AppalachiaCelebr a ti n g a l a n d a n d its people SUKI SUE'S QUILT BRINGS COMFORT 3,000,000 LBS OF FOOD IN 2021 Ju n e 2022 A N e w D a y A r isi n g WHISPERING HOPE DOWN ON THE RIVER
Pantry Transformation Recently, God's Pantry received a new grant that allowed agencies that operate from their warehouses, to operate under Oasis Insights Pantry Software. The Water Into Wine became a pilot program with God's Pantry since the pantry had been utilizing the Oasis Software for four years. In the initial rollout of the new software, several pantries across the state of Kentucky are now joining forces to facilitate better distribution and accountability. The new enrollment of clients into the software will identify folks who cross county lines to receive double distributions. The software will also assist in the distribution process of the federal CFSP (Senior Commodities) programs. A big feature of the system is that it helps identify those who qualify for certain programs, but until now have been overlooked due to the inability to track clients. This new system will alert food pantries of clients who meet guidelines to receive assistance, and have not been served. The new program saw Water Into Wine as a frontrunner in the pilot program. By being a leader in the new implementation, Water Into Wine received a new laptop and other hardware needed for the program. Also, the grant covers the yearly cost of the software for each pantry enrolled across Kentucky. Big Sandy Detention Center Adds to Resources with Laobr Water Into Wine recently deputized Pastor Larry Patrick. This enables the ministry to utilize the assistance of inmates from the Big Sandy Detention Center. The work of the inmates is impeccable. Many are trained in skills that help the ministry moving forward with projects and goals. This partnership is a win-win situation for everyone. It provides valuable labor and training for the inmates. The mission also participates in the senior work program, whereas the mission utilizes four senior citizens to work in the Second Chance Thrift Store and also in the main building. The mission also recently added a youth employee from the Big Sandy Community Action Program that trains youth in valuable work experience necessary to enter the labor force. The positive work environment and goal of the mission has paid large dividends to those working in the mission. An inmate of the Big Sandy Regional Detention Center accepted Christ and was baptized at the church before his peers. We give thanks to God for the work that God is accomplishing within those here at the mission. Second Chance Thrift and Resource Center Expands Recently, the Second Chance Thrift Store expanded it's hours of operation after receiving the expansion of the Senior Citizens work program. The center hired Brenda Burgett and Doris Morgan to work in the store as Outreach Clerks. The thrift store is now open every week three days to help with resource and thrift store operation. You can now elect to shop on Mondays from 12PM-4PM, Wednesdays from 8AM-12PM, and Fridays from 12PM-4PM. If you need to reach the thrift store during hours of operations, please call 606-349-6301 and follow the prompts. Brenda Burgett & Doris Morgan
Healing comes in many different forms. The following is a special story of the love between a family and a dog. A friend that stuck by their side until the bitter end. Oh, how sad when death brings a bitter end. Hi everyone. My name is Margie Ries and I live outside the small community of Belleville, Wisconsin with my husband, Jim. My sister and brother-in-law, Edith and Richard Hochstetter, are quite well known at your mission for all their many contributions and hard work. Last October, Edie gave me a call to tell me how sorry she was to learn that we had lost our fur baby, Suki Sue, a beautiful cream Shiba Inu, at the age of 16 years and 4 months old almost to the day. After some choked back tears on both our parts, Edie proceeded to tell me that the concept of “memory quilts” had been born at your mission and explained how very special these quilts are to those grieving the loss of loved ones. I thought immediately that I can surely contribute to that cause, and began searching through my fabric stash to create one. And I might add here that the only reason I am able to do that is because Edie had the patience to teach me to quilt 10+ years ago. Our Mom quilted and I used to think there ain’t no way in you know where that I could possibly do that! So, I am forever indebted to my sister for teaching me that wonderful art. What did making that first memory quilt mean to me and why did I want to take the time and effort? Well, think about what a memory is and how a quilt can create one .A memory is something one has experienced. It’s very individual and special and you can either share those memories with others or not, but, nobody can take that memory away from