The Mountain Spirit - July/Aug. 2000

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M ountain S pirit The Magazine o f the C H R IS T IA N A P P A L A C H IA N P R O JE C T JULY

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AUGUST

2 000

VOLUME

18,

NUMBER

FOUR

Constructing Dreams

by Margaret Gabriel

If It’s To Be, It Will Come About

16

by Margaret Gabriel

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Choosing Medicine AND Food by the CAP News Service

Making The Ends Meet, page 24

I f I t’s To Be, page 24

24 Making the Ends Meet

by Beth Dotson

On the cover, volunteer Katherine Oberg talks with two-year-old Michaela Isaacs as mom, Barbara, looks on (photo by Beth Dotson).

Constructing Dreams, page 4

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R andom T h ou gh ts

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Around the Project

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Letters

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CAP C lose-U p

Published by the Christian Appalachian Project E d it o r

M arg aret G ab riel G r a p h ic D e s ig n

K aren F ran ces S pivey C ir c u la t io n

L inda G rid er E ast A d v is o r y B o a r d :

F a th e r R alp h W. B eitin g , Mike Sanders, Ben Prewitt, Becky Kana

The Mountain Spirit is published six times a year. The annual subscription price is $8.00. Subscriptions and other correspondence should be sent to The Mountain Spirit, Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Street, Lancaster, KY 40446.

Copyright, 2000, 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 Appalachia. The project operates on the philosophy that helping people help themselves is the best approach to Appalachian poverty. The Christian Appalachian Project is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is qualified to receive tax deductible contributions.

The Chris­ tian Appala­ chian Project began several initiatives after reviewing our mission and establishing Mike Sanders, new goals CAP President several years ago. None, though, have been as dramatic as the changes that have been made in the housing program.

Under the direction of assistant director Ken Stuber, CAP is partnering with more organizations than ever before to make sure that our participant families have access to affordable housing.

One of the greatest lessons we’ve learned is that in affordable housing, partnerships aren’t just a nice, Christian way to work — partnerships are essential.

CAP hasn’t needed to develop new strengths to enter the field of affordable housing. For years we’ve used volunteer labor for home repair, and our skills in family nurturing are top-notch.

When we add these skills to the low-income loans and grants that are available and help families access these funds, the possibilities are great that safe, dry housing can be available to just about anyone willing to enter a partnership.

The direction we’ve taken the housing program is relatively recent, in fact; workers are still working out bugs in several areas.

But we’ll be sure to keep you abreast of the progress in the field — on the housing job site!

Enjoy!

Mike Sanders

A summary of the registration and financial documents filed by this organization can be obtained by contacting: in Maryland, for the cost of copies and postage, the Secretary of State, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401; in Virginia, State Division of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23209; in Washington, residents can call the Secretary of State tollfree within the state at 800-332-4483; in Mississippi, by calling the Secretary of State's office at 888-236-6167; IN NEW YORK, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, CHARITIES BUREAU, 120 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10271; IN NEW JERSEY, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY CALLING 973-504-6215; IN PENNSYLVANIA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE, 800-732-0999; IN WEST VIRGINIA, SECRETARY OF STATE, STATE CAPITOL, CHARLESTON, WV 25305; IN FLORIDA, THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALL TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE AT 800-435-7352; IN NORTH CAROLINA, FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND A COPY OF THE LICENSE ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE STATE SOLICITATION LICENSING BRANCH WITHIN THE STATE AT 1-888-830-4989 OR OUTSIDE THE STATE AT 919-807-2214; or by writing to Christian Appalachian Project, 322 Crab Orchard Street, Lancaster, KY 40446. Our license number in Michigan is MICS 9933. Registration with any of the above government agencies does not imply endorsement by the state.

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THOUGHTS B y D o n n a T h r u sh ’ve found myself wonder­ ing, recently, whether the CAP board of directors knew what we would be getting into when they set Goal Six of its long term strategic plan. The goal reads: “To become a leader in providing decent affordable housing for people in Appalachia.” Did they know what workers would have to do to even begin to meet that goal? And that is where we are — at an exciting and sometimes frustrating beginning. While housing issues have always been a concern of CAP and have been addressed throughout our existence as was appropriate to the time and place, Goal Six is taking that concern to another level.

The program name was changed from “home repair” to “housing” to reflect the new vision. Housing was separated from maintenance and now has its own assistant director, Ken Stuber, who has an engineering background and a servant’s heart. His insistence that we have a direction and purpose (flow charts available upon request) has kept us on track while we were in the design stage of this project. He measured the proposals and concepts by the yardstick of the CAP Mission Statement and Goal Six and was exact in his evaluation of the ongoing plans.

To add to the existing housing staff which includes housing managers (Geoff Barrett and Mike Wiley), lead persons (Lloyd Rice, Mike Powers, Ross Abrams, and Tim Ball), volunteer crews (too numerous to mention by name but absolutely essential and appreciated) and our administrative assistant (Brenda Thornton), CAP hired two “housing specialists” (we use quotes because we’re still learning) to facilitate the creation and implementation of the new program. That is where Delinda Huff and I come in. I am a newcomer to the CAP family and arrived specifically to fill this new position. Delinda has been with CAP for several years and served in other positions before taking on this challenge. Yes, I said “challenge.” We have had both the privilege and problem of taking the idea of being a leader in affordable housing, while involving the participants in a meaningful and appropriate partnership with the CAP housing program, and turning it into a workable reality.

We spent many hours brainstorming and hammering out the details (pun intended) with workers in the outreach program because they provide our first contact with housing participants. They are the ones that determine initial eligibility and help participants with detailed budget-tracking and evaluation. We contacted

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CAP housing specialist Donna Thrush.

other non-profit housing agencies and lenders of affordable housing dollars and picked their brains. We are now learning how to coordinate the new process in the field with work crews and volunteer groups. We have asked and are still asking more questions than there seem to be answers. While we didn’t want to recreate the wheel, we did want to create a program with the best features for both the people we serve and for CAP. We were sensitive to the necessity of preparing people for home ownership personally as well as financially. We included contingencies for families that need special, long-term support and training as well as those who simply need wood and nails.

Without bragging too much, I think the housing and outreach teams have done a great job, as we’ve taken Goal Six from proposal, to blueprints and specs, to on­ site construction. We took enough time to build a strong foundation and we’ve got a framework that we believe will stand the test of time. We’re roughing in the details now which will make the program more efficient and convenient just like indoor plumbing and electricity do in a home. As we work with more families and make adjustments to our floor plan, based on their needs and the availability of outside funds, we may find that the finished product is a little different than we imagined.

The color scheme may have less black and white and more shades of gray than we had planned, but the integrity of the structure will remain.

The intent to give a hand up to those that want and need it in the form of housing help and human connec­ tions will remain regardless of the variations of room size and color. People’s lives will be touched in more than a material way. We hope to be a leader not only in making affordable houses available to Appalachian families but we pray those houses will be homes built with and filled with the love of God.

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CONSTRUCTING

!D reams

by Margaret Gabriel

“It s important to build someplace for families to live.

Father Ralph Belting, CAP Founder

You’re a man in your mid-twenties.

School didn’t interest you, something that you now regret because you have three school-aged children and the best job you can find pays only about $7 an hour. Your wife holds a part time job — for her to work full time would barely cover the cost of day care. For you, the American dream is paid on installments, paycheck to paycheck, just like the rent you pay on a house that’s barely big enough for your growing family. You know your kids are ashamed of the house and em­ barrassed to bring friends home, but at least it keeps the rain out — most of the time. The last thing in the world you think about is the possibility of moving your family into a new house. That’s not for you, that for folks who live in town, who have better jobs, fewer obligations.

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ather Beiting has commented that there is a religious motivation in seeing that families have safe, secure housing.

“We’ve always been concerned about building houses for God and it naturally follows that we would want to build houses for God’s children, to give them a physical home as well as a spiritual home.”

Housing specialist Donna Thrush (right) and outreach administrative assistant Wanda Penman.

In 1997 the Christian the scope of the repair. If the Appalachian Project outlined a New Changes in housing program determines that long term plan based on a letter An Old Program the cost of the repair is less than written to its officers and directors To give families the option to $500, the project remains with the by founder Father Ralph Beiting. construct major additions or even outreach worker. The family is The letter outlined needs that he new homes, CAP identified several given the materials needed for the saw in the region and ways that he issues to help families solve their repair (usually received through hoped CAP would address them. housing needs — needs which Operation Sharing) and is asked to That letter resulted in CAP setting include preparation to take on the perform the labor, with the help of goals to determine long-term responsibility of home ownership family and friends whenever direction. The goals were the first (often called “family readiness”) possible. step CAP took in examining the and the ability to obtain low-interest If the housing program deter­ greatest needs of the region and loans. CAP staff is well trained and mines that the repair will cost over where its resources could be the equipped to help with the prepara­ $500, the family is screened for most effective. tion needed. Partnerships with other eligibility, which takes into consid­ One goal, goal six, was the most groups can help people find eration income, willingness to direct, saying simply: To provide available loan money. Working participate in a budget review, and low-cost, affordable housing for together, workers in CAP’s outreach ability to provide “sweat equity” to the people o f Appalachia. and housing programs address these the project. If the project is deter­ Although CAP has been needs. mined a repair, the family is asked involved with housing for many CAP housing workers prepared to repay one-third of the cost of years, work has concentrated on the initial planning for the expan­ materials.

