like to have a total of ten people employed. The workers will make flowers in their homes, working at their own pace. This makes flower construc tion a good job for mothers, Pat said. CAP has been helpful in transferring the business, Pat said. “W e’re going to share space at the trade shows next year. In January we’ll go to Atlanta and New York in February. We’re telling customers, as they order, about the change in ownership and ask if they mind. W e’ve mailed to CAP’s wholesale customer list, to make sure that everyone knows about the change.” Despite the fact that David and Pat work full time jobs, and Leslie works part time, they dye and cut the comhucks for flowers makers.

“W e’re continuing with the same customer base, adding new designs and using some of the same people that trained at CAPrice,” Pat said. CAPrice, which provides sheltered workshop experience for handicapped adults, produced the flowers at one time. Later production moved to Tyner, Kentucky.

“It’s a lot of work, and I ’ll become less involved as more people gain experience, but right now it’s like a hobby,” Pat said. “It’s fun!”

“W e’ve got four people, two from CAPrice and two from Tyner,” Pat said. “One of them is a single parent, and I know she was really happy to be able to keep working.”

For information about flower de signs or sales, please contact: Miracle Makers 120 Westwood Drive Stanford, KY 40484 9

around the project. . . continued

Appalachian Author Dies in Whitesburg Noted Appalachian author Hany M. Caudill, 68, died at the Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Health Care Center of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on November 29,1990. Mr. Caudill suffered from Parkin son’s disease and other medical prob lems. “He was exhausted and in con siderable pain,” Tom Gish, publisher of The Mountain Eagle, and Mr. Caudill’s long-time friend told the Lexington Herald-Leader. “He did not want to go through with the pain and suffering and . . . forgetfulness that goes with the disease.” A native of Letcher County, Mr. Caudill graduated from the Univer sity of Kentucky School of Law and practiced in Whitesburg. Two of his books in the 1980s were composed of stories gleaned from his law practice.

Moving? Please notify us of change of address to make sure you re ceive every issue of The Mountain Spirit.

Night Comes to the Cumberlands, published in 1963, is lauded as Mr. Caudill’s most celebrated work and is credited as an impetus for the War on Poverty of the 1960s. His sense of social responsibility surfaced in his books, as well as his occasional col umns and letters to the editors in Kentucky newspapers. A January 29, 1989 column in the Lexington paper was entitled “East ern Kentucky hasn’t really attempted to help itself.” It read, in part: “. . . The time is ripe for an effort to rally the counties in a crusade to re industrialize the region and bring the territory to an economic par with American norms: “Our region has a tremendous poten-tial asset that might be put to work on its behalf. I refer to the numerous in telligent, experienced and capable people who have left the mountains but whose talents could be organized and used in a serious effort to reindustialize and modernize the hill country.” Father Ralph Beiting tributes Mr. Caudill with a “missionary zeal,” in his writings about the region.

“I knew him for a long time and loved him because he cared for the mountains. Writing bools wasn't just his job or avocation. God allowed him to tell how others suffered. “But, I think the thing I loved the most about Harry was that he tried to come up with solutions. He didn’t just expose the wounds. He wanted to see them healed. He created an awareness and tried to open doors that would bring in daylight. “W e’ll all be a little poorer because we won’t have that positive element”

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Mail to: The Mountain Spirit, 322 Crab Orchard Road Lancaster, KY 40446.

Students from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Maryland, spent two days of their volunteer week repairing the home of a handicapped Garrard County man. Eight to ten students from the college come to Kentucky each spring.

The Mountain Spirit

around the project. . . continued

Father Beiting Recieves Caring Award Father Ralph Beiting, CAP’s founder, was named one of ten recipients of the 1990 Caring Award. The recipi ents, including Norman Vincent Peale, were honored by the Caring Institute, a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC, that rec ognizes the contributions of those whose deeds help sustain society. The award o f the institute identifies, reinforces and celebrates the special acts of exceptional people who en noble humanity and in doing so exemplify the wisdom of gaining by giving and of transcending self in service. Sandy Tucker, director of the Gali lean Home Ministries, a Caring Award recipient, nominated Father Beiting. Father Beiting’s trip included a re ception and dinner at the Mayflower Hotel, the award ceremony, which took place at the Dirksen Senate Of fice Building, and was followed by a luncheon and briefing at the Depart

ment of State. Congress hosted a reception that evening to recognize the award recipients. Father Beiting’s sister, Sister of Notre Dame Mary Martha traveled with him.

CAP Markets Patriotic Wreaths In tribute to the sons and daughters, friends and family members among the troops who weren’t home for Christmas, CAP’s marketing divi sion designed a wreath which was decorated with a star-spangled rib bon of red, white and blue. The “Freedom Wreath” is one of ten différait wreaths marketed by Christ mas Ridge Handcrafts. Patriotic feelings run high in Ken tucky and at first, CAP hoped to enable people to send wreaths to American soldiers in the Middle East. That turned out to be imprac tical because of the intense desert climate, so the plan was modified, and wreaths were marketed to mili tary families, as well as military installations.

What You Don't Know About Wills Can Hurt Your Heirs. . . Find Out Why. Request Your Free Copy.