you. And, while a quilt is typically 3 layers thick made with fabric and batting stitched together in a decorative design, it is also a thick protective cover whether it be for physical warmth or emotional security. No brainer! I’m hooked! Well then, a few days after I was into making my first memory quilt, Edie called and said Jeff suggested as a healing process that I consider making a memory quilt in my Suki Sue’s honor. That idea was so therapeutic and inspirational to me I set out straight away to do just that. And, now I’m finding out that Suki’s memory quilt is providing comfort to a woman who misses her puppy dog but can no longer live at home to be with him/her. My heart is full. You know that saying, “what goes around comes around” right? Well we rescued Suki Sue through Midwest Shiba Inu Rescue back in 2006 at 18 months old.Her former owners thought she just didn’t fit well into their family. Well, reputable rescue organizations require at least a 24 hour waiting period from the time you meet a rescue dog before allowing you to adopt. Suki was being fostered In DePere, WI, which is a good 3 hour drive from where we live. Our adopting Suki was obviously meant to be because I have a sister, Alice, who then lived within a few miles of where Suki was being fostered so we could meet Suki and spend the night with Alice and her husband, Dave, and take Suki home later the next day. Suki Sue fit very well into our family for many, many years. She was born and bred to be a hunter and was so proud to bring mama a rabbit, gopher, rodent or half-decayed bird. (Cont.) Suki Sue
She was truly our sunshine every day. We wanted to keep her forever, but we all know that can’t happen. Her spirit will be with us forever and ever; she whispered that into our hearts! We rescued Suki, and now it appears that her memory quilt/spirit has “rescued” someone in need. What goes around comes around! Thank you, God!! Suki Sue (Cont.) Stephen Foster penned the song "My Old Kentucky Home" which was adopted as the state song. One line in particular within the song sums up our current situation. That line says, "Well the young folks roll all around the cabin floor, they're merry all happy and bright, by and by hard times will come knocking at my door, then my Old Kentucky Home Good Night, weep no more my lady, no weep no more today, we sing one song for my old Kentucky home, for my old Kentucky home far away. Once again, those hard times have come knocking at our doors. The Water Into Wine has been faced with rising inflation cost and soaring gas prices contributing to an increased budget line of food transportation. Hard Times Come Knocking at the Door The soaring retail prices of food within the grocery stores are causing many families to enter the food insecurity hole. Get ready to spend more money at the grocery store. Per the newly updated March 2022 report on food prices from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "all food prices" are expected to increase in the coming months. More specifically, the report states that the cost of eating out will see an increase between 5.5 and 6.5 percent, while grocery prices are slated to jump between 3 and 4 percent in the remainder of 2022, adding to recent price increases that most consumers have already experienced. As the report points out, these increases, which will impact everything from meats, poultry, eggs, and dairy products to cereals and bakery items, are the highest they've been in decades. Food is only half the problem in the rural Appalachian region, some families must travel many miles to purchase items. Fuel is currently $4.50 per gallon only adding to the woes of the inflated grocery prices at the market level. Many families will fall into poverty on these inflated prices and will need to make choices between feeding their children, forsaking vital medical treatment and medication in order to feed their families. While the hollers and mountains of Eastern Kentucky are far removed from the wars being waged in the Ukraine, they are still affecting the Appalachian region with a degree of uncertainty for a turbulent future. We ask that you pray for us as we navigate these difficult times. Pray that we are able to balance the soaring cost of our food and transportation along with the increased number of households that will be forced to seek assistance with our ministry in the upcoming weeks. Pray that a balance will be achieved before our students leave the sanctuary of their school cafeterias before the summer break. Most of all remember these families in your prayers as we find more and more of these faces knocking at our doors. Appalachian Children are the victims of Poverty