For an addition or new repair. Only when a dwelling was sion of the program, under the construction, a CAP housing too dilapidated to repair did CAP direction of assistant director Ken specialist will help the family to venture into new construction. The Stuber. Although Ken’s intent was access funding through a variety of need was great, however, for to craft a plan that would enable loans and grants. families to have an opportunity to families to access new housing, he “In the past, all we asked was experience the dignity that comes knew that CAP’s home repair their income and where they lived,” with the pride of home ownership program would still be in demand. said housing specialist Donna and even signing one’s name to a He devised the new housing Thrush. “Now they’re expected to mortgage. In order to meet goal activities in three parts: minor put in sweat equity. If they’re not six, CAP made the decision to join repairs; major repairs; and additions able, we ask if there’s someone who the variety of non-profit and and new construction. can do it for them.” government agencies that work When a family with a housing The eligibility form asks appli­ together to help families access the need consults a CAP outreach cants if they are willing and able to housing resources available to low worker, the first step is to determine agree to the terms of repayment and income people.

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The first families to participate in CAP’s new housing program were WorkFest 2000families.

helping with repairs. People who are willing, but question whether they are able to repay the cost of one-third of the materials, will receive help from CAP’s outreach and housing workers, Donna said.

“We’ll help you look at your budget and if you’re really not able, we’ll waive repayment.”

For major repair and new construction, Donna said, waiver is not possible, but in the case of a very low income family, grant money may be available for which no repayment, or a very small payment, is required. “But they have to be willing at least to look at the concept,” Donna said.

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Long-Term Solutions, Long-Term Change Outreach program administrative assistant Wanda Penman worked for many years as a caseworker in Lincoln County and served on the committee of outreach and housing workers that developed a working plan for the program.

Families initially ask CAP for housing assistance through its outreach workers. The outreach workers file the initial application, help the family with its budget review and support them through the family readiness program, which has been devised to assure

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success (see “Making the Ends Meet,” page 24).

“I was in the meetings to represent the caseworkers,” Wanda said, “and it was scary to see the increase in the amount of work that was going to be asked of them.”

Wanda knew, though, that outreach workers had long hoped for a way to help families make long lasting life changes.

“We were tired of just giving short-term help, writing checks to help with the electric bill,” Wanda said. “Working with the housing program has helped us show people how to work on a budget.”

When a family is accepted to CAP’s housing program, its first step is to complete a 30-day budget review which is designed to let a family determine just how much disposable income could be redirected to a housing payment.

Before beginning the review, Wanda said, most families are unaware of where their money goes during the course of a month.

The CAP budget review asks families to keep detailed records of their spending by keeping receipts and notes of every dollar spent by every member of the family. “When they see it in black and white,” Wanda said, “it makes all the difference in the world.”

Wanda told of a family who, as a result of the budgeting exercise, made the decision to switch from drinking cola to iced tea. “They couldn’t believe how much they were spending,” Wanda said. “I was really proud of them for making that choice as a family.”

A CAP outreach worker’s partnership with a family as they work on a budget is the first of several partners that come together to raise the standard of living for an Appalachian family.

Accessing Resources While Donna coordinates housing demands in the Lancaster/

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Berea area of the CAP service region, Delinda Huff is her counter­ part in the Hagerhill region, farther east in the state. Before taking the job as a housing specialist, Delinda served as the housing secretary, which, she says, gave her a head start in learning about the need for affordable housing. Delinda and Donna have started to explore the numerous resources that are available to families with low income (80 percent of federal median income) or very low income (50 percent of median income). As Delinda and Donna have begun their research, they have started to take applications from families interested in participating. Family readiness is a crucial part of the program, they say, and will be made up of a set curriculum that will address everything from effective communication to changing a light bulb.

Delinda is currently involved with credit counseling for five families, three of whom have a goal of a new house. The counseling takes place in a group setting, Delinda said, lessening the feeling for many families that they’re all alone. “In a group they’ll be able to interact and grow from that,” she said.

Purchasing a home rates high on a list of stressful events for anyone, regardless of where they fall on the economic scale. Few middle income families are aware of the intricacies of mortgages until they become involved with a home purchase. For low income and very low income people, it is even more difficult.

“Even if they get up the courage to go to the bank, they sit down with a loan officer who looks at their records and says, ‘You don’t make enough money, goodbye’,” Donna said. CAP’s housing program, she said, often gives people the moral support as well as the information they need to keep knocking on closed doors until they find the one that opens to an

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opportunity of low-interest loans and grants for affordable housing.

“It’s very intimidating, so education becomes the absolute key to success,” Donna said. “First they find out where the money is, then how to get to it, and we try to give them the courage to go through the mass of paperwork that gets you there.”

“I Call Them Housing Heaven” Although CAP’s housing program has only recently entered the field of affordable housing, workers have discovered many opportunities for partnerships.

Daniel Boone Development, with offices in Clay, Rockcastle and Jackson counties, began helping people with affordable housing several years ago as a result of its weatherization program, which receives government funding to assure a safe, healthful housing environment.

“Some of the houses we were seeing were so bad we couldn’t weatherize them,” said director Ruth Martin. Although the houses were beyond repair or weatheriza­ tion, Daniel Boone Development felt a commitment to the families they serve, so they began to investigate the resources available through the Kentucky Housing Coiporation.

“I call it Housing Heaven,” Martin said.

The Kentucky Housing Corpora­ tion was created in 1972 by the Kentucky General Assembly to provide safe, decent, affordable housing opportunities for very low income, low income and moderate income Kentuckians. Much of the money they administer is federal money, according to spokeswoman Kim Lynn, but they also administer the Affordable Housing Trust, a Kentucky state housing fund that was created with unclaimed state lottery winnings.

“Any provider, whether they’re state, federal or non-profit, will tell

you of the importance of partners in affordable housing,” Lynn said.

Government housing dollars provide both the cost of materials and the funds needed to provide grants and low-interest mortgages, while non-profit organizations often “leverage” those dollars by provid­ ing no-cost labor as well as counsel­ ing, nurturing and support for the families.

Donna and Delinda have learned about the importance of leveraging, they said. To obtain the total funding needed for a home, they might start with money for site preparation from an agency, such as Daniel Boone Development, that has received money from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Then they’ll add a grant from Rural Development money, and complete the package with a low-interest loan from another Kentucky Housing Corporation program. By providing labor at no cost, CAP enables housing money to stretch. Materials donated by Operation Sharing, CAP’s in-kind donation distribution program, are often used as well.

CAP has recently joined the Federation of Appalachian Housing Enterprises (FAHE), a coalition of groups in Central Appalachia that stress home ownership and help the groups as well as families to access funding. CAP’s membership is designed to enable it to network with FAHE, and its member groups, to strengthen the housing program and work cooperatively with other nonprofit housing developers in the region. CAP would also like to access FAHE’s lending, advocacy and technical assistance programs.

“Joining FAHE will benefit our participants because they’ll have access to more low interest loans,” said housing assistant director Ken Stuber. “Indirect benefits will be that CAP’s housing program will be stronger as it gains insight and shares ideas with FAHE’s other members. Direct partnerships with other non-profits in overlapping

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them rethink their priorities.

A lot of people, even grownups, don’t realize how fortunate they are.”

Nurturing and Encouraging

counties will drive down the cost of building a home for a family.”

Labor is Often the Key Geoff Barrett, a CAP housing program manager, identifies LINKS in Floyd County as a group that could be a model for housing partnerships in Eastern Kentucky.

“Low Income Housing Koalition of Floyd County is our name,” said Don Akers. “We had to have an acronym, so we’re spelling ‘coali­ tion’ with a ‘k’.” The group is not as concerned about substandard spelling as substandard housing in Floyd County, and they have come together to address those concerns.

Akers is a retired benefits counselor with the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund, a legal aid agency serving Eastern Ken­ tucky. Before retiring he noticed that more and more of his requests for assistance were from people trying to solve problems that stemmed from inadequate or substandard housing.

Funded with a grant from the Kentucky Housing Corporation, Akers now works part-time to connect people in need of housing services with the volunteer groups who come to Floyd County. LINKS has a board of 18 people who represent a wide variety of non­

profit agencies, local government and private citizens in the county, including the Chamber of Com­ merce, Comprehensive Care, the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund, St. Vincent Mission (see page 16) and CAR At a recent meeting, LINKS received a sizable grant from KHC, which will be used by agencies throughout Floyd County.

St. Vincent Mission hosts volunteers throughout the year, who come to help with home construc­ tion in the county. Although many provide their own resources by holding fund raising events in their home communities, the dollars provided to LINKS by the Ken­ tucky Housing Corporation will enable even more families to improve their living conditions.

Volunteers who work in Floyd County make a substantial impact, both in the work they do and the dollars they spend in the commu­ nity, Akers said. Many have eye­ opening experiences in the rural area.

“We had a group from an affluent community in Freeport, 111. Some of these kids thought they had it rough because they didn’t have a car of their own, or had to share a bed­ room with a brother or sister. They came, and even though they were teenagers, their experience made

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For many organizations that provide affordable housing, groups like CAP which makes no-cost labor available, enable them to stretch the needed dollars to assist many more families in need. Wanda and Donna believe that the counseling and nurturing that CAP provides is of equal impor­ tance to the low-interest loans families can receive. The resources provided by CAP donors enable outreach and housing workers to form a partnership with a family that remains in place until the family is ready to take on the responsibility of home ownership. If a family needs more coaching in financial management, or home maintenance, or any preparation for ownership, CAP is able to stick with that family as long as needed.

“As long as the people are interested in the house and in working toward it, we’ll work with them to help them get there,” Donna said. “If that’s two years, it’s two years. That’s very unique because it’s difficult to get funding that has administrative and funding dollars sufficient to get some families where they need to be.”