M uch o f w hat you know ab o u t wills may be misinformation that has b een floating a ro u n d fo r years. If you think, fo r exam ple, th a t wills are prim arily fo r rich people, o r the elderly, you may b e the victim o f a com m o n mis conception. T he helpful book let o ffered h e re will explain how y o u r will can save yo u r heirs from cosdy delays an d confu sion. S end fo r y o u r copy today. Clip and Mail

C hristian A ppalachian P roject 322 C rab O rc h ard R oad Lancaster, Kentucky 40446 Please send w ithout obliga tion, y o u r booklet, “37 T hings People ‘Know’ A bout Wills That A re n 't Really So.” N a m e _____________________ A d d re s s ___________________ _ C ity ________________________ Falher Ralph Beiting, CAP’S founder, distributed candy to Sunshine Center students, who interrupted a Board of Directors meeting in order to trick-or-treat on Halloween.

January-February 1991

S tate____________ Z ip ----------

Need Information? Stop On By! by Glen Edward Taul P e o p le often comment “I’m amazed at the size of this place” when they stop by to visit the Christian Appala chian Project’s administrative offices in Lancaster, Kentucky. Sometimes they refer not only to the amount of office space, but the number of people and programs that make up CAP’S work. The visitors, usually donors or potential donors, stop by to find out more about CAP. They learn about the organization from the “designated tour guide,” a role that changes weekly. Over 20 CAP workers, including secretaries and vice presidents, share the responsibility for showing CAP to guests.

the size and scope of its Christian-based ministries, or didn’t realize the amount of administration necessary for CAP to support its 60-plus programs and 300 employees that assist over50,000people each year. All of these factors are explained to folks who visit the 322 Crab Orchard Road offices. Administration takes place in a building converted from a warehouse purchased from the Cowden Manu facturing Company, a clothing manufacturer, in 1978. The building includes offices for economic develop ment, personnel, accounting, purchasing, and develop ment which includes the printing and mailing opera tion. Before that time, those operations were scattered all over Lancaster, mostly in buildings that CAP rented. By moving all of the operations into one inexpensivelypurchased facility, CAP significantly decreased over head cost. Its size gives many visitors a sense of the immensity of the work performed by CAP. CAP’s inter-denominational chapel interests many visitors, and if they stop by at 9:30, are invited to join workers for optional morning devotions. Different people volunteer to lead the devotions each day, then the chapel remains free for the remainder of the day for people to use for a needed quiet moment, or to take a few minutes for reflection during break times. In two areas, the computer and mail rooms, visitors see

In these days of occasional—but very well publi cized—fund raising scams, CAP understands the need for donors to become as informed as possible before selecting an organization to assist. More people are taking an interest in personally investigating a place where they donate their money, although some have donated since shortly after CAP was incorporated in 1964. Despite what they’ve read about CAP in letters and through The Mountain Spirit, they know that by visiting, they will get a better sense of what CAP is doing and how it operates. In recent years CAP has been paying greater attention to accommodating visitors at its administrative offices. A coordinated, inter-departmental effort started in 1989 to greet visitors and tell them about CAP. Guests receive a tour of the main offices and directions to CAP programs, if they would like to see them, as well. Information packets are available, and a CAP worker conducts a tour of the administrative complex. Tours are able to provide much needed information, so CAP welcomes and encourages visits. People who comment about the size of CAP’S facilities have often been giving to CAP for many years, but didn’t dream of 12

The Mountain Spirit

a sample of one of CAP’S missions—to provide em ployment in the area. People from Garrard (where the offices are located) and surrounding counties are hired to fill positions, which, in addition to providing em ployment, help to strengthen the overall economy of the counties. People in the computer section enter data and maintain payroll and accounting records, donor files, and mail ing lists. Visitors are usually amazed to hear that CAP has a million active donors, but rarely are surprised to hear that the donor list is maintained by a computer. The mail room is a bevy of activity, which produces more than twenty-three million pieces of literature each year. Letters sent throughout the country are printed, cut, folded, stuffed in envelopes, zip coded and sorted. Most visitors are fascinated when they see the printing presses, cutters, inserters, and other ma chines which make it possible for CAP to both raise money for programs and educate the American people about the problems of Appalachia. The next stop on the tour is the warehouse area where bags of letters await shipment to Cincinnati for mail ing. On the other side of the warehouse, visitors see aspects of programs such as home repair, Christmas baskets, and small gardens. These programs use the warehouse in Lancaster for storage space, and during

certain times of the year people work in the warehouse, preparing Christmas presents or garden seed packages. The number of visitors seems to increase each year. Most come during the spring, summer and fall from Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Massachu setts, Ohio, California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and a few other states. Many are retired, and they stop by while vacationing in the area or passing nearby to visit relatives or friends. Many visitors tell their tour guide that they leave with a sense that their money is going for a good cause. Some leave a donation, but one time the CAP volun teer program hit the visitor jackpot. As Mitzi and Jerry Connors, a retired couple from Jacksonville, Florida, toured CAP’S offices they told their tour guide that they were looking for a place they might donate their time. Mitzi is an ordained Presby terian minister interested in the elderly and other outreach programs. Jerry is a carpenter interested in home repair. They became so interested after the initial tour of the CAP offices that they wanted to explore more of CAP. The couple decided to stay overnight and travel to programs in other counties the next day. Marie Bon ner, CAP’s Lincoln/Garrard County outreach worker introduced the minister to people who participate in CAP’s garden program, while her husband went to work for the day with a home repair crew. Workers in the volunteer program feel confident that Mr. and Mrs. Connors will return as permanent volunteers. Steve Gearheart, CAP’s accounting supervisor, was the tour guide for visitors the week Mr. and Mrs. Connors came calling. “It’s fun to get away from your usual job, and meet people and tell them about CAP. I’ve always liked giving tours, then when something like this happen—having a couple of really good people decide to come back as volunteers—then you can see how important those tours really are.”