Hope is defined by Webster's Dictionary as: "a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen." Webster defines vision as: "the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom." This year, the Kernie FWB Church, pastored by Butch Whitaker, has unveiled a vision that will bring hope to the poor and needy of Magoffin County, while leaving a positive impact on thousands of lives for generations to come. The group has received a 501c3 designation and path to pursue the former Millard Hensley Elementary School, located in Bloomington to open an outreach that will serve the north end of Magoffin County. The new mission will not duplicate the current food pantry operated at Water Into Wine. However, the ministry will eventually be geared to provide hot meal service. The vision also includes the development of youth programs, community recreational opportunities through the development of community gardening, walking track development, performing arts, a children's safe reading and toy refuge, a community weight and cardio room, sobriety services, mentoring, tutoring, community high speed internet computer labs, with community liaisons to assist with local residents to sign up for state services, job search and placement. The current project scope is outlined in the pages to follow. The Whispering Hope Board is currently in negotiations with the owner to purchase the structure and begin the process of rehabilitation of the property due to its abandoned state. The current price being asked for the property and 8 acres is $130,000. Pastor Whitaker has faith that the Lord will supply this donation through someone whom God has inspired to make a difference in the lives of another. Once the property is secured, movement will be geared toward grants and community funding to develop ministries and rehab the property. Whispering Hope Down On The River Outreach Ministry God Has Called Me To Make A Difference If in your heart, God has spoken to you in that still small voice and said, "help those who are hurting. Help feed, clothe, and minister to those in need in Magoffin County." If your heart is full and you are blessed and have the means to make a difference in the lives of thousands who hurt and are in need of help, we ask you to begin your journey by prayer. Pray for us as we move forward, and if God is asking you to give, then pray and ask Him to show you the things that your gift can bring to those in need. Visit our website and catch the vision: https://whisperinghopeontheriver.com You can reach our outreach team at 606-367-3656 or 606-349-5663. Appalachian Scenes of Poverty The Story of Poverty Beyond the Naked Eye
The Cycle of Poverty For many years, Magoffin County has been in the destructive cycle of poverty. It is devastating generation after generation, and only grows worse. At Whispering Hope, we have studied the cycle, and believe that with the help of the Lord, we can break that cycle, but first you must understand that cycle and the social issues that arise from it. As you can see in this diagram, many of us know of folks: friends, family, and neighbors who deal with this cycle on a daily basis. Knowing the cycle, allows us the opportunity to afford programs that can affect the outcome of this circle. If you want to change someone's life and the generations of those to come, one must find the weakness in the cycle and exploit it. Poverty Driven Social Issues Breaking the Cycle and Ministering To Those Trapped The board is currently pursuing grants and donations for fair negotiations of the property. Through prayer, the board is seeking that one individual who is willing to step out on faith and pledge that donation that will change the life of many. The board is also engaged in grant writings that will help fund various programs and property rehabs. Once acquired, the board will begin the next phase of the project which includes the building of a community volunteer core that will allow community members to invest time and ownership in the mission development. Group cohesion will be found while working together for the common goal of rehabilitating the property. The first phase upon ownership is to secure the property, replace roofing, lock doors and windows, and begin the cleaning of the property from the building grounds to the river. This will involve power tools and tree removal, mowing, etc. Some of this labor will be through various programs that offer work experience in Magoffin County such as youth, senior citizens, and correctional work aides. The following social issues will be ministered to: youth, education, children, homelessness, hungry, technology needs, program assistance, arts and music, and vital resources needed in the community. In order to break the cycle, we must develop a comprehensive plan to break that cycle in order to secure a brighter future. In order to get people from the bonds of poverty, you must address the social factors that are created by the poverty. The board at Whispering Hope has developed a plan to create a ministry in the former Millard Hensley Elementary School in the Bloomington Kentucky area. This will take place in stages.