Wanda, a former outreach caseworker, knows the importance of providing that encouragement, as well as the education that first-time family homeowners find crucial.

“Taking on a mortgage is scary, especially if you’ve rented all your life,” Wanda said. “We don’t want people to walk in unaware of the things they have to face. We don’t want to set them up to fail.”

Margaret Gabriel is the editor o f The Mountain Spirit.

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Hundreds Of Kids To Attend CAP Summer Camps The Christian Appala­ chian Project is expand­ ing camping programs during summer 2000, by adding eight weeks of camping at Boone’s Landing in Lawrence County to its other Kentucky camps: Camp Andrew Jackson in Jackson County, Camp Shawnee in Floyd County and Family Life Day Camp in Rockcastle County.

The overnight camps in Floyd and Lawrence counties have broadened beyond the traditional camping curriculum and Although most LAP campers live in rural areas, they don't often have the opportunity to revel in the beauty o f God s creation. this year are hosting weeks that focus on a variety of founder] wanted camp to be a place “Some of our kids go to both topics including computers, sports camps, but a lot of our younger kids of respite for kids,” Daniel said. “A and wildlife. They will also host don’t want to leave home for four safe place, a place to experience weeks for teens and teen leadership. nights,” she said. “I really see us as God’s love. It’s really a privilege Specialized camps are very popular for us to have them here.” a gateway camp for overnight with the kids, said human services camps,” Glenna said. assistant director Sandi Knight.

The oldest of CAP’s camps, “The computer camps give lowCamp Andrew Jackson, will host Is there income kids the chance to practice six weeks of camp for younger a CAP things that they learn in school, but children and two for teens, accord­ can’t review at home because they program ing to camp coordinator Daniel don’t have computers.”

Chauncy. The theme for all eight that you The computer camps will be weeks will be “Dare To Be Differ­ outfitted by Prestonsburg Commu­ ent.” don’t see nity College and the Center for “Lots of times people think it’s in this issue of The Mountain Rural Development in Somerset. wild clothes or body piercing that Camp Shawnee will also co-host makes them different, but we’re Spirit? CAP’s web site includes a Kids’ Health Week with Our Lady going to challenge kids to be information about all of CAP’s of the Way Hospital in Martin, Ky. different from the inside out,” In Rockcastle County, the Family Daniel said. human service programs, Life Center will sponsor six weeks The younger children will planned giving and major gifts of day camp, under the supervision explore four elements that can of Glenna Martin, manager of the make them different, the four S’s, and the volunteer program.

Rockcastle Teen Center. Glenna and Daniel said: Self-control, SelfPlease visit the site at the volunteers who staff day camp worth, Speech and Spirit. have a larger group of six- through “We’ll encourage the kids to www.chrisapp.org and be sure ten-year-olds than they have at the allow the Holy Spirit to be their to sign our guest book! overnight camps, she said. helper. Father Beiting [CAP’s

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Adult Education Program To Host Graduations The Christian Appalachian Project adult education program will host graduations in June for more than 75 people who have received a General Equivalency Diploma, high school equivalency, during the past year.

Hazel Quinton, administrative assistant for the Adult Learning Center in Rockcastle County, is planning events for Garrard/ Lincoln, Rockcastle and McCreary counties for June. Students who study through the Magoffin County adult education office will attend their graduation in September at the Irene Cole Memorial Baptist Church.

Each graduate receives an invitation to the ceremony, Hazel said, and is asked to let the office know how many of their friends and family will be attending as well. “That way we know how many we’re having for refresh­ ments.”

Each ceremony will feature a guest speaker. State Representative Ken Elpchurch (R-Monticello) will address the graduates in McCreary County; CAP vice-president of administration Hazel Evans will speak at the Garrard/Lincoln graduation. The ceremonies will also feature a student speaker. “It’s not always the person with the highest score,” Hazel said, “but someone who’s outgoing and likes public speaking.”

In addition to the graduates and their families, the invitation list will include area VIPs, Hazel said, including school principals, people from the Kentucky Department of Education in Frankfort and people who own and operate county businesses.

“We invite anybody we feel could play a part in these people’s

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lives, in any way,” Hazel said.

CAP awards several scholar­ ships, enabling people to begin college or voca­ tional work.

Usually, four or five graduates pursue higher education each year.

Since the early 1980s, over 1000 people have obtained a GED through the CAP adult education program.______

Employees, Volunteers Participate in Fund Raiser Christian Appalachian Project employees and volunteers found out what it is like to walk in donors’ shoes for a while this spring. Over one hundred joined several other Kentucky charities for The Human Race held in central Kentucky. CAP staff gathered pledges and walked for three miles with a goal of raising $2500 for Lexington participants included Kathleen Leavell, programs.

Sharyl Trail, Dan Leavell, Matt Douglas, Sean Kathy Kluesener, Leavell, John Fenger, Dennis Redline, and Moe coordinator of volunteer Kluesener. alumni, and Ali Lien, a were the top two pledge gatherers, volunteer from Pennsylvania, together collecting over $450.

“I’m sure we’ll reach our goal,” said Kathleen Leavell, who coordinated CAP’S participation in the event. “We have an excellent example of generosity in our donors throughout the country and this is a great opportunity for us to , , .0 „ follow in their footsteps Lancaster participants included Stacy Morris, leresa McAnly, Sharon Combs, Debra Owsley, Terry Lucas, tor a while.

Gwen Newcomb and Lucy Ballew.

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Sunshine Center Plans 25th Anniversary The Sunshine Child and Family Development Center of the Christian Appalachian Project will celebrate its 25th anniver­ sary with an open house on August 4 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Program manager Becky Kana has worked at the Sunshine Center for 18 years and has been sifting through her pictures, as well as her own memory, to create an invitation list Amy Martin, head teacher at the Sunshine Center, of all of the former volunteers and employees with some o f the younger students. who have worked at the center in Pictures have been compiled into Garrard County. albums and a slide show will run “I’ve also talked to Kathy continuously, Becky said, while Kluesener, Kathleen Leavell and people visit, enjoy refreshments, other people who worked here to and enter reflections of their days at get them to help me remember,” the center in a “Memory Book.”

Becky said. She feels confident that “We’re asking people who can’t they’ve remembered all of the come to send a recent picture, a employees and long-term volun­ picture from when they were in the teers, but “I’ve probably overlooked center and a reflection that we can some short-term volunteers.” add to the book,” Becky said.

The center will issue an open “We’re going to have a good old invitation to former students and party!” their families by publicizing the If you are an alumni student, event in Garrard and surrounding teacher or staff member of the counties, Becky said.

Sunshine Family and Child Devel­ opment Center, please attend the reunion on August 4 or send a picture and a memory to Becky Kana, 204 S. Campbell St., Lancaster, KY 40444, (859) 792-3323, sunshinectr @juno.com

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Volunteers Take Time for Spiritual Renewal Christian Appalachian Project volunteers attended weekend retreats in late April and early May at Camp Shawnee in Floyd County.

The theme “Making the Gospel Concrete in Appalachia” was addressed by Father Jack Keiffer, SJ, the first session and Glenmary Father John Rausch the second.

Music for the weekends was provided by the Wings of Praise, and Father Beiting addressed both groups on the first evening of their stay. “He talked to them about people who can help the area,” said volunteer house manager Ann Sizemore. “He told them that he wanted to talk to Bill Gates about starting a Silicon Valley in Appala­ chia!”

Because the retreat was designed

as a spiritual renewal, there was much time for personal prayer and reflection, Ann said.

Fathers Keiffer and Rausch talked to the volunteers about why they are here and how they can use their gifts to better serve the area.

Annette Kilmister, a second-year volunteer who works in adult education, particularly enjoyed the message of Fr. Rausch, she said. “As one person, he said, we can do a little bit, but as a group, we can make big strides.”

At another point in the weekend, he talked about the story of Lazarus, the poor man who had begged at a rich man’s table. Fr. Rausch related the wealthy people in the parable to people today who might watch a situation without taking any action.

“That’s almost as bad as doing wrong,” Fr. Rausch told the volun­ teers.

When Fr. Rausch learned that many volunteers he was addressing were reaching the end of their commitment to CAP he tailored one of his talks to discernment: the process of determin­ ing what will come next in one’s life.

“He was very in tune with what some of us are going through,” Annette said, “relating parables from the Bible to things in our lives.”

There was a great sense of renewal for groups at the end of both week­ ends, Ann said. The peaceful setting of Camp Shawnee gave the volunteers a chance to relax and reflect. “We had really good evaluations,” Ann said.

“Several said they really needed this time to find a direction in their lives.”

Please detach and mail to the address below:

During this time of year workers in CAP’S outreach program begin the work necessary to provide Christmas baskets of toys, gifts and food to folks we serve. If you would like to participate: '• Let us know the size family you would like to sponsor (gifts for each person in the fam ily should cost between $15 and $25). We’ll send you information about your family, including first names, ages, sizes and a few gift suggestions; • We’ll also include family code stickers and a guideline letter with the correct address to send your gift box; • Wrap and label your gifts with the name of each person; • Mail your boxes to CAP by or before November 21,2000. Please adhere to our deadlines, so we can make sure gifts are given to your family; If you have any questions, please call Brenda Watts at (859) 985-7091.

That’s all there is to it! Your Appalachian fam ily will have a Christmas they’ll never forget and y o u ’ll know that y o u ’ve contributed to the real m eaning o f the birth o f Christ. We look forward to hearing from you!

her n e *''''

t°yfrorn

I would like to sponsor:

Small family (1-2 children

Medium family (3-4 children & parents) Extra large family (8 o r more & parents)

W d o ^ eXC>........