Ruth Warmoth has worked in CAP’s lettershop for over ten years. Here she is working on the inserter, a machine which is inserting newsletters into envelopes. There are 200,000 of that particular newsletter mailed four times a year, only a tiny fraction of the total number of pieces of mail which are sent from CAP’s offices at 322 Crab Orchard Road each year.

January-February 1991

The CAP Closeup

Rodney Miracle A Guy with A Chance by the CAP News Service photos by Elizabeth Reed Miller A s k Rodney Miracle, manager of CAP’S lettershop, about the biggest influence CAP has had on his life, and his immediate response is “education.” One day out of Lincoln County High School, Rodney needed a job. He wasn’t able to afford “to go on to school, unless I worked,” Rodney recalled, and his sister, Pat, told him he might try to get work at the same place where she was working part time.

Rodney Miracle.

“I didn’t know anything about CAP when I started working,” Rodney said. In fact, “I worked about two weeks before I had any idea at all. I addressed some envelopes by hand, but I didn’t know why. People would ask me, and I didn’t really know.” From his first days, Rodney has been involved in CAP’s direct mail operation, at first addressing enve lopes by hand. Today, Rodney supervises 24 people who mail over twenty million letters each year, letters which educate the American public about the problems of Appalachia, CAP’s work to assist with those prob lems, and to ask for support. Rodney recalls that the volume of mail in 1977was only a fraction of its current rate, about three million pieces a year and that “if there was a lull, we just found something to occupy our time. We mowed grass, picked up garbage, whatever needed to be done.” He worked for several years in premium production, but when the lettershop acquired the equipment needed

Rodney supervises 24 workers who print, cut, fold, insert and mail 20 million letters each year.

The Mountain Spirit

to expand direct mail, Rodney began the training he needed to perform maintenance on the inserters, cut ters, banders, and other machines required to support a direct mail operation the size of CAP’S. Rodney credits Father Ralph Beiting, CAP’S founder, for giving him the opportunity to train for his trade. “I’m positively sure that he was the one who wanted me to be trained for the maintenance position,” Rodney said. “He wanted to give a guy that they already had a chance. I think some others wanted to find somebody who was already trained. I had some experience with machines, but still needed quite a bit of training.” So, off Rodney went to Washington, DC, for two weeks, to learn his new trade. He traveled to the unfamiliar city with Bill Begley, CAP’s vice president of development. “I guess it was in 1978, in the middle of a fuel crisis. I ’d lived in Lincoln County all my life, and was fresh out of high school. Bill spent one day, then got back on the plane; said, here’s a rental car, here’s your room.” Negotiating Washington traffic was a small problem (unusual, Rodney termed it), compared to the troubles he had with gas. “You might wait in line two hours to get gas, then by the time you got up to the front, they’d be out. I had about an eighth of a tank on Thursday night to get me to the airport to catch a plane on Friday morn ing. They had a numbering system; odd plates could buy one day, and even plates the next. On Thursday, I found a station that had gas, but I had the wrong plates. I gave the guy five so I could get a tahk of gas to get to the airport to get back home.” So much for Rodney’s first week adventure. When he came back the second week, his flight arrived late, and the people who were to meet him asked him to take the subway. “That was pretty wild. I had to grope my way around, trying to get on and off.” Learning about travel in a big city is only a small part of the education that Rodney has had during his time with CAP, he says. After his initial training in Washington, he has kept up with changes in machinery by

January-February 1991

training with equipment suppliers, and various work shops and seminars. “I ’ve taken some courses at Lindsey Wilson [a liberal arts junior college in Columbia, Kentucky]. I ’d like to eventually get a degree in management.” Rodney was promoted to lettershop manager in July of 1990, when Regis Meny retired, and has started to leam the skills needed to supervise the people who work under him. Next to meeting his production demands, Rodney sees supervision as his major responsibility. “There’s 24 people under this position, and there’s a lot of different personalities—halFs in a good mood,and halFs not—so you’ve got to look at what’s going on with their situations, and treat every person differently. What makes one person tick might not work for some body else.” Away from his production and supervisory responsi bilities, Rodney enjoys the outdoors, “any type of outdoor activity—hunting, fishing.” He particularly enjoys bow hunting because the season is longer, and because he finds it more challenging than hunting with a gun. His interest in bow hunting has fostered an interest, and some success, in competitive archery, and he has taken to sharing his skill with a bow and arrow with young people in Lincoln County. Rodney’s interest in young people extends beyond the archery range, as he and his wife, Denise, work with the Sunday school class of young married couples at Pilot Baptist Church in Lincoln County. Rodney has learned a great deal about CAP since that Thursday in June of 1977, after graduating from high school the previous Wednesday. The skills that he has learned—first in maintenance, and now in supervi sion—have been used to keep the American public abreast of the problems of Appalachia and of CAP’s efforts to help relieve those problems. And Rodney can see how CAP’s efforts—through his own—have helped to make a difference in his home. Rodney knows people who have had their homes re paired, received Christmas baskets, participated in CAP programs. He has seen CAP’s buildings, schools and knows of the impact his workers have had on the local economies. “It gives you a good feeling about what you’re doing because you can see the results. If you’re standing there all day, stuck in a building sometimes you lose the concept of what it’s all about, so it helps to see something good. I think that’s good for everybody to know that they’re doing something good.”