The mission must work quickly to acquire strong youth programs that teach morality and ethics. This will be done through a variety of family and youth programs. The opening of the gym to community activities, the repurposing of the commercial kitchen to fix hot meals, a children's safe room and library, community weight room, and family walking track will help build valuable family and mentoring time. Community Work-out room Community Open Gym Activities Plays & Concerts Christian Daycare Community Walking Trail Hot Meals Served to Public Children's Library & Safe Room Community Garden High Speed Internet Lab Children's Library & Safe Room Disaster Recovery Teams Emergency Shelter It takes a village to break this cycle. Not just one person can do it. It will take the Whispering Hope Board, both courage and faith to create cycle breakers, and find ways to incorporate different talents into the process from different groups. It will require sacrifice and faith beyond many measures to assure that the proper foundation is in place to support the project.
Memory Quilts Take Hold The memory quilt project began with the idea of giving quilts to families who could not afford to purchase flowers for funeral decorations of loved ones who had passed. The quilt, spread atop a coffin makes a beautiful replacement of the casket spray. Once the idea was taken back to quilters in Wisconsin, the idea became an instant hit. The sounds of sewing machines and the click of needles sewing new quilts filled the air. The ministry is now nearing 50 quilts, with estimations of 7 being given to various members in the community. The idea has been therapeutic to those receiving the quilts but has also been therapeutic to those making the quilts. The sweet lady left to mourn the passing of her dog Suki Sue, made a quilt to honor her dog's memory. The quilt, when brought to Kentucky, was gifted to an elderly lady who was forced into assisted living due to her failing health. Her reservations were great because she would have to leave her own dog behind in the move, and this broke her heart. The quilt, that honored the recently departed Suki Sue, was gifted to her. After she heard the story of Suki Sue, she loved the quilt, and found solace there. The quilts have far expanded beyond the coffins of the dead. The quilts are now giving comfort to the living. Quilts and blankets are being delivered to the local fire departments. Here they are given out to families to wrap in following a latenight house fire, or those pulled from car accidents. In turn the idea has been spilled over to the ladies at the Prestonsburg Senior Living, where their lady's group are making quilts to cover those hurting in Floyd County. The ministry now has access to themed quilts. The array of quilts include veteran quilts that sport the patriotic themes and colors to match various genders. In order to pick your quilt out for your loved you, you may visit the following website and choose the quilt of your choice, then call the ministry at 606- 349-6301 to pick up your quilt. www.lakefrontchurchofgod.weebly.co m once on the site, please pick the link at the top entitled Memory Quilts. One of the hardest things to imagine is a child without toys on Christmas morning. In fact, the thought of it brings tears to Ms. Edith Hochstetter's eyes. She is determined to not let this happen on her watch. She recently met with Diane and Barry Westcott to prepare for Christmas 2022. Diane Westcott, a retired teacher, in the Magoffin County School System has a passion for fixing used toys for children, by cleaning them, checking connections, painting, and tightening screws. In their recent meeting, Ms. Edith has taken on the task to gather Wisconsin toys for the Westcott's to fix. The group also is planning a Christmas party during the 2022 year, where children who cannot afford toys, will be able to attend a party, where they will be treated to food and gifts during Christmas. If you have gently used toys that children no longer play with, please consider dropping them off at the Second Chance Thrift Store. Our clerks will be sure to separate those items to be given to the Westcotts and Hochstetters for repair. Together, no child should have to go through Christmas without a gift under the tree. Plans for Christmas 2022
In Loving Memory Sister Joy Housley September 29, 1952 - April 22, 2022 The Kernie FWB Church & Whispering Hope Down on the River remembers Sister Joy Housley. She inspired us to dream and embrace our vision. She was our cheerleader, friend, and sister in the Lord. Each Sunday she was with us, even though she was physically in Tennessee. So we dedicate, Whispering Hope Down On the River, to Sister Joy, and in her honor, it will be lovingly known as "Joy & Hope Down on the River," For Joy sure gave us all hope with her her faith. Thanks Brother Edgar for sharing your sunshine with us. WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT, BUT JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING. PSALM 30:5
