Tackling Poverty in Appalachia

Those living in poverty in Eastern Kentucky, and Central Appalachia generally, deal with chronic and serious challenges. Much progress has been made in tackling poverty in Appalachia over the past 50 years, but pockets of severe rural poverty remain, particularly in Eastern Kentucky. While the average poverty rate in the 54 counties of Appalachian Kentucky fell from 60% in 1960 to 26% in 2010, rates are still high compared to the national average of 16%. Rates exceed 30% in more than a dozen counties, including those served by Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) programs.

CAP provides many programs to tackle the issue of poverty in Appalachia, including Housing, Elderly Services — In-Home Respite Services, Child Development Centers, Grateful Bread Food Pantry, Grateful Thread Clothing, Family Advocacy, Counseling, Summer Camps, Disaster Relief, Operation Sharing, In-School Services, and In-home Infant/Toddler Services.

Last year:

• CAP’s Housing Program repaired 228 homes, and a new home was built for a family of six.
• 1,935 children and youth received in-school curriculum, tutoring, and leadership training, and 1,158 children attended summer camp.
• 2,372 participants were served at our Grateful Bread Food Pantry.
• A total of 11,503 participants received direct service through 16 human service programs in Eastern Kentucky.

How Can You Help?

Volunteers and leaders are needed to repair homes, sort and distribute food and goods, organize clothing for CAP’s gently used clothing store, lead as camp counselors, and participate in CAP’s Christmas gift programs.  Additionally, CAP welcomes support provided through winter coat drives, clothing drives, non-perishable food drives, and supporters to sponsor a family’s meals for a year, sponsor a volunteer group, or sponsor a child at summer camp.

• Cost for a child to attend summer camp: $500
• Cost for 8 handicap accessible ramps: $15,000
• Cost for a full-time volunteer (1 year): $7,500

To learn more about Christian Appalachian Project’s programs, visit http://www.christianapp.org.

Support Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) through your employee giving program:

As a donor, you can support CAP by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (CFC# 11102 if you’re a military or federal employee participating in the Combined Federal Campaign). Payroll pledges made through employer-sponsored charitable giving programs represent a cost effective and near effortless way to support your favorite charities.

As CAP’s workplace giving partner, America’s Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work – through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.