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CAP’s Founder Celebrates 80th Birthday

They Come One by One

CAP’s Volunteer Program

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CAP’S Founder Celebrates Birthday by Margaret Gabriel

They Come One by One CAP’s Volunteer Progam by Ike Adams

Eagle Child & Family Development Center Receives 4 Star Rating CAP Supporter Mary Lou Lamb Walking the Walk

On the cover: Father Beiting with Mother Teresa. Photo by: Charles Bertram

Attention Mountain Spirit Readers: We have hidden a cross T" within the copy of this issue. If you locate it, let us know with the envelope provided. We will have a random drawing from all correct responses for a CAP t-shirt, hat, etc. Published by the Christian Appalachian Project

Editor/Design L in d a E ast

Graphic Design/Circulation L orie B au gh The Mountain Spirit is published four times a year. Gifts of $20.00 or more will receive a one year subscription. Subscriptions and other correspondence should be sent to:

They Come One by One, page 21.

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is really hard to believe S p i r i t thatIt Father Beiting is 80! It

The Magazine o f the C H R IS T IA N A P P A L A C H IA N PR O JE C T WINTER

The Mountain Spirit Christian Appalachian Project 322 Crab Orchard Street Lancaster, KY 40446 Copyright, 2004, The Christian Appalachian Project, Inc. All rights reserved. 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.

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 toll-free 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 973-5046215; IN PENNSYLVANIA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE, 800-7320999; 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, P.O. Box 511, Lancaster, KY 40444-0511. 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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seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating his 75th birthday. It brought great pleasure to all of us to do this feature about him. I certainly hope that everyone enjoys the past and present photos. A lot has happened at CAP this past year. It has been a year that I will never forget. We lost our beloved Mike Sanders, we had several disasters in the area that needed our assistance, we searched for a President, and the sluggish economy produced many problems within the Appalachian area and for us. As we begin the New Year, we feel very blessed. We have found a new President who thus far, has brought a special synergy to our Project. He feels that a calling by God lead him to our ministry. His name is Bill Mills and we will feature both Bill and his family in our Summer issue. We are hopeful that through this issue you will get a glimpse of Bill and his family and know why we are very encouraged by his leader ship. We have combined the Winter and Spring issues of the magazine for this special mailing of Father Beiting. It allows us to present some valued photos that we thought everyone would enjoy. We are doing a great deal of work on our magazine to improve the content. If you have any suggestions, we welcome your ideas and thoughts. Please share those with us. Please remember us in yotir prayers as we always remem ber you. God bless and be with you, Sue Sword Vice President

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spent today with an elderly Appalachian lady who lives in a remote Kentucky county, off the beaten path, on a hillside farm that had been part of her family since the early 30’s. Her life has been hard. She talked of good times and bad times. She talked of her family, her friends and her faith. As I looked at her face and listened to her talk, I realized that she was very much like my own grandmother. Her face bore witness to the hardships and happiness of her life. I was an Appalachian child during the 40’s and 50’s and today I am an Appalachian adult. I have the accent and like to think that I possess all of the other very rich qualities that have long been associated with our culture. Independence, a great sense of family and God, coupled with the extreme beauty and isolation that the mountains bring has pro duced proud hard working people who face extreme obstacles daily. Growing up, we were poor, but I never knew. I was like everyone else. Our family was large and we worked hard. We were independent and proud, we were taught what was right and what was wrong. There was always a great sense of faith and family. My dad worked in the coalmines and my mom ran a small grocery. They saw that we were warm and had what we needed to eat. They also gave us a special gift that many Appalachian children never get, a chance for an education WINTER

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and a better way of life. I have had a very rich life both through my family and my chosen careers. Our lives are journeys, which lead us along many paths. I feel very blessed to have taken the path that I took six years ago. I came to work at CAP. It has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I have been able to witness and be a part of a great ministry. My rewards come daily as I see the differ ences we make in the lives of so many people. Struggles continue in Appalachia, as it still has some of the poorest counties in the United States. It is easy to become discouraged, because there is so much to do and so many that need help. But, it only takes one special moment in CAP’s chapel or the gleam in a child’s eye, or the grasp of the hand of an elderly, to know that God is here and that we are doing his work.

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CflïP’s Founder CeCeßmtes 80th (Birthday Story by: Margaret Gabriel

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ather Ralph Beiting [hadn’t been serving Ihis parish long. Indeed, he hadn’t been ordained long when he was assigned to serve a parish in the Eastern Kentucky portion of the Diocese of Covington. Berea, a small town in southern Madi son County, was the hub of a fourcounty area the size of the state of Rhode Island with few Catholics and even fewer re sources. After months of living in Richmond, about 15 miles north, Father Beiting was spend ing his first night in the house that had been remodeled to serve as a chapel, as well as his living quarters in Berea. It was 1951 and for nearly a year Father Beiting had been serving not only the four-county parish that was his responsibility, but had also been saying Masses for congregations in two addi tional adjoining counties. Finally, though, a room in the house in Berea was ready for him to move in a bed, a dresser and a table with a lamp. As he unpacked his few things,'Father Beiting looked at a religion award that he had received as a student at Newport Catholic High School in 1940. The WINTER

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plaque with the crucifix had been on display in his rooms through his seminary years at St. Gregory in Mount Wash ington, Ohio, and later at Catholic University, and the congratulatory words of the award had always been a

source of pride. “But this night, I looked at the man on the cross, not the plaque with the words,” Father Beiting recalls.

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Despite the fact that the house was taking shape and progress was being made toward the goal of establishing Catholic churches in Eastern Kentucky, Father Beiting felt discouraged that night. Many local Protestants’ knowledge of Catholicism was misin formed at best, or at the worst cruelly prejudiced. In fact, one of the reasons Berea had been identified as an area in need of a Catholic community was because students at Berea College were denied permis sion to attend Mass in Rich mond “because they weren’t considered to be Christian,” Father Beiting says. This pervasive mindset shaped the attitudes of many people concerning a priest living in their midst. Their mistrust of him and his faith kept him isolated and lonely. On this dark night, the young priest was feeling low. “There were so many prob lems, so much to be done, and no one to help with all the work,” he remembers. Father Beiting spoke his feelings to the plaque. “Look,” he said to God, “I’m just a kid. I don’t have the resources or the maturity to do this. You’re really going to have to find somebody else.” Father Beiting says he has never doubted whether he should be a priest, but that night, that 5

moment, he doubted whether he should stay in the mountains Father Beiting looked at the man hanging on the cross and heard him say, “You want to run away, too?” He recalls thinking “Can I do that to God? Will I run away, the way everyone left him as he hung on that cross? “I promised that night that I’d never leave. The Lord, and His Mother, gave me the realization that I could best serve him in the mountains.”