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Dr. Seuss Literacy is a Mission Eastern Kentucky has long been the epicenter of low literacy scores. It seems as if it is a manifest of years of schooling neglect. In many cases it is the root of poverty in these hills. Recently, Mr. Richard and Edith Hochstetter, who have a passion for reading, partnered with the Lakefront Church of God Outreach and Ministry along with the Christian Appalachian Project to acquire thousands of discarded Disney books. They traveled from their homes in Wisconsin to Kentucky to spend hours sorting thousands of these books. The books were then loaded into a Uhaul trailer and taken to every Magoffin County Elementary School where a free book fair was held for every child. Ms. Edith also spent time reading aloud to the younger students from the various elementary schools. After storytime, the children also went and claimed various books to take home for summer reading programs. Much of the delight of the day came when students, who did not have money in their pockets came into the libraries and gyms, and when they saw all the books, looks of disappointment crossed their faces, which was quickly turned into joy when they were told that the books were free for the taking. The joy of the children was reminiscent of Christmas morning, as they went through the thousands of books to claim their summer reading along with claiming books for their family members. Many of the teachers gathered books for their classrooms for future reading projects, while all other staff in the building were invited to pick books for their children. Hundreds of Children enrolled in North Magoffin, Southern Magoffin, and Salyersville Elementary participated in the free book fairs. Richard & Edit Hochstetter Organize Books Proud Partners Proud Partners
When we talk about Mission and Outreach, some may ask what that actually means. Though it is hard to describe, and better felt, words are far and few in between used to describe that of the satisfaction and heartache that it can bring. Every day of the week, those who choose to engage in mission work, often work on the frontline of everyone else's problems. They are the ones who sit silently absorbing the hurt and pain of others, often sacrificing their own. Those who work to cure all other's problems often cry at night into their pillows, not for their own hurt and pain, but for the one's they are called to serve. The battle in mission and outreach work is not easy, but it is essential. In a world where very few care about the downfall of others, those who serve must care. They are called to help lift your burdens and carry you across the finish line when you fall. Largest food pantry with Water Into Wine who serve Magoffin County. Job Services/Placement Prescription Assistance Memory Quilts Hospitality Homeless counseling Medical Tutoring & Mentoring Hosting work programs for unemployment training Resource Center Second Chance Thrift Store Lakefront Outreach Ministry is an established Ministry that has been serving since 2012. The organization as of today has many outlets for their service. It cost much sacrifice and financial upkeep to run these ministries. Hot food service Community Recreation Community Arts Community Food Service Community Resource Center Work Group housing for summer home assistance and repairs. Public Assistance Sign Up Job Placement and Counseling Work Program Support The proposed Whispering Hope looks to help lessen the load on the Lakefront Outreach Ministries by reaching out to the Northern part of the county. Ministries that they hope to achieve are as follows: Though, Whispering Hope on the River has this ambition, they have yet to open for service and are momentarily a proposal in the making. Save on the cost of healthy groceries with up to $50.00 every month Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans offer an allowance each month to spend toward healthy foods at participating retailers. Be sure to use your spending amount before the end of the year, as it will not carry over to 2023. Enjoy Shopping! Call Craig Hall (606) 369-0531
WLFC Internet Gospel The WLFC Radio Ministry has added thousands of listeners worldwide since the beginning of its inception 2 years ago. The station has been a platform to spread the good news of Jesus Christ through the music played on the station. The station is a 24-hour station that broadcasts a wide variety of Gospel Music, including Bluegrass Gospel, Southern Gospel, Contemporary Gospel, and recently added RAP Gospel. In addition to the gospel music, the station also delivers announcements pertaining to the ministry and its works. In addition, local weather forecast is now delivered by AI voice overs, and includes 24-hour updates. We also have the community radio aspect that delivers community radio program aimed at keeping the community at large abreast of community notes. One of the most popular programs continues to be the beloved story time with Ms. Edith Hochstetter who reads a story each Sunday. night from her home in Wisconsin. Children who listen can call