Problems and Solutions

“Many Americans live on the out skirts of hope; some because of their poverty, and some because of their color and all too many because of both. Our task is to help replace their despair with opportunity. And this administra tion today, here and now, de clares unconditional war on pov erty in America.” President Lyndon B. Johnson State o f the Union Address January 9, 1964

by Margaret Gabriel ¿resident Johnson's words in 1964 brought unaccustomed attention to Appalachia and other low income regions of the United States. With the resources that came flowing into Appalachia came the opportunity for the nation to learn about an area with a unique culture, but with a lack of means that other Americans take for granted. Later the same year that President Johnson declared “unconditional war on poverty in America” Father Ralph W. Beiting incorporated a small, vibrant organi zation with a goal to help the people of Appalachia help themselves out of poverty. Although Father Beiting had started education, economic development and crisis intervention programs in the 1950s, the incorporation of the Christian Appalachian Project in 1964 coincided with a great deal of media attention in the area as a result of funding and programs from the federal government. This attention was welcomed by CAP’s early workers, who were assisted by many people motivated by the needs they saw in Appalachia. CAP’s by-laws, and later, its mission statement, name a goal of not only working with the people of the area in crisis intervention and education programs, but to make the American public aware of “needs and challenges of the area . . . ” according to both documents. To comply with this instruction, CAP has established an

education program, instrumental in soliciting support, both through materials and time. The program has en couraged thousands of people across the country to join the CAP family, and to lend support to the Appalachian region, and other areas of the country which are in need of assistance. CAP believes that through its education program, the American public will learn of the conditions present in the region and take action. The reaction of the Ameri can public during the Kennedy and Johnson admini strations validates this belief. During the early 1960s, good programs and government funding resulted from a nation’s concern about fellow Americans who were not sharing “the good life.” But the benefits were twosided. As the region was examined, poked and prodded, misconceptions abounded concerning life in the moun tains. Misunderstanding led to distrust, both on the part of the Appalachian people, and on the part of the rest of the American public. America’s attention, and especially that of the national media, turned to the war in Vietnam during the late ’60s and ’70s, and the problems of Appalachia began to ebb from consciousness. Eventually, people began to as sume that since they no longer heard about Appalachia, the problems had disappeared. Such assumptions have increased the need for CAP’s education program, ac-

The Mountain Spirit

cording to former volunteer Judi Jackson, who coordi nates the program. Judi explains that CAP’S education of the American public is broken down into four parts; national and local, specific and general, and concen trates on the problems of unemployment, low educa tion levels and inadequate health care. Several CAP departments work together on its public education outreach: the development and volunteer departments, and Operation Sharing, CAP’S in-kind donation department. “Basically, we believe that when the American public hears about the problems of Appalachia, they’ll help solve them,” Judi said. “We devote a lot of energy to getting the word out. Even though people aren’t hear ing as much about problems anymore, they’re still there—and some are even worse.” Judi said that CAP’S spiritual and humanitarian com ponents motivate the public to assist with problems, and “in every letter we send out we ask people to pray for people in Appalachian and for poor people every where. As a Christian organization, we believe that people praying together can make real changes in Appalachia.” CAP mails over 20 million letters each year, forming an exceptionally strong prayer network. Letters from CAP not only inform readers about condi tions in Appalachia, and include statistics, but the mailing operation employs 46 people in an area with little industry.

January-February 1991

Although CAP has been working in Kentucky for over 25 years, there remains a need for education in Eastern Kentucky, and in other parts of the state. “I’m always surprised at the number of people who say they ve never heard of CAP,” Judi said. “You don’t find that as much in Lancaster anymore, because so many people workhere, or know somebody who works for CAP. But in some other places—even places where we have programs, there’s still a lot of work to be done.” The work that CAP has done in several areas, including early childhood education and economic development has given several employees an expertise that they share with others in the region. June Widman, for example, CAP’S assistant director of human develop ment has been working in child development since the early 1980s. In the fall of 1990 June was asked to participate in a panel discussion concerning the work and philosophies of the East Kentucky Child Coalition, a group of people involved in organizations that pro vide childcare. Ric Armstrong, a CAP worker who has worked in community development, learned that groups were interested in working together. He introduced the lead ers of the groups, including Appalachian Communities for Children, Whitley County Communities for Chil dren and the HEAD Corporation. By pooling their resources concerning child development, the children of the region benefit from an increase in expertise in every area. “Before we knew it, we made it official, incorporated and hired an organizer,” June said.

Jordan

Substandard housing is one of the issues that CAP discusses in many of its information packets.

The panel discussion was presented at the fifth annual Conference on Appalachia, sponsored by the Appala chian Center of the University of Kentucky. The theme of the conference changes each year; in 1990 it focused on Appalachian children, a topic on which CAP can share a great deal of information.

mountains,” June said, pointing out that many working mothers rely on family and friends to care for their chil dren. “W e’ll encourage women to become licensed as small home-based child care providers, and teach them about children’s nutrition, age-appropriate play and discipline.”

