Flood waters devastate Appalachia

The most severe flooding in 32 years, struck Appalachia in May, hitting several counties and damaging hundreds of homes. Survivors were literally left with only the clothes on their backs. As a result of the flash flooding, many homes were also damaged or destroyed by mudslides that blocked roadways and slowed relief efforts . Numerous people were stranded by rising waters and required rescue by boat, while thousands of men, women and children were without power or clean drinking water as they waited for help to arrive.

Help did arrive. Within days, CAP was able to supply many of the flood survivors, with clothing, water, food, and more, along with safety training for volunteers and survivors. A wide variety of disaster relief supplies were delivered by CAP including: cleaning supplies, hygiene products, furniture, and more. Not only did CAP help survivors with basic necessities, but also with their homes through clean-up, muck-out and minor home repairs. CAP was able to refer survivors to other means of aid as well, such as shelters and feeding.

CAP volunteers loading supplies to distribute to victims

CAP’s Disaster Relief Program , in coordination with CAP’s Respite, Maintenance, Housing, Outreach and Operation Sharing Programs, was able to lend a hand to those in need. Several churches also joined CAP to coordinate relief efforts, provide food, volunteers and more.

Disasters happen in many places, but when a disaster strikes in an area of poverty, the impact is even more devastating. Even today, the people affected by the floods in Appalachia, are still trying to recover. Please hold these people in your prayers as they struggle to rebuild their homes, and their lives.

Walking into the Inez Community Center, there is a flurry of activity.  Upstairs, in the room that houses S.P.A.R.K. CAP’s afterschool program for children between the ages of six and thirteen, several young boys sit around a table eating a snack of salad, biscuits, and sausage gravy.  It’s a rare moment of quiet in the space that resembles an elementary classroom. 

Two of those boys, Kyle (13) and Lucas (12), sit around the table enjoying time with their friends and the satisfaction of a full stomach.  Kyle, in the seventh grade, sees his future as a football star, first playing college ball at the University of Kentucky and later as a professional with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  His favorite subject is social studies.    Lucas, who enjoys his sixth grade science class at school, has hopes of becoming a professional basketball player, and like his older brother, getting his start as a Kentucky Wildcat. 

Yet, the brothers are not strangers to difficult times.  Just weeks ago, when their mother was unable to pay the electric bill, they were forced to rely on the generosity of others, staying in a hotel for the weekend until power could be restored to the run-down home they share with their mother and two younger brothers.  Their mother works long hours at the grocery store in Inez to provide for her four boys, but finds that her hourly wage simply doesn’t keep the refrigerator stocked or the electricity connected.  

And Kyle carries a burden far beyond his years: the responsibility of supervising and caring for his three younger brothers while his mother is at work.  Unable to shirk his responsibilities but wanting so badly to participate in his first day of CAP Kids summer camp, Kyle arrived with his brothers in tow, including then four year-old Jeff.  Kyle admits that S.P.A.R.K. is a nice break from taking care of his younger siblings, allowing him the freedom to be the child that he still is. 

According to a teacher at S.P.A.R.K., “Kyle has a lot of responsibilities; he takes care of his younger brothers.  He’s constantly correcting his brothers and watching out for them.”

Kyle, wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey, towers over the younger Lucas as they look through photo albums  depicting the activities and fieldtrips they’ve experienced with CAP.  Kyle points to a picture with a group of children creating paper mache balloons.  He says the best part of summer camp is “going on trips and making stuff.”  As for the after school program, S.P.A.R.K., both boys agree that “making things” and “the gym” are the highlights of the afternoon.  Later, they both confess that the snacks are also a high point of their day.  Before heading home following an afternoon of homework time, a walk on the trail outside the community center, and guided instruction, the boys are treated to fruit and the option of taking an additional snack home with them.  According to those that know the family, it’s unlikely that dinner is waiting when they arrive home, nor is a formal dinner part of the family’s typical routine.  S.P.A.R.K. provides nutrition that many of the children do not find in their own pantries.   

The main goals of CAP Kids and S.P.A.R.K.  are to introduce participants to activities and concepts with which they are unfamiliar.  During CAP Kids, a summer camp for school aged children up to thirteen years old, the three elder brothers have been exposed to a variety of activities, all focused around a specific theme ranging from math to the arts.  CAP Kids  has provided the boys an opportunity to travel outside of their community and visit places far beyond their reach like Washington, D.C. and the Cincinnati Zoo.  These field trips not only provide educational instruction but also a chance to create memories that will last a lifetime.

The director of CAP’s Family and Children’s Programs in Martin County says that she notices higher grades and more positive attitudes from the children that attend S.P.A.R.K. and CAP Kids.  Most of the 21 children participating in CAP’s programs in Inez return summer after summer, school year after school year, growing both in size and spirit.  The smiles on the faces of Lucas and Kyle speak volumes.  They have found a home away from home in CAP’s programs and a time and place to have the burden of a tough childhood lifted. 

Since the early 1960’s, the Christian Appalachian Project has been providing services to people in need throughout Appalachia.  But did you know that CAP’s services to children with special needs have also helped children in China? Well it’s true.  The truth is that the Lord leads each of us if we only give Him the chance and Suzann Fenton, a teacher in CAP’s Parents Are Teachers program is the living proof.

Suzann joined CAP more than 20 years ago and has worked in CAP’s Parents Are Teachers (PAT) program for almost all of that time.  PAT specializes in early intervention for children with special needs or whose development is likely to be delayed. 

Suzann explained:  “Early intervention is learning to Play with a Purpose.  That’s the whole thing; playing with a purpose.  Give me any toy or anything and I can assess all five domains in any child: I can tell you exactly what I’m doing – how I’m stimulating in all five domains:  the cognitive – problem solving or thinking; language – both receptive and expressive; motor skills– both fine and gross; social / emotional abilities– how a child interacts with others, and the child’s adaptive or self help skills.  Give me any toy and I can tell you how to stimulate in all five domains.”

The PAT program both identifies special needs and develops appropriate response programs for the child.  However, as the name implies, the program empowers and encourages parents to work with their children to maximize each child’s abilities.

Several years ago, Suzann felt a calling to do more for others.  She approached some friends who are active in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) and expressed an interest to volunteer her services.  Then the Lord took over. 

A woman in China had recently opened a school for children suffering from cerebral palsy.  It is called Angel House.  The group was looking for assistance from someone with skills in physical rehabilitation.  Through the CBF, link was made back to Suzann and soon she was off to China, at her own expense and on her own time, to see how she might help. 

Suzann’s first trip revealed both the challenges and the opportunities for Angel House to expand and improve their services.  Suzann was able to demonstrate to the Angel House leadership that children with cerebral palsy require much more than just physical therapy.  Over four successive trips to China, the most recent of which was last fall, Suzann has calmly, patiently and effectively assisted the Chinese in adopting CAP’s Parents Are teachers program for their own use.  In fact, they have even requested and received permission from CAP to adopt the PAT name for their own program.

In following the Lord’s call, Suzann has helped the managers and leaders of Angel House learn many things, including; how to conduct home visits and assessments, how to keep proper records on each case, how to develop comprehensive and effective treatment programs for each child and how to educate parents about their primary role as teachers for their children.