M inistering To All Although Father Beiting was assigned to the Garrard, Rockcastle, Jackson and southern Madison counties in Eastern Kentucky to serve the few Catholics in the region, he carried with him a love for

all of the people, regardless of their faith - or no faith -and a desire to help those in need. Father Beiting credits his parents, grandparents, reli gious sisters and parish priests with instilling in him a love for the missions and the poor. Poverty was a way of life for his family of eleven children, and the entire commu nity, when he was growing up in Northern Kentucky during the Depres sion. “People were dang poor,” Father Beiting says. “My T he

“Iprom ised that night that I ’d never leave. The Lord, and His Mother, gave me the realization that I could best serve him in the mountains. ” father was on welfare, he worked for the WPA.” When he was about nine or 10 years old, the St. Joseph Church had a load of coal delivered to the front yard of the Beiting home in Cold . Springs, Ky. “I thought it was great, but my father said, ‘No, this goes to the poor.’ It was the first time that I saw someone care for people

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During his high school years, Father Beiting remem bers walking with his grandfather and listening to stories about saints and church leaders. “I started to get excited about heroes. His emphasis on saints and his insistence that I strive to do my best was one of the things that motivated me to be a priest.” outside the family, and it was very powerful.” The influence and example of his father and his pastor made a lasting impression on a young boy. “They weren’t teaching me theology, but the importance of giving kind ness.” Father Beiting also reflects on the lessons he learned from his grandfather, lessons that included the importance of striving to do one’s best. He remembers working with his grandfather on scrollwork in St. Joseph Church in Cold Springs. Although the intricate work was on the side of the altar that faced away from the congregation, the older man insisted that work deserved the same degree of perfection that they had given the more visible portions.

A D ifferent View o f C hurch In 1946 Father Beiting was among six seminarians selected by Bishop William T. Mulloy to spend the summer months in the eastern region of the diocese with Father Joseph Wimmers. Father

Beiting says he didn’t go willingly, but asked Bishop Mulloy for permission to stay in Northern Kentucky that summer in order to help his father, who had been injured working on a job earlier in the spring. “What seminary do you go to?” Father Beiting recalls being asked. “When the bishop says ‘Go,’ you say, ‘Amen.’” Father Beiting calls 1946 “the summer I fell in love.” He fell in love with grace and beauty of the Appalachian area. He saw beyond the problems of the area to its great potential, rooted in a history of a people filled with independence and love of family. But despite his fasci nation with the region, he also saw there a degree of poverty, prejudice and isolation of which he had never dreamed. The experience of preach ing on street corners and mountain sides and conduct ing Bible schools gave Father Beiting a totally different

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view of the church, a church that existed outside the sanctu ary. It was a church that he found vibrant and exciting, and Father Beiting found himself changing his mind about the direction of his priesthood and his ministry. Those changes became even more dramatic as his training continued. During his growing-up years in Northern Kentucky, Father

“Obedience made a lot o f things possible. I t wasn’t a time when you ‘d idyour own thing, ’but studies at St. Gregory were still in the almost exclu obedience made it sively Catholic world in possible to do a which he had grown up. But late in his training, lot o f great things. Father Beiting was sent to study for a licentiate in You didn’t worry theology at Catholic Univer sity in Washington, D.C., about God’s de where his eyes were opened sign, but about wide and he was introduced to many people of different completion. Beiting had little contact with people who were not Catholic. Even the people who owned the small grocery store in which he worked were Catho lic, as were 40 percent of the people in his native Campbell County. A love for Catholic worship and a desire to give his all to God led to the seminary and study for the priesthood, although his

religions, cultures and races. Today, Father Beiting points to his experiences in Washington, D.C., as among those that truly set him apart from others who were beginning their ministry in the 1950s. During his two years in Washington, Father Beiting had the opportunity to meet Jesuit Father John LaFarge, noted for his writings on social justice, T he

and Clarence Mitchell, Jr., a pioneer in civil rights legisla tion. In them he saw ways to put into action the social teachings of the church that he was learning in the class room. One of his professors, theologian Father Francis O ’Connell, imparted a lesson that shaped much of Father Beiting’s ministry. Father O ’Connell taught his students that if and when they were assigned a parish, all the people of the region or area were their parishioners, not just Catholic people. This inclusion of people of all faiths, all races, all economic levels set Father Beiting on a path that would shape not only his ministry, but his life. No longer did Father Beiting see himself as the kind of

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completion.” Concerned only about accomplishing what he had been sent to accomplish, Father Beiting began to fight against the prejudice of the area so that he might suc cessfully reach out to the people. He could see two things very clearly. One: The

be open to me.” In order to gain access to the families in the region he began to reach out to the children. He started a camp on Herrington Lake in Garrard County, which he named Cliffview Lodge, and from that small beginning, the desire of a young priest to reach out to people he sought

people needed help. And two: They weren’t about to allow a Catholic priest to help them. Then he devised a plan. “I could see that I needed to be patient and not get angry, but I was going to change them by acting, not talking,” Father Beiting said. “And I needed to work outside just the activities at church, they had to be ecumenical. My German instinct said I had to take little steps first, and if the people liked me they would

to serve has grown into the Christian Appalachian Project. The growth of the non profit, inter-denominational organization didn’t follow an easy path. There were - and still are - years of struggle and changes in direction as the needs of the area shifted and moved with the times. But today, CAP is one of the largest non-profit organiza tions in the eastern half of the United States. The organization operates human and community devel opment programs in Eastern

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parish priest that had influ enced and mentored him as a boy. He continued to envision a much larger ministry, one that included not just Catho lics, but people of all religions, cultures and walks of life. The seeds of love and concern for the poor and the oppressed that had been planted by his parents, grandparents, as well as the priests and nuns who had educated him, and then watered by his experi ences in Eastern Kentucky as a seminarian, began to grow and flourish.

A ssigned to T h e M ountains After ordination and a year of service at St. Ber nard Church in Dayton, Ky., Father Beiting was delighted to receive an assignment to Eastern Kentucky, although some of his teachers and mentors would have preferred to see him continue as a teacher at Newport Catholic High School and at the diocesan college, Villa Madonna (today, Thomas More College). “I was sad to be leaving the people at St. Bernard; I loved them and they loved me, but I was excited about going to the mountains,” Father Beiting says. “Obedience made a lot of things possible. It wasn’t a time when you ‘did your own thing,’ but obedience made it possible to do a lot of great things. You didn’t worry about God’s design, but about WINTER

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Kentucky and West Virginia, and distrib utes in-kind donations to grass-root organiza tions in all of the thirteen states of the Appalachian region.