Name

□ / am not able to shop for a needy family, but I have included a contribution that w ill enable you to provide gifts for a family. ($75.00 provides gifts for a fam ily o f three. $30.00 will provide a Christm as food voucher fo ra fam ily o f three. A n y am ount you choose will help us share the jo y o f C hrist’s birth in Appalachia.

Address

Make checks payable to CAP and return to:

& parents) Large family (5-6 children & parents)

Total number of families sponsored

City, State, Zip__ Phone (please include area code) _

CAP Christmas Basket Program 322 Crab Orchard St., Lancaster, KY 40446

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Ground Breaking Ceremony Re-Unites Father Ralph Beiting and FBI Director Louis Freeh In the summer of 1966, a sixteen-year-old student from St. Joseph High School in New York, N.Y., volunteered with the Christian Appalachian Project. While in the area, the young man had the opportunity to meet the founder of the organization. Father Ralph

duced by Fr. Beiting, who proudly told an audience of nearly 500 state and local dignitaries, law enforce­ ment personnel and Hazard resi­ dents that Freeh is a former CAP volunteer.

Freeh spoke fondly of his time with Christian Appalachian Project, remarking that it was the most inspirational summer he’d spent up to that point in his life.

“I learned more that summer, as a volunteer with Monsignor Beiting, than any before, about service, sacrifice, integrity and community involvement,” Freeh said. Father Beiting planted in him the desire to serve his commu­ nity and he said that Fr. Beiting is a remarkable example of someone who L-R, Father Ralph Beiting, Director Louis Freeh, serves with integrity Congressman Hal Rogers break ground for a law and preserverance. enforcement training center in Hazard, Ky. Congressman Hal Beiting routinely spoke with the Rogers (R-Ky., 5th District) echoed volunteers and out-of-town stu­ Freeh, in commending Father dents, asking them to continue their Beiting on the work and assistance service, sense of community he has provided to Eastern Ken­ involvement and responsibility for tucky. one another.

The Center for Rural Law The youth who came to Appala­ Enforcement will serve as a chia many years ago was Louis classroom and testing center that Freeh, Director of the Federal focuses on the needs of rural and Bureau of Investigation. Freeh was small law enforcement agencies. It the guest speaker at the ground will provide video-teleconferencing breaking ceremony in Hazard, capabilities with Eastern Kentucky Kentucky on April 27, for the Hal University, The Center for Rural Rogers Center - Department of Development, the Kentucky Justice - Rural Law Enforcement Department of Criminal Justice Training Center. Freeh was intro­ Training and other universities.

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Books On Tape

By Father Ralph Beiting

Now available on cassette, the voice of Father Ralph Beiting brings to life the stories and experiences of his work in the mountains of Appalachia.

As founder of the Appalachian Project, Fr. Beiting has earned a reputation in Appalachia as a true visionary and advocate for change. His self-help philosophy has materialized in the human service programs of the Christian Appalachian Project.

The books on tape are available to you at no cost.

Each book contains two cassettes, packaged in a full color vinyl case. A donation to help cover the cost of the book, shipping and handling is appreciated. Your donation will also help make possible the work of the Christian Appalachian Project. To order please enclose a note in the center of the magazine.

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CAP Sponsors Ninth Annual Women’s Leadership Conference The Christian Appalachian Project hosted its ninth annual Women’s Leadership Conference at Camp Shawnee in Floyd County, May 15-18. The event was planned this year by outreach worker Iva David. Nearly 65 women attended session each day; 25 of them stayed overnight at the camp, said outreach volunteer Anna Grace Katon.

office gave a demonstration of container gardening. “I know they really liked that,” Iva said. They asked a lot of questions about it.”

Everyone received a tomato plant to raise in a container or a more conventional manner. The plant was one of several items the participants received every day. Others included makeup bags, shower radios and picture albums.

One of the most popular speakers was Judge Sara Walter Combs, Judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals, Seventh District. She spoke about her life as the wife of former Kentucky Governor Bert Combs, and how her life turned after he passed Annette Kilmister hugs a participant’s baby. away several years Volunteer Anna Grace Katon looks on. ago. The day she Daytime activities included craft spoke was the anniversary of her sessions, makeovers and speakers, father’s death, so she talked quite a Iva said. Outreach manager Judy bit about him, Iva said.

Crum recommended that Iva invite “The women really enjoyed Judge Rema Keene, an actor who per­ Combs,” Iva said. “She was so formed a one-woman play that friendly and nice. It made them feel focused on the life of her grand­ so good that someone with such a mother. “It started when the good education would try to help grandmother was about five years them. She got old,” said Anna Grace. “The play more hugs looked at a lot of the ways these than anybody ladies would have grown up. else.”

[Rema’s grandmother] had eleven In the children, her mother had TB, her evenings, the father was killed in a mining ovemighters accident. It was really interesting.” shared the days’ Dr. Mary Fox, a long-time experiences Eastern Kentucky public health activist and practitioner, gave a talk around a campfire one about herbal medicine, and a night, and as representative from the Martin County Agricultural Extension they played

WORKPLACE

PAYROLL DEDUCTION

If your employer offers donor designation as a write-in for payroll deduction campaign, please remember the Christian Appalachian Project. CAP is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt agency, and payroll deduction is the easiest way to help the families of Appalachia. To ensure that we receive your payroll deduction gifts, please give your payroll officer CAP’S full address and send to the attention of: Teresa McAnly-Campaign Coordinator

Christian Appalachian Project 322 Crab Orchard Street Lancaster, KY 40446

bingo another.

“It was really good for the women to be around women of other ages and denominations,” said Anna Grace, a volunteer from California. “It was also good for them to be served for a change.”

Most of the women spend their days caring for husbands and children, and a few days off with no cooking or cleaning chores is a real treat.

“It was hard for some of them to let someone else wait on them,” Anna Grace said.

Joan Andrews, Tony Cabrello and Tyson Burke.

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The 2000 CAP Peace Award While a young naval ensign in Washington, D.C., Mike McLaughlin had the good fortune of hearing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak. He shared the memories of the occasion and reflections about Dr. King’s vision at the Chris­ tian Appala­ chian Project 2000 Peace Award Michael ceremony, McLaughlin which honored contributed an explanation and the history o f the Peace Middlesboro Award.

Ministerial Association.

Mike’s reflections were echoed

by Mildred Bailey, director of the University of Kentucky Minority College Awareness Program as she addressed the audience at the Covenant United Methodist Church The Association was honored with the award for the courage they displayed in organizing community events to counter a rally organized by the Ku Klux Klan in Middlesboro. The Klan action

Mildred Bailey, keynote speaker o f the 2000 Peace Award Ceremony.

followed a racial incident involving a black man and a white male youth.

Bailey presented the Ministerial Association with gifts of the book And Don’t Call Me A Racist! She encouraged their continued efforts to combat racism on all levels and challenged the audience to do the same.

The ceremony included a variety of musical selections by Brenda Thornton, of the CAP housing program and former employee Anna Lois Davis.

The recipients o f the 2000 Peace Award, the Middlesboro Ministerial Association.

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GermanSpeaking Student Attends CAP Center The Genesis Child and Family Development Center in Louisa, the Christian Appalachian Project’s newest center, has a bi-lingual student body, thanks to the presence of Mariana, a German pre-schooler who is currently living in the United States with her father while he attends a graduate level training program.

“She hasn’t gotten too involved with the other children because of the language barrier,” said program manager Brenda Wireman. “She’s mostly observed and she really seems to like Play Dough.”

Although Mariana speaks no English, Brenda said she under­ stands and acknowledges things that are said to her. During her time at the center, she has been accompa­ nied by her father, or by Inga Pigman, a native of Germany who now lives in Louisa. Two CAP workers who knew Mrs. Pigman asked her to come to the center to make Mariana’s time more comfort­ able and pleasant, Brenda said.

The other Genesis students have enjoyed having Mariana with them, although they are used to visitors and new faces. “We get new students all the time, so the kids are used to it,” Brenda said.

Mothers of the children who attend Genesis are given the opportunity to attend classes in job skills and parenting, Brenda said.

Many have been referred from Community Based Services, a state office that is part of the Cabinet for Families and Children. The cabinet concentrates on helping families move from welfare to work.

When she came to the Christian Appalachian Project in 1979, Kathy Weigand was assigned to work at the Sunshine Center, the child development center in Garrard

County. The teaching staff consisted of a Kathy and a Kathleen; in order to keep from confusing the children, the new teacher was dubbed “Kate.”

“I don’t care what you call me,

just don’t call me late for dinner,” she’d say with her hearty laugh, a twinkle in her eyes and a decidedly Midwestern twang to her speech.

Friends and family in her

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hometown of Pittsburgh call her burial is just one way that St. expense of that method keeps the Kathy; many Kentucky friends still mines inactive, so unemployment in Vincent’s lives its task. call her Kate, but in 1990 she The Floyd County mission was the area runs high. became Sister Kathleen Weigand, started in 1968 by the Christian Sister Kathleen will tell you they O.S.B., a Mount Tabor Benedictine. build a lot of things at St. Vincent Brothers of Charity from Philadel­ Religious life wasn’t a path she phia as a “community of people Mission. And without hesitating, intended to take — she had as­ dedicated to sharing the expression she’ll say relationships are the most sumed that her life would hold of Christian values,” according to important. marriage and children. Kate was its mission statement, which goes One of the first families that Sr. intrigued, though, when she visited on to say: “In Appalachia, working Kathleen met came to the mission the Benedictines with another CAP together, we become enriched and for help with an electric bill. The volunteer, Gerry Gallagher, who strengthened by a common respect. young couple was having a difficult was thinking of joining the order.