or text in to the station and win the book. In return Ms. Edith ships that book to the winner at no charge. Recently Edith shipped books to Brazil, and recently a winner from Poland who announced that he was fleeing to the United States in the upcoming weeks because Russia was fighting on their borders. The station has also added additional programming with the addition of Ms. Tiffany Hoskins who does an "I Love Jesus" show on Mondays from 4:30PM5:30PM. She is often joined by her sister, Scarlett Hoskins. This is a valuable training tool as Tiffany has expanded it to do her show at times with the help of her friends. Brother Wayne Gibson does a preaching show each Sunday evening at 5PM, and Brother Terry O'Brein does a show each Saturday evening beginning at 6PM. In the months ahead, there will be several shows added that will include agriculture programming keeping farmers abreast of planting dates and times. Installed weather equipment will help with local forecast of temperature, humidity wind 2022, hopes are for the station to sell adverts for an increase in revenue. Tiffany & Scarlett Hoskins Request & Dedications
Summer has arrived in the hills once again. The morning sun ensures us that the days will be longer and hotter. The sun will bake the land, while the forest emits the most wonderful odor found in the floral fauna hiding beneath the tree canopy. The sound of children playing in the distance will echo throughout the hollers, while they swing from the wild grapevines, and slip from the watchful eyes of their parents and take a dip in the local creek. They will skip the stones on the surface of the water, where large mosquitoes skate on long awkward legs. The neighbors will play baseball, and the sound of the bat hitting the ball will ring just as loud as those splashing in the coolness of the water. At night, tired and worn out from their play, they will arrive at home with dirty little faces. They will slip into the tiny shacks along the ridge, trying to not let the flies in the screen door that will slam if they release it too early. Once in the home, they will wash their faces in the dishpan, and the water will feel good, because the house will be hot from the summer heat, because not many can afford the luxury of the air conditioner. One sound that you will not hear on in many of the homes is the sound of a spoon or fork scraping dinner from the supper dish. For many in Appalachia will go to bed hungry this night. The children in the mountains get out of school near the end of May each year and will return sometime closer to Labor Day. During this time, and especially this year with super high inflation and other factors, the children who normally rely on school lunches to fill their bellies, will not know this luxury. This will not deter many, for with the rising of the morning sun, many of the children will once again escape their poverty-stricken world to their makeshift forts in the woods. Here they will scavenge the woods over for berries that they can eat by the dirty hands full. In the evenings they will return home with hands stained with blackberry, strawberry, huckleberry, mulberry, and raspberry stains. Appalachian children are often raised hard. They take the punches of life, dodging the knockout blow that will surely be attempted one day. On your TV at night, commercials will run of the poor and starving in distant lands, but one need not look far from the borders of the US to realize that hunger exists here in the hills of Appalachia. You can offer hope to your neighbors during the hard times ahead. We encourage you to support our mission and the endeavors that we undertake to minister to the needs of those here. If you feel compelled to give, you can send your contributions to Water Into Wine Food Pantry 5083 Middle Fork Suite B Salyersville, KY 41465. We are a 501c3 and can offer you a tax deduction on your donations. Though hard times have come knocking at our doors once again, we ask you to help the folks in Appalachia to stand strong in these times. Hard Times Knocking At My Door
Summer 2022 Preparations are currently underway for the fall festival. Several volunteers have worked the fields for sorghum, and it has been planted. Providing that the summer does not damage the crop, the fall festival should return to its original state this summer with the festivities of years past. Mark your calendar, as our festival is always the first Friday and Saturday in Ocotber. 