A C elebration o f a Life As Father Beiting celebrated his 80th birthday on January 1, 2004, which also ush ered in his 54th year in the Appalachian region, he has some ideas of how CC he’d like to celebrate. 7 “I told my brothers and sisters that I wanted to celebrate with my fam ily,” Father Beiting says. “They’ve been a strong support and witness. When you invite all my cousins and nieces and nephews, it will be a couple hundred people, and I wanted to have it at St. Joseph in Cold Springs, where we grew up.” In the spring of the year, Father Beiting has been invited to give a retreat to a group of priests at trip on the Ohio River. This fourth trip St. M ary’s College in will begin at Point Pleasant, Emmittsburg, MD. He would West Virginia, and end at like to impart words of Henderson, KY. The trip will support to them, encouraging also commemorate his 55th them to “be enthusiastic in anniversary as a priest. doing the things of God.” “I still consider the Ohio And finally, Father Beiting River the Main Street of will look to the summer months when he would like to Middle America, and I want to use this trip as a way to say make yet another houseboat

w ant to let people know that there are still needs and hunger in Appalachia, and to say to them: Let us not tire o f doing good.

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thank you to those who have supported me through the years, and as a way to thank God for bringing us together. “I want to let people know, also, that there are still needs and hunger in Appalachia, and to say to them ‘Let us not tire of doing good.’”

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Do you have a friend who might be interested in CAP’s ministry in Appalachia? I f you w ould share this copy o f the M ountain Spirit with a friend, we w ould be happy to send you an additional copy, ju s t let us know that you have passed your copy 2 a friend.

O ver the last few years, CAP has published several books, with stories of survival, overcoming obstacles that stood in the way and kept individuals and families in the grip of poverty. These stories are of relationships built on Christian love for a brother or sister in need; human dramas of individuals breaking free from the lives of poverty, both from physical poverty and the poverty of spirit. If you have a friend who would be interested in learning more about CAP and our mission, please complete the form below, and we would be happy to send them a CAP book. \----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1

| QYes, I would like to be a Friend - 2 - Friend! | Please send an informational CAP book to my friend(s) | Name:___________________________________________________________ I Address:_________________________________________________________ I City:____________________ State:_________________ Zip:______________

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□ Yes, I shared my copy of The Mountain Spirit with a friend. Please send an additional copy. Name:_______________________________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________________________________ 1 City:________________________State:__________________ Zip:________________ _ i__________________________________________________________________________________ i WINTER

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Warm Blankets Donated to the Appalachian Elderly A jeep loaded with 140 wool blankets was delivered to CAP’s Elderly Program manager, Zayda Flanery, on December 6, 2003. The fabric for these blankets was secured through the efforts of Sarah Belongie, owner of ‘Stitchin’ By Sarah in Old Hickory, Tennessee. The blankets were con structed and delivered by Shirley Allen, who worked with Sarah on the blanket project. The idea for this effort originated when Zayda visited Shirley in Nashville and the three women met for dinner. Sarah was involved in making blankets for the needy in the Nashville area and was looking for other worthwhile organiza tions that would benefit from this project. During the conver

WORKPLACE PAYROLL D E D U C TIO N

If your employer offers donor designation as a write-in for payroll deduction, please remem ber the Christian Appalachian Project. CAP is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt agency, and payroll de duction is the easiest way to help the families of Appalachia. If your work place participates in America’s Charities Federation, CAP’s number is 0428. To ensure that we receive your payroll de duction gifts, please give your sation, Sarah learned more about payroll officer CAP’s full address CAP and immediately said she and send to the attention of: wanted to help by donating Teresa M cAnly blankets to CAP’s Elderly t Campaign Coordinator Program. “These blankets have C hristian been prayed over asking God to A ppalachianProj ect bless the people receiving them P.O. Box 511 to keep them warm and safe this Lancaster, KY 40444-0511 winter.” said Shirley.

CAP’s Operation Relief in Action CAP’s Operation Relief was once again called to the aid of several counties in the Appala chian Region as devastating flood waters hit the area. State officials compared the flood damage to the cata strophic floods, which hit Appalachia in 1985, when rivers reached nearly 32 feet. Some areas reported that it was the worst flood in over 50 years! Two elderly men died and nearly 2,000 homes were damaged or destroyed by high waters, mud and fire. Bridges and roads were wiped out and

homes were moved from their foundation...some pushed more than 50 yards from their base. CAP’s Operation Relief immediately loaded their trucks, which read, “We Deliver Hope” with essentials like food, water, bedding and other emergency supplies to deliver to the effected areas. “That is our mission, to deliver hope to those in need, and when disasters occur, that is just what we do,” said Johnny Thompson, T he

Director of Operation Relief. The gratitude these flood victims have for the help they received is beyond words. On behalf of these people, let us express to all of you who support this work our heart-felt thanks.

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CAPys Christmas Basket Distribution a Success Once Again sponsor. The cards are sent to Too many of us think of CAP and the Outreach staff Christmas as spreading time, forwards them on to the money and ourselves a little too thin. While we rush to and sponsor. Through the generosity of fro looking for the best Christ CAP donors, CAP’s Christ mas gifts for family and mas Basket Program was able friends, we tend to forget to deliver Christmas to over about those who struggle 1,200 families in Eastern through the holidays in poverty. However, each year CAP’s Christmas Basket program staff work diligently to bring Christmas gifts to Appalachian families who otherwise would go without. CAP’s Christmas Basket program is designed to obtain sponsors for families and elderly individu als who meet the program require ments. These require ments for eligibility Caleb Payne and Samatha Newcomb surrounded by Christmas basket boxes ready fo r distribution. follow the USD A free lunch income guidelines. Proof of income Kentucky. and a scheduled home visit to Each year the Christmas Basket distribution begins each family or participant are also required. with a special Christmas A Christmas basket sponsor service held in each county. purchases gifts for their CAP Participant turnout was family. They are provided wonderful this year, with at with first names and sizes of least 100 participants at each all family members. CAP service. CAP’s president, provides a food voucher of Bill Mills, was a guest $10.00 for each family mem speaker at the Jackson and ber in the household. Each McCreary County services. family receives a self-ad “Every year we always worry about getting enough dressed thank-you card to write a thank you note to their sponsors, but in the end, God WINTER

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takes care of it all!” said Robyn Renner, Rockcastle County Outreach Program Manager. Several CAP Board mem bers along with CAP staff sponsored families this year. Infocision, a vendor from Akron, Ohio, sponsored many of the elderly partici pants and took part in one distribution. Stone Lick Baptist Church from northern Kentucky arrived with food and gifts to distribute at the Clay County distribution, one of the poorest counties in the nation. You don’t have to be part of a group to help out. An individual donor sent 275 cases of soft drinks that was distributed. But, this work could not be accom plished without the blessing of volunteers. Gladys and Pierce Gay from Iowa have been coming for 13 consecutive years to help with the Christmas Basket Program. St. Xavier High School from Cincinnati has made an annual tradition of coming to help. It is because of your prayers and financial support, CAP is able to continue programs that make a differ ence in the lives of the people of Appalachia. 13

