KayJay and Warren Camp are in Knox County, KY. These two close knit communities got their start as early coal mine camps. The cluster of homes were devastated on June 19 and 20 when a down-burst of rain dumped several inches of rain in a short period of time which resulted in a wall of water rushing down a narrow valley. The wall pushed homes off their foundations and downstream. Neighbors were horrified to see another neighbor drown when his mobile home was washed into a bridge and submerged by the rushing water. Their very fabric of life has been torn apart, including the one community facility they had…and that is the community park. It was the only community gathering place and it was washed over as well. FEMA assistance was made available to the residents on September 1, but it won’t be enough as the 60 households most impacted will have to rebuild their very lives. Knox County officials describe these communities as isolated, and literally at the end of the road. There will be much to do to restore these families, and their isolation is a concern.

To help these impoverished communities, local authorities have established a long-term recovery committee through the Christian Appalachian Project. The area’s emergency management director, says the goals are to repair homes, rebuild a park, replace lost vehicles, and fund counseling for children.

To support these coal communities and CAP’s work in Appalachia, Donate Now.

It’s interesting to look back at things that made an impact earlier in life and see the puzzle pieces come together to form a picture you never would have imagined.  Pat Pemberton is a CAP volunteer that just recently experienced some old puzzle pieces come back into the picture.

Pat’s first encounter with CAP was through the University of Kentucky’s Physical Education program.  She was studying to become a PE teacher and as part of the curriculum, the students were taken to CAP’s Camp Andrew Jackson for a recreation management requirement.

Years later, after marrying and moving to Florida, her husband began to give to Christian Appalachian Project in memory of her father who grew up in Appalachia.  Fifteen to twenty years ago, he began giving faithfully $10 a month.

In recent years, Pat’s husband passed away and in honor of his devotion to CAP, Pat wanted to get involved.  After retiring from more than thirty years as a special needs teacher, Pat had some extra time on her hands to volunteer.  She always wanted to return to Kentucky so she searched for CAP online.  Reminiscing of her fond memories at Camp AJ, Pat thought this would be the perfect place to volunteer.  Unfortunately, in 2010, Camp AJ was undergoing major renovations and was not open for summer camp.  “Well, it seems God doesn’t want me to go this summer,” Pat remembers telling herself.

The next year, in January 2011, she checked back and saw Camp AJ was planning to be open for summer camp.  She sent in her application and received a phone call, “Pat, would you like to come up a little earlier, in March for WorkFest?”  And, so, there she was serving meals to the numerous college students, who were renovating homes in the rainy, spring weather.  “It was such a blessing to see the work you do and meet face-to-face the participants whose lives you are changing,” says Pat.

During her involvement with WorkFest, Patricia Griffith, Manager of CAP’s Camp Shawnee told Pat, “I want you to go to my camp.  Go home and pray about it.  We would love to have you at Camp Shawnee.”

After volunteering for the last week of WorkFest and the first week of YouthFest, Pat returned home to Florida for a short stay and then returned to Kentucky once again for summer camp at Camp Shawnee.  Pat was part of the kitchen staff, keeping the children well fed and nourished during their long, fun, summer days.  “I love the interdenominational aspect of CAP—Christians of all denominations working together for the Lord.  Next year, if the Lord wills, I’ll be back.  It’s all about taking that step of faith.”

Notebooks, binders, pencils, and pens lay in neat stacks lining the walls at the First Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, Kentucky on July 26. Families across the community were invited to attend the Family Advocacy’s School Readiness distribution, a program of the Christian Appalachian Project. Students grade K – 12 were provided with a backpack full of school supplies appropriate for their particular grade. Volunteers distributed essentials such as clothing and hygiene items donated from Operation Sharing, our gifts-in-kind program. Each child received a $25 clothing voucher for a neighborhood discount store to aid in back-to-school shopping.

For many of the families we serve in Rockcastle County, back to school season is a blessing knowing that their children will once again receive a free or reduced lunch at school; however, the vast list of needed school supplies is daunting on a meager income. CAP’s School Readiness program fulfills these needs for families living in desperate need.

Marcy is one participant who is very grateful for this program. She has come with her children for the past three years and depends on this program as the family’s source of school supplies. Adam, age 12, Cameron, 11, and Allison, 9, are each headed back to school. “My kids would do without if it weren’t for CAP,” says Marcy. “We are glad there are still God’s people that do help.” Her youngest, 2-year-old Penny, still has a few years before school shopping will begin for her. Marcy and Alan, her husband, are on a very limited income and it’s all they can do to get by. Added expenses like school supplies or even Christmas gifts become a financial burden. Offering relief in different circumstances is the focus of our Family Advocacy program.

School Readiness is only one of our seasonal programs. We also assist families during the Christmas season with our Christmas Basket program to provide children, parents, and seniors with presents and a holiday meal. Our garden seed program is another one of our seasonal programs, offered in spring. We also offer canning classes to teach participants how to best preserve their crops to supplement food in the winter.

When Family Advocacy is not hosting a seasonal program, we work to assist families in a variety of ways. We aid families having difficulty paying for electric and water and in times of family emergencies such as burn-outs, job loss, health problems, inability to work, or prescription assistance for expensive medications.

CAP strives to help families achieve independence and dignity by participating in their own development. We believe families can learn and grow together. And, that is what Family Advocacy is all about, being an advocate for families living in poverty in Appalachia and working to make a difference in their lives.