The goal of the group is providing safe, appropriate child care. “There’s very little licensed care in the

It could be argued that local education programs, like the child development centers, GED and adult literacy programs, and youth and teen centers are the essence of CAP’s philosophy of helping people to help them selves. CAP programs work with the entire family as members relate to each other, emphasizing positive attributes of the area and of the person involved with the program. Through these programs, people learn new skills for dealing with family, community and the workplace—skills that mark the beginning of a new hope for self-improvement. Most important, though, is the partnership between CAP and the people. That part nership marks CAP’s goal of offering a hand up rather than a hand out. Operation Sharing marks another partnership between the American public and the Appalachian region. In 1986 CAP received a shipment of children’s books valued at $4.5 million which had been donated by Parker Brothers. The American Indian Heritage Foun dation was the original recipient, and gave the balance which they could not use to CAP. CAP programs used as many books as they needed, and then distributed the rest to 515 groups in Kentucky, West Virginia, Ala bama, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Tennessee.

CAP hopes to impact through early childhood programs.

After CAP established the system for distribution of the donation, workers continued to make contact with large The Mountain Spirit

Gabriel

large companies that sell or manufacture goods that can be used by the Appalachian people. In 1990 program manager Charlie Deaton contacted people in 18 states, telling them of the conditions and problems of Appalachia, and soliciting their support to alleviate those problems. As a result, Operation Sharing touched 400,000 people in six Appalachian states as they distributed such items as books, seeds, seed potatoes, pharmaceuticals and toys. Since 1950, when a group of Father Beiting’s friends arrived in Berea, Kentucky, and constructed a Christ mas creche, volunteers have been an integral part of CAP. Father Beiting estimates that since CAP’S early days it has received services from over 20,000 volun teers. Many volunteers have remained in Appalachia, putting down roots and continuing valuable contribu tions to the area. Many more, however, have returned to their homes, taking with them the lessons they learned in the context of giving service to others. Communicating the need for service in the area is the cornerstone of the volunteer recruitment program. In the fall of 1990 volunteer Sharon Brannen began her work as CAP’S volunteer recruiter and began to study and research questions she would face in her work. Recently Sharon travelled to the east coast, and met students at the University of Pennsylvania, Drexell University, Kings College, the College of Misericor dia, the University of Scranton, St. Joseph’s in Phila delphia and her alma mater, Boston College. “A lot of the students that I met had never heard of us before, so I had a real mixed bag of questions.” Sharon said that in Pennsylvania, many of the questions centered around the volunteer program: the length of the commitment, the type of work they would be doing. “A lot of those kids live close to western Pennsylvania, where you have a lot of the same issues as you do in Eastern Kentucky,” Sharon said.

CAP workers serve as advocates and companions to elderly Appalachians. Many have children who have moved away to find jobs.

poverty. They didn’t realize that the issues that affect folks in urban areas still affect people in rural areas. Issues like family violence, addictions, unemploy ment problems. People have a stereotypical image of poverty in rural areas just being bad housing and that kind of thing, as opposed to a more far reaching issue.” Sharon answered questions, and participated in a panel

In the Boston area, the students asked more questions about the area as they tried to relate poverty in a rural area to poverty in urban areas. “I found that people thought that rural poverty was simpler, be cause they equated a simple life style with non-complex issues of

January-February 1991

Volunteer Ed Janke visits with Madge Cooper in Floyd County.

Jordan

Main Street, Mount Vernon, county seat of Rockcastle County. Lately Rockcastle County has made strides in economic development.

discussion on rural poverty at the University of Penn sylvania. She shared stories of experiences she has had and knowledge she gained during three years of work at Camp Andrew Jackson, CAP’S summer camp in Jackson County, Kentucky, and a year’s work as a dorm director for Eastern Kentucky University.

Mandy has participated in Parents-Are-Teachers, CAP’S homebound program for handicapped pre-schoolers. She was mainstreamed into the Family Life Child Development Center,

“Being able to talk to different volunteers who have been in different programs has been a big help in learning about the area. I learned about kids and their families during my time at camp. And I read a lot. At EKU I had students from Eastern Kentucky, first generation college students, which is the university’s main purpose—to provide those opportunities. Then, just driving around, the land itself says so much about the region.”

and later into public school.

At some o f the schools, Sharon learned that word of mouth from former volunteers has been a great benefit to both CAP’s volunteer and education programs. Whether a person spends a few weeks or ten years, they have experiences to relate and stories to share about Appalachia and her people. The benefit then comes as Sharon goes about the country, recruiting volunteers and talking about Appalachia. “If somebody has heard about us from a friend, and then reads about us, or sees a table set up someplace, it’s a good backup. Some of the people I ’ve met on these trips are in the application process already because their friends referred or they’ve seen us in an ad. Then they get a chance to talk. It’s really been good.”

In his newest book “A Bridge of Hope,” Father Beiting tells readers of the conditions he has observed in Appalachia since beginning his work in 1950.

