In the heart of West Virginia’s Cabwaylingo region, Bill and Addie Likens have dedicated their lives to serving others through the Dunlow Community Center. Their work has touched thousands of lives, offering hope and practical support in one of Appalachia’s most rural areas.

“I’m from Dunlow. It used to have a lot of coal mines and timber industry and those are pretty much dried up,” explained Bill, who was hired to run a small outreach ministry in a church basement 22 years ago. “There’s not a lot of jobs, obviously. We’re 45 minutes from the nearest grocery store. We just recently, about 20 minutes away, got a Dollar General store and that was the only store within that 45-minute radius.”  

Dunlow is a small, close-knit community nestled in the foothills of Appalachia. With steep hills, narrow valleys, and limited infrastructure. Despite these hardships, the Likens have built a ministry rooted in compassion and faith.

“The church played a huge role in my life growing up because I received food from the food pantry here as a young person,” Bill added. And now, he gets to do the same for others.

The Dunlow Community Center began as a vision to provide a safe space for children and families, whether it is through after-school programs, community events, and food assistance. Today, that vision has grown into the Cabwaylingo Appalachian Mission, which operates one of the region’s largest food pantries. What started with eight families now serves 750 families monthly, including over 500 seniors. Volunteers and mission groups join forces to distribute millions of pounds of food and essential items each year.

“When I was growing up, my parents couldn't afford to take me to the library, which is 40 minutes away. The elementary school would give me the old National Geographic magazines, and I'd take them home and read them over and over again,” Bill recalled. Those experiences helped shape his commitment to the children and families in Dunlow.  

Distribution days are a testament to community spirit. Volunteers arrive early, and Addie prepares home-cooked meals for them while Bill coordinates logistics. Families often line up the night before, waiting for their turn to receive food, baby supplies, and even household goods donated by partners like Christian Appalachian Project’s Operation Sharing, Facing Hunger Food Bank, and World Vision.

“The need is huge here. We're pretty much the only organization that's doing any sort of outreach work in our area, so people drive a long time. People park in the line the night before and they sit in their cars and wait so they'll be first in line because that's a little bit that they can do to help their families, so they feel like they're contributing by making that sacrifice and waiting in line to be first,” Bill said. “We have a huge amount of senior citizens here that are on fixed income. Last month, over 500 seniors came through our food pantry line. They have no control over their income and their expenses, so we're trying to help them as much as possible.

For the Likens, this work in the heart of the hills is their calling. “If someone comes and they’re hungry, we’re going to feed them,” Bill said. Their commitment reflects the simple truth that love in action transforms lives.