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CAP Com m issions N ew One Year Volunteers The Christian Appalachian Project held a volunteer commis sioning service at Pleasant Home Baptist Church in Water Gap, Kentucky on November 21, 2003. Six new volunteers from all across America were wel comed to the area to begin a one-year commitment of service to the Christian Appalachian Project. The ceremony marked the end of a week-long new volunteer orientation that introduced the volunteers to the Appalachian region and taught them about the Christian Appalachian Project’s three components of volunteerism; Service, Spiritual ity and Community. The service began with a song titled, “Gather Us In”. Then,

Christian Appalachian Project employees and volunteers spoke about volunteerism, community living and spirituality. The service culminated with the act of commissioning, candle lighting and prayer. The newly commissioned volunteers are: Richard Espen from Alaska, Suzanne Espen from Alaska, Brother Phillip Petrow from Pennsylvania, Robert Flick from Ohio, Ernest Tedeschi from California and Elizabeth “Eva” St. Clair also from California. Ernest Tedeschi, Eva St. Clair, Richard Espen and Brother Petrow will all work in the Christian Appala chian Project’s Housing Program in Johnson County while Suzanne Espen and Robert Flick

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will serve in the Christian Appalachian Project’s Elderly Program, also in Johnson County. “I will remember it (the ceremony) for the rest of my life. It definitely gave you something you could take with you and keep,” said new volun teer Robert Flick. One-year volunteers with the Christian Appalachian Project are provided room, board, a small stipend and health insur ance. To learn how you could volunteer with the Christian Appalachian Project call toll free at 1-800-755-5322 or visit the Christian Appalachian Project website at www.chrisapp.org.

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“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received - only what you have given: a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage. ” St. Francis of Assisi We at the Christian Appalachian Project want you and your loved ones to be protected with a good, up-to-date estate plan. We also want to remind you that an estate gift to the Christian Appalachian Project can make a positive statement to your family and friends regarding your priorities...as well as make a tremendous difference in our future work. We can provide complimentary brochures that include helpful information about making a will. It also contains material on basic estate planning and ways you can use planned giving techniques to benefit your charitable interests, as well as yourself. Complete this reply form and we will mail information to you promptly. Or request information by calling us at 1-866-270-4227. ___Please send me your complimentary will information brochures. ___Please contact me about a personal visit. The best time to call me is:________________. ___I have provided for Christian Appalachian Project in my will or other estate-planning document.

Name:___________________________ Address:_________________________ City:____________________________ State:_____ Zip:____________ Phone:

Mail To: Christian Appalachian Project Planned Giving Dept. P. O. Box 511 Lancaster, KY 40444-0511

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Each year the Christian Appalachian Project honors area Senior Adults with a Thanksgiv ing day celebration through our Elderly Service Programs. The celebration began with a special church service, with adults and children of all ages singing old-fashioned hymns such as “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus,” and “I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb.” As a special treat, CAP Respite manager, Becky McNew sang a selection of inspirational songs. CAP’s Chaplain, Richard Ginn began the spiritual message during the program. The mes sage, which always contains a bit of humor, challenged each one in attendance to rethink their notions of what it means to be thankful and establish an “atti tude of gratitude.” The lesson learned here was to be grateful to the Lord for what you have. Never before have people had it so good. “Over 300 years ago, when the first settlers crossed the Atlantic on the Mayflower, many died from diseases. Medical care was

poor. There was no Medicare, no social security, not a store to spend money in, even if you had it. Yet those survivors, after they became established, Pictured above are CAP Elderly participant Keith Hall of Knott County and Ann Sizemore, Camp Coordinator for Camp shawnee. gave thanks for what portation, home visits, shopping, little was granted to them.” errands and other activities that After the service, all those in help the elderly become engaged attendance were treated to a in their local communities. Thanksgiving banquet. While This past year, CAP’s Elderly seniors sat in the seat of their Program served eleven rural choice, CAP staff and other counties and aided over five helpers brought plates filled to hundred senior adults. the rim with Thanksgiving fare, The purpose of the Elderly everything from turkey to Program is to improve the pumpkin pie. Serving them was quality of life by providing just one more way of saying companionship and extra support how grateful we all are to have to individuals who might other seniors in our lives. wise become depressed and CAP’s Elderly Program lonely. provides services such as prescription assistance, trans

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CAP Elderly Celebrate Thanksgiving with 6Attitude of Gratitude91

M em o rial & H o n o r G ifts Are meaningful ways to support the Christian Appalachian Project and, at the same time, extend condolences, congratulations, or other greetings to family and friends. Upon receipt of your gift, we will send an acknowledgment to you and to the family/friends you designate. The amount will not be disclosed. Your gift of $25.00 or more will be published in the Highlights newsletter and on our web page. Honor and Memorial gifts can be made on-line or, you can send your gift with a note listing your wishes to: Christian Appalachian Project P. O. Box 511 Lancaster, KY 40444-0511 WINTER

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They called it an early Christmas at the Corbin Inde pendent school district, located in Corbin, Kentucky. CAP’s Operation Sharing program recently delivered 85 complete Compaq workstation computers to the Corbin schools. All the equipment necessary to network the computers together was thrown in as well. Steven Whitley, System’s Administrator for the school district, said the computers have been a nice present indeed. “The kids, they can’t get enough of them,” Whitley said. “It helped us a whole lot. We were able to get rid of a lot of older computers.” We received networking components...switches, every thing. It took awhile to put together, but it was work we didn’t mind. It was like Christ mas.” CAP’s Operation Sharing accepts in-kind donations from individuals and corporations from across the nation. In turn, they give, free of charge the goods they receive to churches, family resource centers, commu

nity action groups and schools in their service area. Brian Johnson, an employee of Operation Sharing, said he thought of the Corbin school district immedi ately when the computers arrived. The computers were to be used as a network system. Johnny Thompson, Director o f Operation Sharing “They had men enjoys watching students from the Corbin school district tioned that they work on their new computers. were in the process of trying to set up a network for overhead projectors to local classrooms,” Johnson said. “I school districts. figured out they could use them. Johnny Thompson, Director Come to find out, they could.” of Operation Sharing, said any The computers differ from the time his organization can assist normal consumer home models in education, it is fulfilling. “We in that they are work stations, try to work in areas that have a built specifically for continuous lot of children or people that are heavy use. in need of help,” he said “It Steven Whitley said there makes me happy to see the items have not been problems yet with put to good use. I like that it’s any of the computers. “They helping people. That is our have been very nice.” purpose.” Operation Sharing has also donated dry erase boards and

F o r T h e M o st C u r r e n t U p d a te s o n C A P P ro g ra m s v isit us o n -lin e a t

www.chrisapp.org We would love to hear from you! Email us at capinfo @chrisapp. org and let us know how we are doing.

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Trent Knuckles

CAP’s Operation Sharing Provides Early Christmas to Local School System

Mt. Spirit Crossword Puzzle We hope you will enjoy testing your knowledge of this issue of the Mountain Spirit. The clues to complete the puzzle are related to this issue, and Appalachia.

Across

3. 4.