Through concrete programs we time making ends meet; he worked “As we were leaving, I said to the whatever odd jobs he could find, a encourage the use of our skills, prioress, ‘I’ll be back.’ It was just talents and personal gifts to help difficult situation for a family with automatic,” she said. “I don’t even each other. Our Mission is one of small children including a daughter know why I said it.” Within a year hope that leads us toward a greater who had several birth defects. or so, she joined the order and vision of continuous growth.” blearing that the baby was sick, began her formation (Gerry has “When the brothers started the Sr. Kathleen went to visit and saw since married, and her 1999 mission, they had a day care center the mother cuddling her child who Christmas card to Sr. Kathleen and ran Bible schools and a clothing was staying alive with the help of a included a picture of her two respirator and a feeding tube. “I saw store,” Sr. Kathleen said. “But they children). didn’t want to overlook the fact that the Pieta, the sculpture of Jesus’ In the years since joining the people made Appalachian crafts mother, holding him before he order, Sr. Kathleen has attended native to this area.” died,” Sr. Kathleen said.

Morehead State University, com­ While many of those activities A month later, the baby passed pleted her degree in elementary are still part of the work of St. away, just short of her third birth­ education (and is just a few hours Vincent’s, marketing crafts is one of day. Sr. Kathleen and St. Vincent short of her master’s degree), taught Mission mourned, while lending the most visible. David Crafts, as for six years at the Mountain they are known, have been on comfort to family and friends.

Christian Academy in Martin, Ky., display in the Mountain Arts Participating in the mourning and and served as pastoral assistant at St. Martha Church in Water Gap, Ky. All these experiences have come together, she says, to give her the background she needs for her current position: director of St. Vincent Mission in David, a small town in Floyd County.

The Princess Elkhom Coal Company estab­ lished David as a company town in 1942 and operated mines in the county until 1958.

Other mining companies worked in the area until the early ’90s, Sr. Kathleen said, but today Sister Kathleen, left, is a frequent visitor at David Crafts, the craft store over the mission what coal is left would offices in Floyd County. The store includes a showroom as well as an area where local have to be extracted by residents make items that are sold. deep mining. The

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Center, and are visible in storefronts in Prestonsburg, Ky., the county seat of Floyd County.

St. Vincent Mission shares its building with the David Craft operation, which has a large showroom floor, as well as a workshop.

On any given day, anywhere from two to eight women gather around a large table and the adjacent sewing machines to make items that are sold in the store or marketed through a successful catalog.

Although items like quilts and other textilebased merchandise are made in the back room of the store, such items as wood carvings and candles are bought on consignment from craftspeople in the region.

“Sister Ida [DeVille] was St. Vincent’s director for about 18 years,” Sr. Kathleen said. “She did

an excellent job getting the word out about the mission, and she built it up to what it is today.”

Sister Kathleen taught at the Mountain Christian Academy for several years, after obtaining a degree in elementary education from Morehead State University. “I thought I was set until 73, when I would retire,” she said. But then the path took a turn.

When Sr. Ida decided it was time to leave the area, she spoke to the sisters at Mount Tabor, and asked if any of them would be interested in serving as director of the mission.

Sr. Ida knew that the Benedictine sisters were a Sister Kathleen talks with Joyce Mitchell, the mission s social stable service coordinator.

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presence in the community, and that their involvement with the mission would lend the same stability.

“It took me all the way back when I tried to decide about coming to CAP as a volunteer,” Sr. Kathleen said. She had been working for several years as an office manager at a Chrysler dealership in Pittsburgh. It was a secure job, a comfortable life with family, girlfriends, and occasional dating. The notion of volunteering fit well into an overall concept of the value of service, but what she had intended to be one year of service turned into more than two years, then an employee’s position with CAP, and finally, a lifelong commitment to the area as a Benedictine sister serving as an elementary school teacher.

“Just like before, I thought I was all set. I had my degree, I was just this far away from getting my master’s and it was like God saying ‘Wait a second. Haven’t you learned anything? You’ve never had to wait for a sign, you’ve always stepped out in faith. Don’t you think I’ve been with you all this time so you could do likewise in this situation?’

So we talked it over in the commu­ nity and I said I was willing to give

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§ Spring Newsletter) for the children | in David. The pizza delivery aspect ? of the restaurant has taught Sharon < almost every nook and cranny of § the David community, and she can | always be counted on to help find a s home that Sr. Kathleen or Joyce might want to visit.

Joyce, labeled a godsend by Sr. Kathleen, worked at a CAP child development center and at the Mountain Christian Academy before beginning her work at St. Vincent’s. She came to Kentucky to attend Kentucky Christian College in Grayson, Ky. “I didn’t get a degree,” Joyce said. “I got my MR-S.” When Joyce volunteered to draft a letter Sr. Kathleen had been sweating over, the partnership was formed, and Joyce was hired as the social service coordinator for the Sr. Pat Frueh with one o f the ladies she visits regularly to keep up with her blood pressure and other needs. Sr Pat is a volunteer with St. Vincent’s. mission.

“We work together really well,” Sr. Kathleen said. “Where I’m weak their daddy’s land at one time. They working at the mission a try.” she’s strong, and where she’s weak, said they’d ask him if we could She began working at St. I’m strong. The trouble is, that have it there next summer.” It’s that Vincent’s in the summer of 1999 sometimes we have to stop each kind of tradition and continuity, Sr. and took the reins after Sr. Ida’s other from giving all our resources Kathleen said, that makes St. going-away party in August. to one person!”

Vincent’s a steady presence in the Recognizing that one of the most A newly-formed homemakers’ community. important tasks of St. Vincent club meets monthly, and a survey Bible schools, a used clothing Mission is its presence in the store and the Christmas program are distributed throughout David community, Sr. Kathleen is guided indicates support for a satellite traditions that will continue in by the people of David, the people clinic of the Floyd County Health David. But Sister Kathleen and who make up the mission. Cur­ Department. “My original idea was Joyce Mitchell, the mission’s social rently, Sr. Kathleen seems to have for a women’s health day,” Joyce service coordinator, have several adopted a new home town. She is a new projects in the works, including said, “but, boy, it developed!” regular at Sharon’s Pizza, the local Sister Kathleen learned that the a newsletter. The April issue restaurant, has her hair cut in the health department is willing to unveiled the winner of the “Name beauty parlor in David, generally provide immunizations, cancer contributing whatever she can to the the Newsletter” contest. The screenings and even mammograms winning entry, “David Salt Spring economic well-being of the town through patronizing businesses. She Newsletter,” is a historical reference if the mission can arrange for an exam table, a light and a bathroom. to Daniel Boone’s discovery of a is sensitive to the needs of the A good-sized shed on the mission’s salt spring while he was exploring community, and works to learn of property can be converted to the in the region in 1767-69. The both its history and tradition. needed space if the renovation can winner of a $ 10 gift certificate for While she was visiting two be funded.

St. Vincent’s second-hand store was women on a recent spring after­ Beginning with a $5 donation Sharon Jones, the proprietor of noon, Sr. Kathleen learned that not from Boone Allen, an elderly David Sharon’s Pizza. only did they intend to send their resident who escorted Brother “She’s a wonderful member of children to St. Vincent’s Bible David on his first tour of the region the community,” Sr. Kathleen said, school, they had attended the many years ago, funds are slowly and told of the 500 eggs the summer activity when they were trickling into the mission’s remodel­ business dyed for an Easter egg children. “Then they told me that ing account. Boone collected money hunt (publicized in David Salt the Bible school had been held on o

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from area residents, a sum that was matched by a group of University of Kentucky volunteers. Sr. Kathleen then had that sum matched by a donor she met at a speaking engagement in Fairborn, Ohio.

The clinic, like so many St. Vincent’s projects, is motivated by Sr. Kathleen’s assertion: “If it’s to be, it will come about.” To help it come about, Sr. Kathleen is calling on her old friend, CAP founder Father Ralph Beiting, for help with the space needed for the satellite clinic.

Sr. Kathleen first met Fr. Beiting when she joined CAP as a volun­ teer. She worked for CAP — and Fr. Beiting — after her volunteer service, then formed an even closer bond when Fr. Beiting lived in a residence on the property owned by the Mount Tabor Benedictines and served as their chaplain.

“I heard he had a trailer that he was willing to sell, so I called and asked him what he wanted for it. He told me $5,000, and I said I wanted him to give it to me free.”

Father Beiting groaned, Sr. Kathleen said, mostly because she learned that tactic from him.

Later, Fr. Beiting called to say that the trailer was hers. He has been very supportive of the work of the mission, although “I haven’t asked him for money yet. I’ll save that for our next meeting!” Sr. Kathleen said.

St. Vincent Mission recently received a human development grant from CAP which will be used to continue to initiate programs.

“Some committee members were familiar with the work at St. Vincent’s and of course, we know Sr. Kathleen,” said Sheila Helton, manager of the grant program. “We liked their outreach programs and felt they were really needed in that part of Floyd County.”

A recent trip by the David Homemakers could lead to other activities and trips, Sr. Kathleen said. They traveled a relatively short distance, to a park on the Kentucky-

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For Christmas, 1999, the mission received a donation o f two bicycles, one for a boy and one for a girl. “Wefelt a drawing was the fairest way to award them, ” said Sr. Kathleen. Pictured is the winner o f the girl s bike, with her grandmother (center), Joyce Mitchell and Sr. Kathleen.

