On a worksite in Johnson County, Kentucky, Rachel and Kate sit with 10 or so other WorkFest volunteers enjoying a sack lunch and a few hard-earned minutes of relaxation. It’s a sunny, warm, March afternoon, the type of day that makes the soul sing after a long, cold winter. The volunteers that make up WorkFest’s Pink Crew, mostly college-aged, sit on the ground in a circle — talking, laughing and sharing stories undoubtedly about the morning’s work on the mobile home of an elderly widow suffering from osteoporosis.

Kate is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and Rachel graduated from University of St. Francis. The two participated in Workfest, CAP’s annual home repair and building blitz, as short-term volunteers after graduating from college and quickly realized that a week’s worth of roofing and hammering wasn’t enough. Both are now long-term CAP Housing Program volunteers and team leaders of the Pink Crew during WorkFest. They will be finishing their one year commitments in July.

For most of the year, when WorkFest student crews aren’t available,Rachel and Kate work with the area’s crew leader, repairing the homes of families in need in Appalachia. While a three-person crew makes for slow progress, it does afford Kate and Rachel an opportunity to get to know the people whose lives their acts of kindness are changing. “CAP encourages us to get to know the people we help out,” Rachel explained. “You’re working on a person’s house for months, and you really get to know them.”

Communal living with other long-term volunteers presents what are probably  the most challenging aspects of the CAP volunteer experience. That means sharing household chores like cooking duty, grocery shopping on a budget and more. “We’re obviously not eating steak every night, but everyone in our house is a great cook. We’re not suffering at all, that’s for sure,” said Kate.

In fact, Rachel and Kate find communal living an integral part of their volunteer experience with CAP. “It’s awesome,” said Rachel. “We really get along and hang out after dinner. There are times you want to be alone, but that’s life in a community. It’s so much fun though.” According to Kate and Rachel, the spiritual component of volunteering with CAP is critical to the overall experience. “One of the things that drew me to CAP as a volunteer was the spiritual component,” explained Kate. “It’s great living in the volunteer house because everyone is in a different spot in their faith and coming from different directions. It’s been great for me spiritually to develop and come out of my comfort zone.”

Rachel and Kate’s year with CAP has quickly flown by. Inevitably, the question of “What happens after CAP?” must be answered. With just a few more months left as long-term volunteers, Rachel and Kate are apprehensive but hopeful about their futures. Both are unsure of their upcoming employment plans, but Kate and Rachel don’t see the conclusion of their long-term volunteer stints as the end of their relationship with CAP. The two hope to come back to CAP as short-term volunteers from time to time and possibly find a paid position within one of CAP’s many human services programs.

Daniel took a step back and admired his masterpiece. A tower of wooden blocks, cylinders stacked upon rectangles, stood almost three-feet high, nearly reaching his nose. The three year old turned towards his classmate, another young boy, and proudly proclaimed, “Look at my fort!” The second boy stared for a moment at the precariously constructed creation and handed Daniel a long, thin, flat block. “It needs a road,” he said. Daniel pondered the suggestion for a moment, turning the block over in his small hands, and then nodded his head in confirmation. He placed the block at the base of the fort and both boys smiled. It was demolition time.

At only three years old, you wouldn’t think that CAP would have had time to play a vital role in the Daniel’s life. But block by block, CAP programs have built a foundation for success for a child born and raised in McCreary County, KY, one of our nation’s most impoverished counties.

Before Daniel began participating in CAP’s children’s programs, he didn’t like to share, and he had trouble communicating with others. But his mother notes dramatic improvements due his enrollment in CAP’s Preschool and Toddler Programs. “He’s an only child, and it’s helped him learn how to share and get along with other children,” she said. “He was so energetic and would talk really fast. Sometimes we couldn’t understand him.”

Daniel’s preschool teacher at CAP’s Child and Family Development Center confirmed his early struggles. “He hated naptime, and he had a hard time learning to play with other children” said one teacher. “But he’s always been polite and a very bright child. He’s a really quick learner.”

It’s so important for a child as bright as Daniel to develop the skill God has given. According to recent studies, children who do not receive support for healthy development in the areas of motor, language and social skills at an early age are more at risk for dropping out of school, committing crime, and receiving welfare payments as an adult (Burr & Grunewald, 2006). And in an area like McCreary County, those opportunities are far and few between. Daniel’s mother, Sheila, appreciates the educational head-start her son is receiving. “A lot of people where I live don’t have a lot of education. They didn’t get to go to school. So to be able to put my child in a program that will teach him this early is wonderful for me,” she explained.

Already, Daniel knows his ABC’s, can count up to twenty and has shown an interest towards anything farming-related. He loves farm animals, especially chickens and cows. And for Christmas, Daniel knew exactly what he wanted. “All my son wanted for Christmas this year was a little tractor,” said Sheila, “but times are hard, and it is very hard to provide for a child.”

But with a little help from CAP’s Christmas Basket program, Daniel may get his wish. Daniel’s family is participating in the program, which matches donors across the country with families in need during the holidays who may otherwise go without food and presents during Christmas. Daniel’s mother finds the holidays especially difficult. “I find my self thankful at times that I have only one child. It’s really hard during Christmas with just one.” But she’s inspired by the generosity of the donors. “It’s great to know that there’s somebody out there that’s willing to share and give a gift to people that are in need.”

But the support for Daniel and his family doesn’t end there. Recently, CAP helped replace the family’s roof and five windows. “Five out of seven windows were broken,” said Sheila, “and I can’t tell you how grateful I am that CAP helped fix our home.” The repairs will help ensure Daniel will live in safe environment, free leaks and bone chilling drafts that can plague a child’s health.

Just like his block fort, the foundation for Daniel’s success is built with several programs of various shapes and sizes. Without one, the others would come crumbling down. Your continued generosity and prayers are essential to the children and families of Appalachia. Without you, our donors, the support for Daniel and thousands of children just like him, would not be available.