The region of the US that CAP serves. Someone who helps make Christmas possible for a family in Appalachia. Down 1 1 1 1 1 1 l-.1--1 7. To grant as due. 8. A chest of drawers. 1. Not seeking a profit. 9. An administrative part of a diocese that 2. A college or university. has it’s own church. 5. Lack of means of providing material needs 15. A solid piece of fuel. or comforts. 16. CAP Founder. 6. Customs handed down to each generation. 19. A father, mother and child. 10. The warmest season of the year. 20. A large animal that hibernates in the winter. 11. .. .That cover Appalachia. 21. Something that can be looked to for support 12. A dense growth of trees. or aid. 13. A container made from interwoven material 22. Someone who gives of their time and talents 14. How anyone can support CAP, no matter how to accomplish the work of CAP. far away they are from Appalachia. 23. What CAP’s Operation Sharing provided to 15. An elementary age individual. a school district. 17. A feeling of satisfaction felt by the people of 25. What happens quickly to creeks & rivers Appalachia when they “help themselves.” in Appalachia with heavy rain. 18. A building for public worship. 26. A small open craft. 21. Relating to the county; rustic. 27. Father Beiting celebrated. 24. Having an education. WINTER

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Remove from heat. Toast six slices of bread on both sides. Slice each piece in half and place on a heat-resistant plate. Layer with chicken or turkey, ham of your choice, sauce, tomato, and 2 slices of bacon. Top with paprika. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes

Crispy Com Hatties

2 Cups Brown Sugar 4 Well Beaten Eggs 1/2 Cup Flour 1/2 Teaspoon Salt 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder 2 Cups Chopped Nuts Mix 2 cups brown sugar and 4 well-beaten eggs. Add 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder. Stir in 2 cups chopped nuts. Drop teaspoonfuls on greased baking sheet, and bake about 12 minutes.

Country diarn and CRed 6ye Cjravy Slice ham and have pan hot. Put 1 tablespoon grease in pan and cook ham on both sides. Re move ham from pan. Add a little water and coffee to drippings. Bring to a rapid boil. Serve over ham, with grits and hot biscuits.

2 c. fresh corn 2 Tbsp. flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 2 eggs 1 Tbsp. sugar If fresh corn is used scrape corn to extract milk. Beat eggs and dry ingredients until smooth. Add to corn. Drop by spoonfuls into hot skillet containing butter. Fry until edges are crisp. Turn and brown on other side. Serve immediately with fried sausage or bacon.

¿fried Okra 1 lb. Small Okra Pods 3/4 Cup Corn Meal Salt and Pepper Bacon Fat Wash okra and cut off the ends of the pods, cut into 1/2 inch slices. Moisten slightly and shake in paper bag containing com meal, salt, and pepper. Fry in hot bacon fat until golden brown.

1Kentucky d lo t rBrown 1 stick butter 3 Tablespoons flour (regular) 2 cups milk 1 cup Colby cheese (grated) 1/2 box Parmesan cheese (grated) Chicken or turkey Country ham or baked ham Bacon, fried to a crisp Tomato slices Paprika Tabasco hot pepper sauce (5 dashes or more to taste) 2 egg yolks In a 4-quart, heavy sauce pan, melt butter. Mix in flour until mixture is smooth. Add milk in small amounts at a time; cook until sauce is thick. Add Tabasco sauce and Parmesan cheese. Remove from heat. Take out 1/2 cup sauce and add two beaten egg yolks. Mix well and return to the remainder, stirring constantly. Add all cheeses. 18

1Kentucky ¿¡am Cake 1-3/4 cup flour 1-1/2 cups sugar 1 cup oil 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup blackberry jam 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1 cup chopped nuts 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1 tsp. allspice 1 tsp. vanilla 1/2 tsp. cloves 1/2 tsp. salt 3 eggs Mix all ingredients together and beat. Grease and flour two 9 inch pans. Fill pans with cake batter

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and bake 30 to 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Ice with caramel frosting. *You may add raisins if desired.

Caramel frosting 1 stick butter 1-1/2 cups brown sugar 1/3 cup cream 1-1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar Combine first three ingredients. Bring to boil for 2 minutes. Sift sugar and beat into mixture.

¿Appalachian gingerbread 1 egg 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon cloves 1 teaspoon ginger 1 cup sorghum 1 cup hot water 2 cups flour 11/2 teaspoons baking soda Beat the egg and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add butter, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, sorghum and hot water and mix well. Stir in the flour and baking soda. Pour into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. To serve, cut into pieces and spoon the hot Sauce over the top. Yield: 15 servings

Sauce 1 cup sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg 2 cups boiling water 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) margarine or butter 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Mix the sugar, cornstarch, salt and nutmeg in a bowl. Add the boiling water and stir until the dry ingredients are dissolved. Add the margarine and vanilla and mix well until smooth. (For Lemon Sauce, add 11/2 tablespoons lemon juice.) Yield: 15 servings

Jried Cjreen r[omatoes 4 large green tomatoes, 2 cups plain white corn meal, 1 1/2 tablespoon salt, Pinch of black pepper, 1/2 cup cooking oil. WINTER

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Wash the tomatoes and pat dry. Cut tomatoes in 1/4-inch slices. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Dip each slice in com meal and lay aside on waxed paper. Heat oil. Fry tomato slices until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot. Yield: 4 servings

Combread 2-4 tablespoons shortening (or bacon drippings) 1 1/2 cups white self-rising cornmeal* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 egg 1/2 cup buttermilk, or sweet milk 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda if using buttermilk water Preheat the oven to 425°. Put the shortening in a cast-iron skillet and place on medium heat or in the oven. Combine the cornmeal and flour, then mix in the egg and milk. Add water slowly, until the mixture is pourable (like thick pancake batter). Take the hot pan from the oven, pour some of the melted shortening (a tablespoon or more) into the batter, then pour the batter into the hot pan. Place back in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the outer cmst is golden brown.

(green ^Tomato C£ie 3 or 4 green tomatoes 1 c. light brown sugar 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/4 tsp. salt 5 Tbsp. flour 2 Tbsp. lemon juice Core tomatoes, cut into thin wedges. Prepare 4 or 5 cups tomatoes. Mix sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, flour and lemon juice. Mix in tomatoes. Pour into 9 inch pie crust. Put on top crust. Cut slits in top. Bake 30 minutes at 425. Then turn heat to 350 and bake for 15 to 20 minutes longer. Serve warm or cold.

LKentucky Sweet 'Tea 3 family size tea bags 4 cups water Bring to a boil, remove from heat let set 5 minutes Remove tea bags, pour tea into a gallon picture and 2 cups sugar and stir. 19

rGod gives you gifts so you can give them back.” Christian Appalachian Project congratulates its founder, Father Ralph Beiting, as he celebrates his 80th birthday! Father Beiting remembers that as a child, he told an uncle he wanted to be the Pope; later, he set his sights on big league baseball. By high school, though, he had decided to become an architect. In his autobiography, “Called to the Mountains ,” Father Beiting recalls: One day I was discussing my future plans with one o f my mentors in high school, and he said, “Being an archi tect would be fine. You would do well, and you would probably make a lot o f money in time. But you know, you can’t keep wealth and education to yourself God gives you gifts so you can give them back. “As an architect, you could change a building and that’s honorable work. But why not change people’s lives? Why not be a priest?”