Virginia border, but for some of the women it was the farthest distance they had traveled in quite some time.

“We may use some of the grant money to help us do some educa­ tional things through travel,” Sr. Kathleen said.

Sheila is one of several people who say that Sr. Kathleen’s enthusiasm and experience will be of great benefit to St. Vincent’s. In a short time, she has become an integral part of both St. Vincent Mission and the David community.

Don Akers, with LINKS, a Floyd County affordable housing initia­ tive, calls Sr. Kathleen “indispens­ able” in the work of the Floyd County housing coalition. “She’s done a tremendous job taking hold.

She must be a whole lot smarter than I am.”

“No, it’s working together,” Sr.

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Kathleen said, disagreeing with Akers’ assessment. “I just sent a letter to all the volunteer groups and told them about the skills we need, according the jobs we’re going to be doing.”

After twenty years working and living in the mountains, Sr. Kathleen knows that the only thing she can expect is surprise. “You never know what God’s going to lead you to.

I’ve said to Fr. Beiting that when I came to volunteer, that’s all I was going to do. Then I ended up being an employee and through all that, I learned all the different gifts I had.

Now, I am thoroughly convinced that everything I’ve done up to this point has prepared me for this ministry.”

Author Margaret Gabriel and Sr. Kathleen served as CAP volunteers together.

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L etters to the E d itor I think you have a fine maga­ zine, informative and written in an interesting manner. Keep up the good work.

William Payden Santa Monica, Calif.

I enjoy your publication very much, maybe someday I can volunteer. I am a retired RN and I’m sure there is much I could help you with. Keep up the good work.

Congratulations on Father Beiting’s 50 years of service.

Margaret Martin La Grange, Ind.

The Mountain Spirit always renews me with a burst of joy and strength, knowing that God’s work is being done. The gladness of the volunteers and the recipients of CAP’S services is invigorating.

Thank you, Carolyn Santangelo Brooklyn, N. Y.

Having grown up in the north eastern part of Ky., I can relate to many of the problems I read about in The Mountain Spirit. The poverty is still apparent there. I’m a retired RN and enjoy return visits with relatives in that area, as often as I can. I’m always refreshed after fellowshiping with these wonderful friends and relatives. Although I’ve been away many years, my heart always calls me back to the hills and this wonderful part of God’s country. Thank you for your caring work there.

Mrs. Jack Leonard Upper Sandusky, Ohio

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I enjoy The Mountain Spirit very much. Having been a five-time temporary volunteer, the people and the places are very often familiar to me and thus doubles my interest. In May of 2000,1 shall return for my sixth year. It is a rewarding Chris­ tian experience that I shall never forget nor regret.

Mrs. Mildred H. Wright Livermore Falls, Maine

I grew up in Owensboro, Ky., and I am proud you all are helping in Eastern Kentucky! Keep up the good work!

McKinney Taylor Richmond, Va.

Keep up the good work you do. in the name of Christ. God bless you with continued health and strength for the tasks ahead.

Nancy Anthony Glenside, Pa.

I enjoy reading your magazine.

At age 80 and using a telesonic machine to read, I feel like I know these people. My dreams are that I will be able to make a trip to your mission this summer.

Jeanette Nathe Saint Cloud, Minn.

I enjoy reading The Mountain Spirit. It is interesting to read about the wonderful work you do helping I don’t know how you can the people of Appalachia. I know improve this wonderful magazine. It that without your hard work and truly brings your work to life. Thank compassion you have for those in you. poverty there would be many more Marjorie Healy hardships among the people. May Westborough, Mass. God bless you for all you do.

Doris Stenger Centerville, Ind. Congratulations to Father Beiting for his 50 years of dedicated service. May he have 50 more.

J.A. Medley Henderson, Nev.

For years, I have admired the work of Fr. Beiting and CAP based on what I heard and read. Then a few years ago I had the privilege of meeting Fr. Beiting. I can count my “true heroes” on one hand. And based on his courage and his dedication to his calling, Father Beiting is one of my “true heroes”!

Keep up the good work!

Wes Wright Newport, Ky.

I love The Mountain Spirit. The stories are real and down to earth.

Heartbreaking but true. You are doing great things in Appalachia.

Mrs. Marjorie Bailey Attleboro, Mass.

Letters to the editor are welcome. 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 Appalachian Project 322 Crab Orchard Street Lancaster, KY 40446 or e-mail capinfo@chrisapp. org

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An income of $1401 per month is not princely, but an elderly couple who had lived frugally all their lives assumed that the pension would meet their needs after retirement.

Their house was paid for and with careful management, they could manage.

Except the couple needs to spend $1399 each month for medications.

“They had to make do with samples from their doctor, or they just didn’t take what they were supposed to take,” said Angela Hall, a Christian Appalachian Project caseworker who coordinates prescription assistance in Floyd County.

It took Angela almost an entire day to fill out the needed forms, but after checking her reference books, obtaining the documentation concerning income and expenses, and learning which of the couple’s medications could be obtained, they are now paying only $75 each month for the prescriptions that formerly had totally eaten their

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monthly pension.

Such stories are alarmingly commonplace, according to Melissa Vance, manager of CAP elderly services. To help people of all ages with the cost of high priced medications, CAP helps them to access assistance from pharmaceu­ tical companies.

Prescription assistance is a relatively new CAP program that started in 1994 when Sandi Knight managed the Hagerhill elderly services program. At a training at Highland Hospital, Sandi learned of a program in Minnesota that was obtaining medications for low income people. The drawback of the program is the great quantity of paperwork that pharmaceutical companies require for each medica­ tion. At that time, Sandi had assigned a volunteer to give health and safety presentations at local senior citizens’ centers. “That wasn’t working out like we thought it would, so we decided to get her started on all the paperwork needed

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for this program.”

Later on in the year, Sandi placed volunteers Kathy Heying and Wendy Weigmann half-time in home visiting and half-time in prescription assistance. “No volunteer wants to take on all that paperwork full time!” Sandi said.

Kathy and Wendy’s last assign­ ment before completing their volunteer year was to create an “idiot-proof’ instruction manual for prescription assistance. “I knew I was going to have to do it until I could get some else, so it had to be idiot proof,” Sandi said. The manual assures that the program will continue uninterrupted and has been used to begin the program for families in the Berea/Rockcastle County region of CAP’s service area.

Currently the program serves nearly a dozen counties from offices in Martin and McKee, and Peggy Harrison, who operates the program in McKee, has a few people on her caseload from western counties in

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the state.

In Fiscal Year 1999, the prescrip­ tion assistance program saved participants $170,000. In Fiscal Year 2000, the program saved participants $124,000 in one month alone. Nearly 400 people are on the rolls of the program in both offices.

Most are elderly, according to Angela and Peggy, although others are people who are unemployed or have disabilities.

The program accesses “mainte­ nance medications,” said Melissa, meaning those that patients take for six months or longer for problems with blood pressure, respiration or heart problems. “It usually takes six to eight weeks to get someone started on the program,” Melissa said. “If someone needs an antibi­ otic, we couldn’t get it in time.”

The prescription assistance program falls into CAP’s elderly services program, although people of any age are eligible to partici­ pate. Peggy or Angela fill out the initial application form, which includes basic information about the patient and his or her doctor, and the type and number of medications taken. The workers research information concerning each medication to determine whether it is given at no cost by any pharmaceutical company. Peggy deals with 30 companies for the 187 people for whom she accesses prescriptions, “and every one of them do it different,” she said, referring to the different forms that must be filled out or letters that must be written. Although Peggy and Angela fill out all of the paperwork, all forms must be signed by a prescribing physician.

Any physician is eligible to access medications at no cost for patients, but the paperwork takes more time than most busy practices can dedicate.

Knowing that CAP has the staff needed to keep abreast of the record-keeping the program demands, Dr. Rodney Handshoe, a cardiologist in Prestonsburg, works

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who don’t have a lot of social only with CAP’s prescription skills, they may never get to that assistance staff. “He knows we’re going to be here to keep up with his point because it’s so complicated and every form is different.” patients,” Melissa said. “We fill out Whenever possible, CAP the applications and keep program workers try to train people to notes that tell us when someone handle their own paperwork, “but needs to apply for a med again.” pharmaceutical companies really Most companies will give a threedon’t want to deal with people month supply of medicine, then the directly,” Sandi said. patient must re-apply.

Although some companies A licensed practical nurse, require all paperwork to be Melissa knows how important the completed by a staff member in the program is to the people it serves. prescribing physician’s office, Most of the pharmaceutical compa­ others consider Angela and Peggy nies only give medications to “health care advocates,” part of a people whose incomes fall below group of health care providers. the poverty level and have no “People can’t believe that CAP insurance, or insurance which does does this, and doesn’t charge for it. not cover prescriptions. Before I just tell them it’s another one of becoming involved with prescrip­ the programs CAP offers,” Angela tion assistance, Melissa said, said. patients took medications incor­ She said her monthly contact rectly or not at all. For some, with patients leads to comfortable prescription assistance means they relationships.

“With all the forms no longer have to choose between you have to fill out, you get to buying food and buying medicine. know a lot about them, so you get Shortly after beginning her work close to them.” in the program, Angela met a In Jackson County, Peggy has couple who had managed to save a replaced volunteer Diana Bond, tidy nest egg for their retirement. which will give an even greater They planned that the hard work degree of stability to the program, they had done over the years would she said.

