In 2021, families in Appalachia faced two major threats. During the pandemic, unemployment, financial hardship, and food insecurity caused major challenges. In addition, families in Eastern Kentucky are still struggling to recover after historic flooding that devastated hundreds of homes last year. Your generosity, along with that of our sponsors, provided comfort and relief to children, their families, and seniors in need in Appalachia through services like our Christmas distribution. With the gifts you so generously made to Christian Appalachian Project, our staff and volunteers from the Family Advocacy Program spent the entire year preparing for CAP’s annual Christmas distribution event.

 

You helped bring holiday cheer and deliver traditional foods and gifts to families in Appalachia. “Throughout the year, staff collect toys, clothing, makeup, and other suitable items to be used as Christmas gifts from donations received by CAP’s Operation Sharing program,” said Josh Ratliff, a coordinator for CAP’s Family Advocacy Program in Johnson, Martin, and Floyd counties. “Starting in September, we transform our Family Advocacy building into a Christmas wonderland,” Josh said. “We set out new clothing on tables by size. We also set out donations of toys, movies, makeup, camping equipment, sporting goods, and more, ensuring gifts that are age appropriate for our families.” CAP employees and volunteers sort through the donations and box up Christmas gifts and a ham so children, their families, and seniors can have a Christmas.

 

Your gifts make it possible for CAP to match between 100–150 families with sponsors each year, while providing urgently needed services to around 200 additional families throughout the year.