After hearing those words, Father Beiting’s mind opened to the possibili ties of becoming closer to God through service to His people. He entered the seminary, and excelled in both academic and theological studies. It was during his time as a seminarian that Father Beiting was first intro duced to Appalachia and “fell in love,” as he says.

It is safe to say that Father Beiting would have been a success at any pro fession. But we at the Christian Appala chian Project, and indeed all of the people of Appalachia, are blessed that Father Beiting chose not a profession, but a calling, a ministry, in the manner of the prophet Samuel, who said, “Speak, Lord, fo r your servant heareth.”

In his eighty years, Father Beiting has not only served, but has encouraged, influenced and inspired those around him to serve as well. Because we know that service is the greatest joy of Father Beiting’s life, our prayer for him is that he will continue to be given the opportunity to serve, and in doing so, will continue also to encour age, influence and inspire us all.

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Thev Come One

by CAP’s Volunteer Program b y : Ike

A dam s

“It is simply a great place to be and I can tell you fo r sure that if I had it to do over, I would not hesitate fo r an instant to make the same decisions that led me here. Serving the poor helps to build The Kingdom o f God and, to me, that’s what this whole experience is all about.” WINTER

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In its beginning, back in 1964, the Christian Appalachian Project consisted of Father Beiting and the volun teers he enlisted. Most enlisted from Midwest ern Catholic Parishes, who were energetic, spiritually driven, able and willing to assist him in tackling the myriad of problems that Appala chian families faced as a result of impoverish ment. Daniel Melvin leads new adult learner, Marjorie Branham through the enrollment process. They came as singles, ground. Appalachian Project may not married couples, and family Replacing a home or have continued to exist. units. They also came in making it safe is a fairly easy Today, without several groups, by the van or thing to do. It takes hard hundred volunteers who busloads, to help repair continue to discover CAP and work, for sure, but the real homes that were frequently building is more spiritual in enlist in service each year, unfit for human habitation. nature and involves working program services would They brought food, clothing with thousands of Appala severely be diminished. and medical supplies and chian children and adults who Volunteers from all over distributed them to families need a bit of love and guid the nation and often some on the verge of starvation. ance to help them figure out times from other countries, They brought professional what they might be able to choose central Appalachia, skills in carpentry, nursing, specifically eastern Kentucky, accomplish and make of their teaching, counseling and a lives. That’s where CAP as the destination for fulfill host of other disciplines. really needs volunteers. ment of their spiritual desire Even more importantly, to be of service to human the volunteers brought love kind. and the spiritual motivation Unfortunately, more than to give a portion of their In April 2003, 26-year old 100,000 families in CAP’s lives in service to their lessDaniel Melvin left his home fortunate brothers and sisters service area still live in abject in Columbus, Ohio and poverty. Thousands of in whatever capacity met the committed a year of his life to families still live in homes so greatest need. Some could volunteer service in Appala deteriorated that they barely only stay a week or two, chia. Having recently under turn the elements. They are others gave a season or so, gone a bone marrow trans and hundreds committed to a not insulated and the roofs leak. They are unsafe because plant, Daniel was spiritually year or more. Without the they are improperly wired and driven and anxious to “give support of the thousands of something back.” volunteers in the first decade ventilated. Frequently they Daniel has two college of its existence, the Christian catch fire and burn to the

AVolunteer s Story

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degrees from Ohio State University, in Psychology and Philosophy, and serves as an instructor in CAP’s Adult Education Program. He has 37 adult learners with educational proficiency ranging from basic literacy development, GED instruc tion, and preparation for college entrance exams. “I enjoy the range be cause I am meeting learners where they are and helping them get to another level. It The Computer lab at CAP’s Adult Education Center in Renfro Valley, offers students access really does not matter to the latest technology and dramatically enhances the learning process. whether I am helping some range in age from early 20’s to helps to build The Kingdom one learn to read or helping early 70’s. We’re from them solve an Algebra or of God and, to me, that’s what Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Calculus problem,” he said. this whole experience is all Colorado and Maine. We are “I also love community life. about,” said Daniel. I currently share a house with Protestant, Catholic and nondenominational in our faiths. several people of various There are three guys and four backgrounds and faiths. We women. We share all “We need caring people the cooking and who can accept long-term household chores, and service placements, and who every evening after are interested and willing to dinner we get to get personally involved with gether, like family, elderly and disabled folks, and share our faith with adult students, or with with one another.” the families and children “Our house is large served by CAP”, said Sherry enough to afford us Buresh, Assistant Director of individual privacy CAP’s Volunteer Program. when we need it, but “We offer long-term volun we are very close and teers (nine months or longer) we depend on each unique opportunities to get other. It is simply a deeply involved in a broad great place to be and I range of service placements can tell you for sure that include elderly visitation that if I had it to do and emergency outreach over, I would not visitation to families in dire hesitate for an instant circumstances. We have to make the same residential, respite care Sherry Buresh, Assistant Director, Volunteer Program, decisions that led me facilities where families is infrequent contact with volunteers throughout the here. Serving the poor service area. caring for chronic mentally

Service Opportunities

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and physically disabled members can entrust their loved ones, while they take a week-long break from provid ing around the clock atten tion. “We have Early Child and Family Development Centers that provide educational development services that enable young children to get a head start in life. We run Youth and Teen Centers to help middle and high school kids cope with the many problems they may face during adolescence. We consistently need volunteers who are adept at nurturing, building self-esteem in, and mentoring our youth.” Sherry added, “Unfortu nately, some of the adult population in Kentucky never finished high school and a likewise number never ever started. Our Adult Education Centers offer both classroom and one-on-one instruction

that includes everything from basic literacy to state-certified, high school equivalency (GED) diplomas to preparation for college entrance exams and even tutoring for adults enrolled in college classes. We need volunteer teachers who are willing to work with 25 to 50 adults, meet them where they are in terms of educa tional achieve Sally Ousley, Volunteer Admissions Coordinator is most ment, and then likely the first person prospect volunteers will speak with when they call to inquire about volunteer opportunities. help them move forward. We have tence is such a wonderful excellent classroom facilities, path to follow for adults who equipped with modem com want to escape the bounds of puter technology, and we poverty,” count on volunteers to help us In addition to the many run them. Educational devel programs Sherry mentioned, opment and technical compe CAP owns and runs high