The people involved in all the aspects of CAP’s educa tion program—Judi, Charlie, June, Sharon—will tell you that education in all degrees and aspects can be considered the most important single benefit to the Appalachian region. Education is an ingredient to varying degrees in every program of CAP, and organi zations like CAP. The other aspect of education in volves enlightening the American public, enlisting prayers and support so that every element of society will be strong, vital and independent. The Mountain Spirit

Mission Statement We are an inter-denominational Christian organization, working to serve per sons of all faiths. While we owe our inspiration and formation to Father Ralph Beiting, a Catholic priest, we seek to promote Christianity in a broad sense. The purpose of the Christian Appalachian Project is to promote the Good News of Jesus Christ by our programs and our Christian witness. Our work is aimed at the people living in the Appalachian area. We work with people at different levels of poverty, and seek also to involve all the people of Appalachia in this cause. We serve all people without discrimination. Our work is in many fields (social, economic, spiritual) and seeks to affect the root causes of problems as well as day to day needs. In all cases we seek to avoid giveaways and dependency out of respect for the Appalachian people. Thus, we will involve the people themselves in the solutions to their own problems. One of our purposes is to raise funds nationally to carry out our programs in Appalachia. In our fund raising we will seek to educate and inform the Ameri can public of the needs and challenges of the area. Our information will not exploit or degrade those we serve. Good stewardship requires that we be open, accountable and responsible with our funds. We seek to promote a spirit of tolerance (respect) and cooperation among religious and humanitarian groups in Appalachia and will support other such groups where possible. Our goal of a better Appalachia moves us to continually seek new and better ways to serve. We will pioneer when necessary. Those in positions of responsibility within CAP shall be personally committed to Christian principles, seek to grow in that spirit, and strive to manifest that spirit in daily life.

January-February 1991

Letters Dear Jan McKenzie, I am impressed by your article, “Where Is My Place?” Thank you for sharing. I would like to respond to a few things you said. Being an introvert and “personal journalist” myself, I can relate to the questions and struggles you wrote about in your Nov. 10,1989 entry. I would like to share something myself. I view my journal keeping as wonderful soul-searching knowl edge (of myself and others). I actu ally use it as prayer—learning, com munication with and growing in the Lord. Be grateful for your writing talents that have far-reaching bene fits and potential! Most of all, remember that each of us is a special and unique individ ual—and (as my mother says) being the best person you can be is the only “answer” you can ever really have for “where is my place in life?”

Years ago when I was a kid in West Texas, I heard a song on the radio called Renfro Valley. I heard it several times and it became one of my favorite songs. I wondered if there really was a Renfro Valley. I checked encyclo pedias and asked a lot of people, but no one had ever heard of it. As time went by, I began to think perhaps the place was fictitious or maybe some where in Canada. The years rolled by, but I never forgot the song. The other day I was reading my first copy of The Mountain Spirit and on page 9 , 1 saw an article on Renfro Valley. I checked the state of Kentucky in my atlas and there it was—Renfro Valley! I am retired now, and I have never been to Kentucky, but if I am ever in the east, I will make a special effort to visit Renfro Valley, the place with deep roots in country music.

May God’s love be with you always!

Concetta DeMarco Flourtown, PA We visited CAP briefly last June, and that, plus reading The Mountain Spirit had helped me to understand better the ministry of this project. I am delighted—indeed; I feel blessed to be a part, even if ever so small. Your work is included in my prayers. Our God is great!

Jean Overdorf Culeper, VA

James Schultz Harbor, OR I enjoy The Mountain Spirit maga zine very much. Your work among the Appalachian poor is wonderful and I wish I could do more to help. I especially appreciate you after see ing your work there on T.V. during the “48 Hours” with Dan Rather. In this time of so many “give me” let ters I know you are for real. May God bless your work there.

Christ has sustained each of us through the storms of life, since accepting Jesus, as Lord and Savior, for an average of fifty or more years. God says, “Cast your bread upon the waters.” God’s blessings to his chil dren, who are givers, is as sure as his sunrise. I pray that Rev. Beiting is con tinuing to mend. We need him, as our continued leader, in CAP’S mis sion.

Joe Damron, Jr. Washington, DC It is very comforting to stay in touch with my “roots” this way. (My family on my father’s side goes back to the very early settlers in Kentucky before it became a state.) Your min istry in Appalachia to our brothers and sisters in need is such a wonder ful blessing, and so rewarding to be even a small part. The “fruits of your labor” will continue to multiply and bless on and on into the far reaching future.

Mary Keele Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Mrs. Jake Flint Madill, OK

I was bom and raised in Ken tucky. I know how hard some of the people have it there. It makes me feel good to know that someone is there to help them. I enjoy your sto ries so much and will continue to subscribe to your magazine.

Keep up the good work with your magazine. It is interesting reading and the pictures are heart rending. I wish I could help so much it hurts. God bless you and keep up the good work.

Virginia Lindner Mesa, AZ

George Rado Sarasota, FL

I ’d like to say to our readers that ten seasoned, mature Christian adults at the U.S. Soldier’s and Airmen’s home, (aged 60 to 75), are in agree ment that “We found it”, which means loving your neighbor with TMT (time, money, talent), through Christ’s love.

Letters to the editor are wel come. They should not exceed 150 words in length, and we reserve the right to edit them for space. Address letters to The Mountain Spirit, Christian Ap palachian Project, 322 Crab Or chard Road, Lancaster, Kentucky 40446.