Because most of CAP’s give a degree of financial security volunteers stay only a year or two, during retirement years. But when having an employee in the the wife was diagnosed with program will assure greater Alzheimer’s disease, that nest egg continuity. “It takes so long to began to be eaten away. Between learn how to do the paperwork,” needed surgeries and her medica­ Peggy said. “Now we don’t have tion, everything they were taking in to start over all the time.” was going out for medication. “He Not all medications prescribed told me ‘I love her; this is all I can are included; controlled substances do for her,”’ Angela said. are never included and some anti­ Pharmaceutical companies depressants, like Prozac, are provide prescription assistance as accessible, but have their own part of a federal mandate to arrange regulations. for medication for indigent people, Peggy, too, is developing Sandi said. “Not every medication friendships with people for whom is covered. If an illness is not lifeshe obtains medications. “One lady threatening, the medicine doesn’t has asthma so bad she can hardly have to be provided.” talk, but she called the other day to Some organizations will help tell me that her medicine had people process forms for a fee; gotten there and to say thank you. others will help for a limited time.

“Some people can get to where they She calls when she’s got a new medication and says, ‘Can you get can do it themselves,” Sandi said. that for me, Babe?”’

“But with elderly people or people

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pay off their debt to qualify for a The receipts came into Darcy they worked with viewed and used new home loan, so have decided to Schmidt’s office in Rockcastle money. One family had a debt of cut off their cable television service County in a paper bag. Darcy, a $600 a month and didn’t see and may get rid of their telephone. volunteer in the Christian Appala­ anything wrong with borrowing The mother also plans to look for a chian Project outreach program, had more money for a house; of course, summer job in the months she is been working with a participant on no one would lend them the money. free from her regular job. an application for housing assis­ Another family received a $3000 tance, which requires a budget earned income tax credit return.

One family’s story review. Darcy suggested the They used half of it to pay a participant save receipts in order to veterinarian’s bill for two horses Outreach worker Katherine see where her money goes. So she they couldn’t afford to keep.

Oberg shared a story of a family in did. She saved them in a grocery Through gaining an understand­ Jackson County who, through the bag, then poured them onto Darcy’s ing of how people use their money, budgeting process, has become desk where the women spent two the workers have also found signs more aware of where their money hours separating and organizing of frugality and sacrifice. A family goes. She describes Barbara and them. of nine had a grocery bill of only Everyone has a different idea of Danny Isaacs as “one of those $168 a month. When the outreach families who are stuck in the what it means to budget their worker questioned such a small bill money. For some people, it’s middle.” for such a large family, they The Isaacs family lives in Clover writing checks until the balance is explained that they had deer and pig zero. For others, it’s recording every meat in their freezer and also fished Bottom, Ky., and has three children: 15-year-old Christina, 12-year-old expenditure to the penny. People for food. Another family said that Shawn and two-year-old Michaela. use notebooks, ledgers and enve­ when they started paying more Their home is a trailer that has poor lopes. And some people don’t worry attention to where their money insulation and holes in some of the about it at all. went, they realized they were Throughout its history, CAP has spending too much pocket money in floors. They bought the used trailer assisted people with home repairs three years ago and during the a little local store where the kids transport, the trailer fell over in the the family could not afford to make. liked to buy soda and snacks, so Today, CAP’s housing department they were learning to say no to their road. The hauler did not have and outreach department are insurance, so the Isaacs had to children. A third family needs to working together to do more than give these families a hand up to a better home.

They are also giving them a course in budgeting that can help sustain them in the future. This initiative fits well with CAP’s mission to help people help them­ selves.

One way that people can help themselves is by making good deci­ sions about how they use their money. At a meeting of outreach workers and Donna Thrush, a CAP housing specialist, workers shared stories Volunteer Katherine Oberg, left, visits with Barbara Isaacs, a Jackson County resident who is working on a budget review in preparation for home ownership. of how the families

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accept the damaged home with no financial help in restoring it to its original condition.

Because of poor insulation in the trailer, the Isaacs’ average winter electric bill is $300 a month. Barbara said she was in the habit of paying bills a week late because she didn’t have the money.

“I always used to worry the electricity would be cut off before we had the money to pay it,” she said.

Yet, the Isaacs have worked hard to provide for their family.

Danny works in Lexington, about 50 miles away, for a company that installs sprinkler systems. Barbara works to keep their home neat and clean. The trailer came with two bedrooms, so they built on two more to give the children added space. But what they really want is a new house.

Danny and Barbara had been familiar with CAP for a number of

CAP’s help. They didn’t need to attend a class to receive this assistance, but rather they could work with Katherine in their own home, or in her office.

CAP’s application and budgeting process requires time and commit­ ment from the family. It’s one way of ensuring that the family truly wants to be a partner with CAP, not just a recipient of assistance. The budgeting process helps the family determine if they can pay back five percent the cost of building materi­ als, which CAP requires. If they cannot, the outreach worker will help them find an alternative way to make the payback such as giving volunteer hours to one of CAP’s programs.

Barbara was happy for the lessons in budgeting. “I thought it was a good idea because I was having trouble,” she said. So Katherine went through the budget­ ing curriculum with Barbara, giving

CAP outreach workers, many o f them volunteers, are the initial contact for families partipating in the housing program. The caseworkers help families to learn the budget review process.

years through the Christmas basket program, garden seed distribution, school preparation and emergency assistance. They first met Katherine through the Christmas basket program. In February, Katherine started working with them on the budget and application process to get a new home with

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her tasks to complete as she moved toward creating a working family budget.

The curriculum takes participants through the budget process step by step, beginning by looking at how to track expenses. “The whole idea of this budget thing is to make it simple,” said Donna Thrush, who

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put together the budgeting curricu­ lum. Donna has been working with the outreach workers to train them in using the curriculum and to find the bugs to work out of the new system.

Through the process, participants identify their fixed, variable and occasional expenses to see where their money goes. This helps to point out spending habits they might not have noticed before, which can help them make wiser decisions about how to use extra money. This system encourages budgeters to keep receipts and sort them to help see where every penny goes, even pocket money which the curriculum says is one of the easiest ways for money to slip through your fingers.

When all of the pertinent infor­ mation is gathered, it is time to discuss expenses with the entire family. Asking family members for suggestions about how to cut costs will encourage them to cooperate with reducing spending. Curtailing expenses will likely mean cutting down on luxuries (like phone services such as call waiting, or premium movie channels), looking for ways to reduce living costs (like turning off lights or television when not in use) and making sacrifices, such as taking lunch to school or work instead of eating out. The outreach worker helps the family develop an action plan that aims to reduce one or two expenses.

The family then works on developing a Budget Box to use as a long-term budget tool. In the box, participants can keep and track receipts over a long period of time.

In most cases, the entire family is involved in the budgeting process.

“Especially since Christina and Shawn are teenagers, it was important they understood why things had to be cut back,” Katherine said about the Isaacs family.

Barbara did find several ways she could cut back on the family expenses. “A lot of money was just

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going for things we didn’t really need,” Barbara concluded.

One of the first needed cutbacks was evident when she examined her grocery bill. The family was buying eight 12-packs of soda a week.

Barbara suggested they substitute iced tea for some of that pop. Now they buy four 12-packs of soda a week.

Instead of spending the money for other wants, they are saving it for necessary ex­ penses, like car Danny and Barbara Isaacs work on their family budget with Katherine Oberg, CAP s Jackson County repairs and work outreach worker. boots for Danny.

Barbara also cut down on snack make choices as they go through thought of it. She has, however, money for the children. Before, they thought about cutting costs by this budgeting process. The volun­ received $ 1 a day for snacks at teer caseworkers are in an especially shopping at yard sales. “Barbara school. Now they get 50 cents. good position to help them discern especially impresses me because Barbara hasn’t heard too many between needs and wants. As she spends money on things she complaints from Shawn and volunteers, these caseworkers needs at yard sales,” Katherine said, Christina. “They both are involved receive a stipend of $ 100 a month. emphasizing the word “needs.” in wanting to make it happen,” she That has already forced them to ask The compliments go both ways. said. Shawn sometimes does lawn the questions about what they need Barbara appreciates the help work to earn his own spending and what they want in their own Katherine has given her. “She’s money, Barbara said. Christina lives. helped me see some things I wanted hasn’t been able to find odd jobs Outreach worker Julie Anais has to save for and where to get the and does ask for cash now and then, money for it,” Barbara said. especially for clothes. “She always Barbara also appreciates the help wants to be in style with everyone Christina gives her around the else,” Barbara said. house and she knows how impor­ tant a new place is to the children.

She thinks her children are ashamed Finding solutions When they get together weekly to to bring friends home to the place they now live and she wants to give discuss how the Isaacs’ budgeting them a place of which they can be progress, Katherine and Barbara proud. She reminds them of the find new solutions for issues the possibility of a new house when family faces. For example, when they ask for extras. Recently, they Katherine heard about how Chris­ wanted to go to a carnival which tina wanted clothes, she suggested would have cost $8 each to enjoy Christina could save her 50 cents a the rides all evening. So Barbara day instead of using it for snacks.

Diann Brand served as an outreach asked them, “do you want a new “That’s something within her worker in McCreary County as a house or do you want to go to the control that she could do,” volunteer. After taking several classes at carnival?”

Katherine said. the University o f Kentucky, she has returned to McCreary County.

The entire family is learning to Barbara agrees, saying she hadn’t

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Housing specialist Donna Thrush, left, drafted CAP s new housing guidelines with Delinda Huff, under the direction o f assistant director Ken Stuber. Here she conducts a to instruct caseworkers in the budget review process.

drawn from her own family in learning how to diplomatically point out choices to people. Her father is a high school guidance counselor, so she asked him, “How do you get people to be responsible for themselves without shaking a finger at them?”