Sally, Daniel and Sherry stand in front o f the Adult Education building

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quality summer camps, serving kids from all over the mountains. Often times, many of the campers have never been away from home before, and the camps give them the chance to experi ence new things, explore the outdoors, and meet new friends. The camps operate for several week long ses sions every summer in three different locations. Situated deep in the eastern Kentucky mountains, the camps have dormitory lodging, eating facilities, swimming pools, playgrounds, waterfront M o u n t a i n

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access for canoeing, arts and crafts buildings, miles of hiking trails for campers and counselors, nutritious meals and front door - backdoor access to the Daniel Boone National Forest. Volunteers who would enjoy spending the summer as counselors, working with underprivileged children deep in the heart of Appalachia, are always needed. CAP runs temporary, residential programs for abused women and their children, who are emotionally distraught, physically mis treated, and who need special care and counsel. Volunteers help to meet the needs of the women and children as they reach towards their goals of improving their lives. CAP’s Housing Program performs repairs and major rehabilitation on existing homes and even builds new homes for folks who have no other place to turn. The program focuses on families with young children, on the elderly, and on disabled people, and helps them have decent, safe, warm and dry places to live. Service in the Housing Program is labor intensive, but with a willing spirit, most any person can learn to pack lumber and roofing, drive a nail, saw a board, paint, put up dry wall, tack in insulation or perform dozens of other tasks in volved with building or rehabilitating a home. Beyond direct service in WINTER

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CAP’s Human Service Pro grams, there are also opportu CAP has nine Volun nities for volunteers to serve by lending their talent and teer H ouses, also called expertise in such areas as “c o m m u n ities”, scattered accounting, publications, throughout eastern facility maintenance, fund Kentucky. Besides p ro vid raising and other skills with ing com fortable havens fo r service placements in admin fo lk s who are volunteering, istrative offices. they also serve as spiritual CAP has grown to be one enclaves fo r volunteers. of the largest and most caring philanthropic organizations in On average, m ore than 60 long-term and one-year the country. That success has volunteers are needed to largely happened because volunteers from all across the serve with CAP a t any country, and even internation given time. ally, have given portions of their lives to make Appala For m ore inform ation on chia a better place to live and volunteering a piece o f to help Appalachian people your life to A ppalachia better cope with all the through the C hristian hardships they face. A ppalachian Project, The bottom line is that CAP needs caring people who Please call: have the desire to serve 1-800-755-5322. human-kind, and who want A fter hours, sim ply leave a to use their skills, training, m essage and let us know talent and professional exper w hen it w ould be conve tise to better serve human nient to return your call. kind. There is generally a broad range of opportunities You may also contact us at: at any given time for people to give a much-needed piece CAP of their life to service in V o lu n te er P r o g ra m Appalachia by becoming a R o u te 6, B ox 43 CAP Volunteer. M o u n t V ern o n , K Y 40456

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Visit our w ebsite at:

www.chrisapp.org E-m ail:

volunteer @chrisapp.org

- ^ fSTABS for KIDS NOW PROGRAM

JA -

CAP’S Eagle Child and Family Development Center

Receives Highest Rating Eagle Child and Family Development Center in Parkers Lake, Kentucky, has received a Four Star rating in the STARS for KIDS NOW program. STARS is a volun tary rating system, begun under Kentucky’s Governor Paul Patton in 2001, to indicate the quality of early childhood programs state wide. Eagle CFDC has been 26

participating in the STARS program since its inception, serving as a pilot site the first year. Since then, the center has worked steadily to im prove its initial Three Stars score to the highest rating, Four Stars. Only nine other centers received this honor. With approximately 2,000 centers participating, this places Eagle CFDC in the top 1% of T he

all early childhood programs in the state. “I knew we were going to be really close,” said Michael Loiacono, manager of the center, noting that they just missed receiving the honor last year by a very small margin. Loiacono received the news before the center resumed class for the new year. When the staff returned for work on

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Monday, January 5, “they were very, very excited” to hear the news. Parents of children who attend Eagle CFDC were pleased as well. Elizabeth Fish, whose four-year-old daughter, Julia, is a student at Eagle, says she is very pleased with the program. “All the teachers are very attentive to the kids,” she said. “Julia is more open and attentive, and her vocabulary has become more progres sive.” Fish praised everything from the center’s food pro gram to its inclusion of music in the classroom. “For it to be such a small community, they seem to be well above aver age,” she said. According to the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE), which administers the STARS program, the rating system serves as a tool for parents seeking quality child development centers. KDE’s website(www.education.ky.gov) states that centers participat ing in the STARS program “demonstrate a commitment toward providing quality care and education.” Children who learn in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment tend to develop effective social skills and are more likely to be well prepared to enter school. In order to participate in the STARS program, Eagle WINTER

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CFDC received a comprehen sive assessment in areas such as staff/child ratios, group size, curriculum, parent involvement, and staff educa tion and training. One com ponent of the assessment, the Environmental Rating Scale (ERS), is particularly thor ough, judging 43 criteria on a scale of one to seven. An average score of six is re quired for the Four Star rating. Loiacono credits the hard work of his staff in preparing for the evaluation, saying, “The staff has really worked hard for this, and they’ve done a great job.” In addition to his staff, Loiacono thanked Becky Slone, a technical consultant with the Eastern Kentucky Child Care Coalition. In addition to the Four Star rating, Eagle CFDC will receive a one-time award of $2,000, which Loiacono says will go straight to the pro gram. Although receiving the high honor and $2,000 is rewarding, Loiacono is quick to put the news in perspec tive. “The real winners are the kids,” he said, will benefit from a higher level of quality.”

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r *

We believe the family can be the most important influence in a child’s life. Our centers strive to create an environ ment that encour ages and provides learning opportu nities for all par ticipants, young and old alike. We serve the whole family by empow ering families in their roles as pri mary caregivers. We provide oppor tunities for adults to enhance and develop skills in education, parenting, life skills, and other personal goals. 27

b Walk Mary Lou, pictured above with Teresa McAnly, Assisant Director of Planned & Major Giving

Generosity comes in small packages-especially when you meet petite Mary Lou Lamb, one of CAP’s long term friends. Mary Lou and her husband Doug have supported CAP programs since 1989 through a variety of monetary support, endowment gifts, funding charitable gift annuities and most importantly through prayer. In the winter of 2001, they were blessed to witness the

CAP volunteers coaching life skills to children at neighbor ing schools. In the summer of 2003, Mary Lou and Doug were able to visit CAP again. The highlight of this visit was seeing first hand, CAP’s School Readiness Program in full swing. Mary Lou told us, “I had heard about the School Readiness Program, but I couldn’t imagine the joy and hope that CAP brings to the community until I saw the smiles of the children in T he

your storerooms choosing outfits, shoes, and school supplies for the new year.” They have trusted in the Lord to use CAP as a vehicle of hope to spread the love they make possible to the poverty stricken of Appala chia. Mary Lou speaks of her love for CAP and inspiration that CAP has been to her. However, for everyone at CAP and the participants that know her, truly know that

