HARLAN COUNTY, Ky. — Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is expanding assistance to all families in need in Harlan, Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harlan Center. Staff and volunteers had planned to distribute food, drinks, and other essential items to hundreds of coal miners and their families in Harlan County. This effort will now provide help to all who come on that day.

“When we saw the story on the news about the miners, we wanted to help,” said Ben Ridner, manager of CAP’s Operation Sharing Program in Corbin, Ky. “CAP has been serving people in need in Appalachia for more than 50 years, we realized we had an opportunity to help the miners but also to expand those efforts to help others in the community.”

CAP has partnered with other local organizations such as With Love From Harlan to provide items free of charge to people who come to the event. Hands of Hope, a distribution warehouse in Tennessee is also sending a truckload of items to help meet the needs.

Miners do not need to reside in Harlan County to qualify, bring a paycheck stub from Blackjewel and a photo ID. Distribution for miners will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The distribution for the general public will take place 1 – 4 p.m.