The Mountain Spirit

Tender Loving Care Ministries by Bette Y. Marshall photos courtesy of Carole Johnson

Whatever your hands might find to do, do it with all your might. . . Ecclesiastes 9:10 I t’s six a.m. in Livingston, New Jersey. Carole Johnson’s alarm sounds. Carole wakes with youthful urgency. It’s time to get up . . . time to get to w o r k . . . time to complete her project and get it in the mail. What is this project that motivates Carole to action so early in the morning and with so much eagerness? Carole lives in an affluent middle-class neighborhood in Livingston. She is in her mid-forties and mother of two sons—one a senior in high school; the other a senior in college. In many ways, she is typical of countless other American women. She plays the multiple roles of wife, mother, housekeeper, good neighbor, and all round upstanding American citizen. She works parttime as a sales clerk in a fabric shop. She supports her husband in his extensive work with the Boy Scouts of America. She supports her sons in their pursuit of education and other life-time goals. While Carole is typical, she is also unique. Her unique ness stems from a genuine commitment to a ministry— a ministry demanding of both heart and hand. She can trace her commitment to the experiences of childhood

January-February 1991

as one of six foster children of a poor but devoutly Christian family in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Carole explains, “I grew up in a foster home. I was one of six foster daughters. My parents didn’t have much in the line of material wealth, but they had a lot of love to give. They cared about us. They took us to church, and they taught us to work.” “Because she could not afford to go out and buy clothes already made, my foster mother sewed for us. Even though we were poor, we looked as good as any of the other girls in Allentown.” “Our parents cared in very important ways,” she adds. “They taught us about God and that it’s not what you say that counts but what you do.” Carole recalls that she was strongly influenced by women who were leaders in the church. She gives Bemeice Carlson, a woman who frequently led the women’s Bible study group credit for having been her spiritual mentor. She grew up calling Bemeice “Aunt

Bee” and still maintains close communications with her. Carole has also been influenced by the writing and teachings of Carolyn Savelle. She is fond of a quota tion from Savelle which says: It is more fun to give than to receive. If you will be obedient and sincere with God, He will show you how to be an instrument of blessing to stop misfortune in the lives of those around you. God will use you if you make yourself available to Him. There are many ways God can use you to be a blessing. Carole has become a blessing to more than 1,000 Appalachian children during the past four years. She is the founder of Tender Loving Care Ministries—a dressmaking enterprise which provides clothing for little girls who come from economically deprived situ ations. “I remember what it was like when I was a little girl,” Carole says. “It always made me so happy . . . so excited when I got something new.” Carole cares with both her heart and her hands. She had learned to sew as a result of growing up in a household where the art of sewing was as standard as the art of cooking. About four years ago, she found herself in a situation where she was called upon to help one of her foster sister’s granddaughters come up with a dress for a special occasion.

Carole has completed over 1,000 dresses for little girls since beginning her work in 1986.

Carole ended up making the dress and, in the process, began to realize just how significant it was that she had been taught the art of sewing by her foster mother. “This is a gift,” she thought, “a gift given to me by God through my foster mother. How can I use it? What does He want me to do with it?” Carole and her husband had become familiar with the needs of the Appalachian people by reading the litera ture sent out by the Christian Appalachian Project. Her father-in-law had been a staunch CAP supporter. After his death, Carole had begun to make donations to CAP. She had a steady flow of literature coming into her home about the situations of families in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. “What better thing can I do,” she asked herself, “than to brighten the life of some little girl who seldom knows the joy of receiving a new dress?” Without fully developing a plan, Carole contacted the CAP development department and inquired about the feasibility of donating hand-made dresses to needy children. Her suggestion was met with enthusiasm, and she set out to purchase material, thread, and a classic pattern. She decided to limit her dressmaking to two sizes in order to keep the project within reasonable time limits. She chose sizes four and seven.

Mrs. Adela Zajkowski participates in the work of Tender Loving Care Ministries by hemming dresses b y hand.

Her part-time job in the fabric shop gave her a break on the cost of materials. She got a sizable discount as a benefit. When she first began her ministry, she had no idea it would grow into such a mammoth enterprise. She The Mountain Spirit

mission—that of helping the people in the New Jersey suburbs become aware of the needs of the mountain people. She will ingly passes out literature and has even shown videotapes to groups. She remarks, “W hen I tell the people here in Livingston about the way people in Appalachia live, they can’t believe it. People here in Livingston have all this money. It’s hard for them to comprehend living that much below the poverty level.” Carole is only one of several people —and several types of volunteers—who work to educate people in their hometowns about CAP, and the problems of Appalachia, in general.

joined in the ministry.

only wanted to set her hands to work on what her heart said was right to do. Carole and her husband had always been active in their church. Through the church, Carole began to work with the missions in Newark, New Jersey, and discov ered a great need on the part of little girls in her own general vicinity. Then she became aware of the needs of children in an orphanage in Tennessee. At every turn she was met with ever-expanding needs.

Over the years, CAP has learned how great an ambassador a current or former volun teer can be. Volunteers who choose and are able to move to the area absorb a wealth of information about Appalachia. Those who leave the area and return to their homes (and not all of them do) write back telling of the questions from family and friends concerning their work as volunteers, and about the Appalachian culture in general.

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The fruits of Carole’s labors-happy little girls.