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Mary Lou is an inspiration with her willingness to walk the walk through her daily life. Our relationship with Mary Lou began as most relation ships with CAP do - through the Christmas season, a time of sharing and love. She first learned of CAP through our Christmas Wreath program. Mary Lou then discovered CAP’S Christmas Basket Program. This program allowed Mary Lou to involve her whole family in this special gift of love. She enjoyed the opportunity to take her grandchildren shop ping for toys and clothes to give to children of Appala chia. This showed them that although these children may look just like them, their families struggle just to buy food, pay bills, rent and even provide clothing. After that, there is no extra money for Christmas toys and presents. Mary Lou shares, “Now it is just my husband and me, but I still love picking out the gifts.” Back home in Rocky River, Ohio, Mary Lou proves her dedication to the Lord’s work. She is a specialist for Disabil ity Services, sponsored by Catholic Charities. Her mission serves persons of all ages with disabilities. In addition, the center where she works is located in a lowincome area, and community families can help make ends meet by utilizing the center’s free clothing and grocery WINTER

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bank, as well as receive hot meals. Mary Lou is also an active advocate for Breanna Sprenger, a precious little blonde who has been chal lenged since birth. In July of 2001, Breanna was born without legs or a right arm. Her left arm was formed but In up coming issues of not complete, and she only the Mountain Spirit, we has three fingers. She has will be sharing CAP spent the last two years in and supporters stories. We out of the hospital. Her family offers “Breanna Bears” to would love to hear what raise funds for Breanna’s you think about CAP special needs. Mary Lou and our mission. donated a dozen of these lovely bears to CAP staff to If you would like to deliver to children who needs share your story, favorite the inspiration that these “Breanna Bears” can bring. recipes, poems or Because Mary Lou be thoughts, drop us a note lieves in CAP to “Help the in the envelope provided people of Appalachia Help or by writing to us at: Themselves”, she has con tracted gift annuities for two Christian Appalachian Project of her sons, Dave and Allen. Publications Office “Recently we made an en P.O. Box 511 dowment gift honoring our 15 Lancaster, KY 40444-0511 grandchildren. You can say I am so interested, impressed and inspired by CAP and You may also call us tollFather Beiting that I wanted free at 1 (866) 270-4227, to become involved. That and ask to speak to the involvement became more Mountain Spirit personal to me with the two department. trips to Appalachia to see (CAP’s) work in action. I also have a love for the countrythe hills and the simple beauty reflected in the lifestyles of true hill people. I want someday for my chil dren and grandchildren to have an opportunity to visit.”

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Share Your Walk!

C hristian Appalachian P roject, inc. Charitable Gift Annuity Program

Would you consider making a gift to Christian Appalachian Project, and receiving income for life? This is possible when you fund a CAP charitable gift annuity. A charitable gift annuity is an agreement between you and CAP In exchange for cash or other assets (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, etc.) of $ 1,000 or more, CAP guarantees to make fixed payments for the rest of your life. Following your life, the assets remaining are used to fund the work of CAP

Advantages of a Charitable Gift Annuity with CAP •

Fixed payments for life.

•

A charitable income tax deduction the year the charitable gift annuity is funded.

•

A portion of each lifetime payment considered a tax-free return of principal.

•

An opportunity to make a significant commitment to the Christian Appalachian Project and enable us to help those less fortunate throughout Appalachia for years to come.

Uniform Gift Annuity Rates Single Life Age

R a te

Age

55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72

5.5% 5.6 5.6 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.9 6.0 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7

73 6.8 74 6.9 7.1 75 7.2 76 77 7.4 78 7.6 79 7.8 80 8.0 81 8.3 82 8.5 83 8.8 84 9.2 85 9.5 86 9.9 87 10.2 88 10.6 89 11.0 90 11.3 and ox er

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Please use the following inform ation to calculate my charitable gift annuity (All information provided is confidential)

LJYes, I am interested in a single-life Charitable Gift Annuity. Please send me an obligation-free, personalized illustration and application form. Name (Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss.,)_____________________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________ City_ Telephone (_

State

_Zip_

Birthdate: Month:

Amount of Gift Considered $_____________ Frequency of Payment Desired: □ Annual

_Day:_

Year:

_____ (minimum charitable gift annuity $1,000) □ 2 times/year G 4 times/year □ Monthly ($2,500 min) ($5,000 min) ($10,000 min)

t ^ Y e s , I am interested in a Two-life Charitable Gift Annuity illustration. Name of Second Beneficiary_________________________________ Birthdate_

PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN TO:

Christian Appalachian Project Planned Giving Department P.O. Box 511 Lancaster, KY 40444-0511 T he

toll-free: l-(866) 270-4227

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The Endowment Tree A Powerful Example The Christian Appalachian Project is pleased to acknowledge those donors whose most generous gifts will continue the work of CAP for those in need in Appalachia. The Endowment Tree is dedicated to recognize those who have given endowed gifts to CAP. The Endowment Tree was established in 1997 by CAP. Prominently featured are the names of individuals, families and companies who have so kindly presented endowment gifts. The Endowment Tree honors the many thoughtful and caring people that have given so generously of their resources to support the ministry of the Christian Appalachian Project. This tree stands as a powerful example of how individuals and God’s love can have a lifelong effect on those in need.

The Spirit Of Giving Few things in life equal the reward of offering a gift that will benefit so many people. An endowment gift to CAP will do just that. Each dollar is invested and the proceeds will provide comprehensive programs and services to those in need in Appalachia for years to come. Recognition on the Endowment Tree is one small way to show our appreciation and make sure your gift is remembered.

The Giving Opportunity CAP’s Endowment Tree allows you to establish this lasting legacy. Please join supporters from around the country, in funding this most important and lasting endowment. All gifts to the endowment tree will be placed in an income generating restricted fund to insure annually for those in need in Appalachia.

LastingRecognitionIsThe LeastYou Deserve! □ Y e s ! I want to make a special gift to the Christian Appalachian Project’s Endowment Fund. Please add my name to a leaf on the Endowment Tree. |

□ $500 (shared leafw/three other donors) □ $1 ,000(shared leafw/one other donor) □ $ 2 ,0 0 0 (individual leaf w/name) Place an individual Foundation Stone on the wall next to the Tree: □ $5,000 Small Stone* □ $ 1 0 ,0 0 0 Medium Stone* □ $20,000 Large Stone* (* Donor will receive replica copy of leaf) ■ W hat would you like us to inscribe? You have three lines:

I Please charge my gift of $__________for CAP’s endowment Fund to my credit card. I Also, please add my name to the endowment register. | Name:______________________________________Address:_______________________________________________ | __________1__________ City:_________________________ State:____________________Phone:________________

□VISA ^MasterCard I

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DDiscover □American Express

Card #_______________________________ Exp. date______________

| Signature______________________________________________________ MSW/S04 | I_______________________________________________________________________________ _ J WINTER

S P R I N G

2004