With his help, and the experience of working with many families, Julie has learned to tell people, “You have to make some choices; you need to decide what is impor­ tant to you.”

It is important to CAP that families become true partners in their projects. Participating in the budgeting and application process demonstrates a family’s desire to do that.

Katherine worked with the Isaacs family to set some goals that would take them closer to seeing their dream of a new house become a reality. One of those goals was to clean up their property to make it a safer place to play and to prepare it for future building. There were old appliances, a boat, lawnmower and other odds and end scattered around the hillside where they live.

Katherine connected them with PRIDE (Personal Responsibility in

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a Desirable Environment), a government program that encourages and facilitates trash clean up and recycling. She found out PRIDE would pick up the old appliances at no charge to the family. Making connections like this has a long­ term benefit for families. “It’s really helped connect the families and community resources,”

Katherine said.

The hours of work the Isaac put in on cleaning the yard, plus their work on the budget, demonstrates to CAP’S family selection committee that the family is willing to be a part of the process. Their hard work encourages Katherine and makes her want to do as much as possible to assist them in reaching their goals.

Becoming an advocate The budget work in particular is full of details that can frustrate the families and the caseworkers. For example, in requesting a credit report for the Isaacs, Katherine discovered that the amount they owe on their trailer that is recorded on the credit report is higher than the amount in their payment book.

She also learned that next year, they will owe a larger balloon payment, which the banker wasn’t able to explain to her.

“As outreach workers we’re there to advocate for the family,” Katherine said. Many families don’t question what the bank or a credit card company says they owe.

Therefore, they are sometimes treated unfairly. Katherine has met

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three families who are paying off credit card debts, although they say they never used the cards. As she tries to find the source of these debts, Katherine is also showing families how to advocate for themselves.

In addition, she is learning about the real expenses that keep many people in debt. Even when someone gets bills paid off, it isn’t uncom­ mon for an unexpected medical expense or car repair to throw their budget off track. Therefore, the caseworkers help people learn to plan for long-term expenses and emergencies.

Besides the obvious benefits of learning how to better manage money, the families and casework­ ers find that this extended applica­ tion and budgeting process gives them more time to spend together and to get to know one another.

Julie Anais said that her contact with most CAP program partici­ pants is a one-time event. She doesn’t get to see, at some later point, how the assistance she gives might have helped them. But through this housing-outreach partnership, she spends more time with people. “It’s provided an opportunity to get to know the families more in depth,” Julie said.

There have also been unexpected benefits of participants wanting to share the budgeting process with other members of the family.

Katherine believes that because of Barbara’s work on the family budget, “Her children are going to have a better concept of wants and needs.”

Katherine also believes that their efforts will lead them to a true partnership with CAP that will result in them owning a house that will give the children and their parents a new sense of pride.

Beth Dotson is a former CAP volunteer who worked in child development in McCreary County.

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Sheila Patton

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A taste for challenge and a love for working with people Some people settle into jobs with the Christian Appalachian Project and remain there for years. Not so Sheila Patton.

In 1987, Sheila’s husband was working 84 hours a week. “I never saw him and you can only mop the floor so many times a day,” Sheila said. “I had to find something to do.” Sheila began working as a CAP community volunteer in the adult education program in Floyd County.

Sheila was later hired part time; she began performing a series of clerical jobs for CAP, then moved to its outreach program as a caseworker.

“I thought I had found my niche,” Sheila said. “Outreach was exactly what I wanted to do, and I would

have been content to be there forever until the program manager’s position opened in JobStart.” She applied for and got the position managing JobStart, which offers job training and counseling for people who are entering or re-entering the work force.

“Now I feel like I’ve found another niche,” Sheila said. “Maybe I’m multi-niched.”

Sheila credits a taste for chal­ lenge and a love for working with people for her move from clerical work.

Seventeen women are currently enrolled in JobStart in Magoffin County. Her main role, Sheila said, is cheerleader for each of them.

Most of the students have been referred by the Department for Community Based Services, a state office that connects recipients of KTAP (Kentucky Temporary Assistance Program, commonly, “welfare”) to training programs that will eventually enable them to join the work force.

New students enroll on Mondays; the program usually has two or three people enroll two Mondays a month, Sheila said. “Just like the mining business, it’s feast or famine.”

Upon enrolling, students are tested to determine reading levels and to discover interests and aptitudes that will lead to suitable

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employment.

After initial testing, students begin the fourteen-week curriculum. Each week is designed to stand alone, and includes such topics as public speaking, business math and typing.

“After the fourteen weeks, we have indepen­ dent study,” Sheila said. “If they’ve finished the curriculum and can only type 18 words a minute, we’ve done them no good at all. Most places require at least 45 words a minute.”

Because few students have type­ writers or computers at home, they go to the CAP office in Salyersville several times a week to practice computer proficiency and other skills that will lead to employment.

Although women often begin JobStart only because they must do so to continue receiving KTAP benefits, within two weeks, Sheila said, most recognize that the program can be the start of a new, more secure life for themselves and their families. A dozen of Sheila’s students are single moms or are married to men who are disabled or laid off, so are the main providers for their families. “We emphasize that,” Sheila said. “They’re not here just to fulfill a 30-hour component, but they’re actually earning the money they get the first of the month, as they work on the skills they need to get a job and stop the cycle of poverty.”

As a teenager, Sheila could have followed the same path that many of her students have taken. At the age of 14 she dropped out of school, and spent two years drifting aimlessly, she said. “I got my days and nights mixed up. I’d sleep all

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day, and watch TV all night.”

When she was 16, a young man named Lawrence encouraged her to go back to school, which she did, finishing eighth in her class at Knott County High School. Before she graduated, Sheila and Lawrence married; today they have a six-yearold son, Stephen.

The struggles of her life, and those of family and friends, allow Sheila to understand and empathize with JobStart students. Because she knows the uselessness of feeling sorry for oneself, she is better able to lead people to a more productive path.

Although employment in the Big Sandy region of Kentucky has brightened considerably in the last few years, jobs with livable wages are still hard to find, and people are often faced with leaving the area in order to obtain jobs that match their skills and interests.

The employability skills test which is part of a student’s intake procedure determines interest levels, “and if it’s circus performer, there’s not a whole lot of positions for that here, so we ask what their next big interest would be. What I encourage more than anything is education. If you further your education, you may have to leave to get a job, but once you have that

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education under your belt, you understand the importance of making a living. You understand that responsibility.”

Sheila lives in Lloyd County and works in Magoffin County, travel­ ing over 45 minutes to and from work every day. “I’ve had people tell me that’s too far to travel, but I’ve got a responsibility to take care of my family. You get up an hour early, you go to bed an hour later.

But you do it, because that’s your responsibility.”

Her first responsibility is to Stephen and Lawrence. But it’s obvious that not far behind is loyalty to her JobStart students.

With pride, Sheila tells of a student, one of her first. Donna Prather had her first child at 14, married at 16, and at 22 decided it was time to start college and make something of her life. In only three months Donne obtained her GED. She completed the JobStart program and now plans to attend Prestonsburg Community College and study to become a social worker.

“I have no doubt she will be,” Sheila said. “She has blossomed.

It’s so much fun to watch our ladies come out of their old selves and come into their new selves. I just love it.”

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The Genesis Staff and Barbara's Family:

A Great Team One day in late winter Brenda Wireman, manager of the Christian Appalachian Project’s Genesis Family and Child Development Center, gath­ ered her staff and asked them if they were ready to meet a challenge. She had received a call from a mom whose son was a victim of shaken-baby syn­ drome. The perpetrator was behind bars, but at age four, little Tyler had a vocabulary of barely twenty words.

Barbara had been told by the public school that Tyler needed to aquire better communication skills in order to enroll. Unsure where to turn, Barbara called CAP, told Brenda about the problems she was having, and asked if her son could attend the center.

“We’re not equipped or trained to take special-needs children,” Brenda said, but head teacher Liz Wilson had at one time worked with children with autism, and volunteer Michael Hackett agreed to work with Tyler one-on-one.

CAP’s newest child development cen­ ter felt ready to take on the challenge.

Since March, Tyler has been attend­ ing Genesis three mornings a week, and in that short time span, Brenda said, his progress has been remarkable.

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but now he can sit through breakfast, which is easily 15 minutes. He plays outside with the other children, and is able to identify objects through pic­ tures.”

The attention Tyler receives from Michael has made much of his progress possible, Brenda said. Michael himself has dyslexia, and for that reason, relates well to some of Tyler’s struggles. “He’s also a strong male figure in Tyler’s life,” Brenda said.

While Tyler works with Michael, Barbara attends adult education and parenting classes at Genesis; little brother Ethan, age two, participates in the activities designed for toddlers, but he, too, has serious delays.

Tyler will start public school in the fall, while Ethan and Barbara remain at Genesis. Brenda said she knew Tyler was making the needed progress when “he ran up and gave me a big hug. He’s getting really comfortable with the people at the center.”

The support of people like you has made all the difference in the world for Barbara’s family. Your donation of $40, $50, $75 — more if you are able — will enable CAP to continue to offer such services to families in need.

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• Of the 25 counties in the U.S. with the lowest personal income per capita in 1990, six of them were in Eastern Kentucky.

• In one county CAP serves, over 30 percent of the homes use wood as the main source of heating fuel.

• Nearly 22 percent of the homes in that county have no telephone; one in four of those homes have a resident over the age of 60.

• Nearly 20 percent of the homes have incomplete plumbing facilities.

Shaded area indicates the boundaries of the Appalachia region

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