She realized she needed help and approached one of her friends—a woman by the name of Helen Lech. Not only did Helen agree to help with the sewing, she drew her mother into the project. Helen’s mother is 96-yearold Adelea Zajkowski who joyfully hems the dresses by hand. Within the last four years, Tender Loving Care Minis tries has made and given away over 1,000 dresses to little girls in sizes four to seven. About 80 percent of the dresses have been distributed through CAP and the children’s home in Tennessee. In the summer of 1989, Carole and Helen made a visit to Appalachia so they could see the work of the Christian Appalachian Proj ect and the needs of the people first hand. They returned to Livingston with a new awareness of what Father Ralph Beiting and others mean when they refer to Appalachia as the land of the forgotten people. They went home with renewed fervor and a dedication that transcended the material. Carole has become a minister in another sense. She has begun another

January-February 1991

Often volunteers become involved in educating their communities while they are still working in Appalachia. Carla Durand has been working in CAP’S outreach program since early summer. “The people in my hometown [Grafton, North Dakota] have been hearing about CAP from my mom, and then they read about it in the local paper, when the editor ran a story that I wrote. Now my relatives and people from our church are sending clothes and books; at Easter they’re going to have a fund raising drive. It seems like people are really getting excited.

With her education and sewing projects, Carole is a very busy woman. Tender Loving Care Ministries has become an eight-hour-a-day job. She says she needs financial help with purchasing materials and all the hands-on help she can get with the actual sewing. At this point, she has streamlined her production by cutting out four dozen dresses at a time. Then she and Helen sew the dresses in their own homes and pass them on to Mrs. Zajkowski for hemming.

“They asked me if I ’d make a presentation to the Altar Society when I come home for Christmas, so I’m going to take a slide show to St. John’s Church in Grafton and Sacred Heart in Oakwood.”

Despite the amount of time Carole devotes to the ministry, she can still say, with a smile in her voice, “It’s a joy to do this. I believe God called me to the ministry at an early age. I truly look forward to the time when I get to heaven, and I can meet these little girls I have made happy through a new dress.”

Carla said that she plans to concentrate more on a description of the Appalachian region than of CAP or the volunteer program, “but I know a lot of what I’ll talk about will come from personal experience.”

When Carole and Helen package each dress separately they include a finishing touch. They include brightly illustrated Sunday School literature filled with Bible stories.

Carole Johnson, however, has not had the advantage of spending a great deal of time in the area, and time learning about the people and the culture. What she has learned about the Appalachian area has come through her reading and study.

Carole long range goal is to spend at least one summer volunteering in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky in a CAP program. CAP workers will tell you, though, that the volunteer work she does in Livingston, New Jersey, is equally needed.

Carole Johnson’s ministry includes giving with her head as well as her hands and heart as she spreads the word about needs in Ap palachia and about CAP’S work.

The Mountain Spirit

PLEASE DETACH AND INSERT IN THE ENEVELOPE PROVIDED SEAL AND MAIL

Dear Reverend Beiting:

Yes, I want to “help people help themselves” in the poverty-ridden hills and hollows of Appalachia.

NAME___

PLEASE PRINT

ADDRESS CITY____

STATE

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BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS

PERMIT NO. 6

LANCASTER, KY.

POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE

The Mountain Spirit Christian Appalachian Project 322 Crab Orchard Road Lancaster, Kentucky 40444-9989 404460001

NO POSTAGE N ECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES

Did You Know? That more than 800,000 adults in Kentucky have less than an eighth grade education? That 75% o f illiterate adults are unemployed? That in 1986 Kentucky had a high drop out rate o f about 32%? That in the 21st century three out o f four jobs will require a high school education or beyond? That CAP is helping the Appalachian people to address these problems with many different edu cation programs? Parents-A re-T eachers, a program for h an d icap p ed p re-sch oolers, is d esig n ed to teach p aren ts h ow to teach th eir ch ild ren to live to th eir fu llest ex ten t, d e sp ite h an d icaps. CAP’s S ch ool o n W h eels en a b les p e o p le w h o are u n ab le to travel to th e F am ily L ife C en ter sc h o o l, lik e th e you n g m o th er p ictu red h ere, to stu d y for a G ED, th e high sc h o o l eq u ivalen cy d ip lo m a . S in ce b eg in n in g adult ed u ca tio n p rogram s in th e m id-1980s, CAP h as h elp ed h u n d red s o f p e o p le ach ieve a G ED.

T e en C en ters in th ree o f C A P’s co u n tie s—G arrard, R ock ca stle and Floyd—p rovid e y o u n g p e o p le w ith an em p h a sis o n ed u ca tio n , a ch an ce to ex p ress th eir sp iritu ality, an d so m e g o o d , clea n fun.

S tu d en ts at th e CAP C h ild D ev elo p m en t C en ter in B erea. CAP has five cen ters w h ich in trod u ce ch ild ren to th e pre-reading a n d m ath sk ills th ey w ill n eed in sc h o o l, (p h o to s b y L orraine C orsale)

Fam ily L ife S ch ool tutor G eo rg e Isaacs review s an E nglish le sso n w ith a R ock castle C ou n ty H igh S ch ool stu d en t.

Be a partner in these education pro grams, won’t you? A gift of $10, $15, $25—more, if you're able—will assure that the people of Appalachia will receive the hand up they need to make the most of their potential!

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Christian Appalachian Project

CHRISTIAN APPALACHIAN PROJECT 322 CRAB ORCHARD ROAD LANCASTER, KY 40 446 The Mountain Spirit

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