2021 Food Distributions As the pandemic swept across the land in 2021 and came to a close at the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022, the year of 2021 saw the distribution of over 3,000,000 lbs of food. This came from different sources including God's Food Pantry and the Christian Appalachian Project, and Servants of Our Lord. In 2022 we desire your prayers as we tackle new challenges and expansion opportunities. Even as the Covid has subsided, we have made the choice to remain curbside as it tends to serve our clients better, along with our volunteers. In 2022, we are actively seeking a heating and cooling company to install refrigeration in our reefer trailer to help in the preservation of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with milk products. The pantry has already received a grant for the installation cost of the units required to provide the refrigeration. Easter Theater The Lakefront Church, the mother of the Lakefront Outreach Ministries, put on the Life of Christ before a packed house. The play depicted the life of Christ to include the crucifixion and resurrection. The church sponsored a community dinner following the morning services with nearly 130 attending the dinner. Agriculture Coming Soon Long term plans for the outreach include the development of an agriculture component to the ministry. This will start with the application for a grant to establish a high tunnel for the purpose of greenhouse plants and food sourcing. Various classes which will include agriculture practices, seminars, and classes will be incorporated along with food preservation and more emphasis on the pantry's FARM TO TABLE Program. The Farm To Table Program allows local farmers to donate their excess crops for tax deductions under the pantry's 501c3. This will not only help the farmers but will also boost foods available in the pantries. Going Green and What It Means A grant from the Wellcare Foundation for Kentucky Medicaid allowed the mission to convert from natural gas to bottled gas during the winter of 2021. During this time frame, it was observed that this switch saved the mission roughly 60% of the previous year's heating of the facility. During the summer of 2022, we are working with various green energy companies to determine the route to place solar atop the building in order to build a grid that will help reduce the cost of electricity usage at the mission. We are planning on converting various zones in the building to tankless on demand water heaters instead of utilizing the large 500-gallon tanks currently in place. It is important for us to reach the goal of a 50% reduction in general utilities by the year 2025. This will allow our budget to further expand the services that are offered at the ministry and increase our footprint of our current outreach goals.
Food insecurity exists in every county in Kentucky. Wolfe County has the highest food insecurity rate in the state, at 22.8 percent. Oldham County has the lowest food insecurity rate in the state, at 9.0 percent. The 5th Congressional District has the highest food insecurity rate of Kentucky’s congressional districts, at 19.8 percent. Children are at a higher risk of food insecurity; 22 percent of Kentucky’s children are foodinsecure. Eleven Kentucky counties have childhood insecurity rates of 30 percent or higher: Wolfe (37.0 percent); Harlan (31.6 percent); Clay (31.4 percent); Knox (31.1 percent); McCreary (30.7 percent); Magoffin (30.7 percent); Lee (30.5 percent); Jackson (30.3 percent); Martin (30.3 percent); Breathitt (30.2 percent); and Lewis (30.0 percent). 29.8 percent of Kentuckians in food-insecure households have incomes above 185 percent of the poverty line, making them likely ineligible for most federal nutrition assistance programs. The “Food Budget Shortfall” – the additional dollars food-insecure Kentuckians report needing to meet their food needs – was $346,164,000. Key local findings: Poverty in Kentucky (A Snapshot) The size and remoteness of Magoffin County creates a challenge of serving the many clients that inhabit the rural mountains and hollers. The rising gas prices will make it even more difficult in the upcoming months for people to get out the rural area and seek their desperately needed assistance. The Water Into Wine does not offer mobile services for pantry purposes.
Appalachian Cooking Those growing up in the hills and hollers of Appalachia, well remember the old wood cookstove. Usually nestled in the corner of the kitchen, the stove was utilized as a dual purpose appliance. It helped make the house warm on winter days, and hot on summer days. The old-timers also used it to cook their family meals on. As a child, I remember going to my grandmothers, and playing with the wood that was kept in the cardboard box beside the cookstove. My siblings and I would build cabins from the sticks of wood, until we were forced to quit because of the numerous splinters embedded in our fingers. It was a full time job gathering wood to cook the meals. The wood was snaked from the hills by mule, and brought to the wood yard where it was cut with a cross cut saw, and then split with a double bit axe. The chips would lie thick about the wood yard. In the morning, it was the clatter of metal against metal, and the smell of wood smoke rising from the roaring fire in the belly of the cookstove that aroused sleepy heads. It was about the sound of cast iron skillets slid across the metal, and soon the sound of the popping hot lard rendered from the middling of the freshly butchered hog. The smell of the fresh pork sausage, hams, and the smell of cathead biscuits filled the morning air. Olive Oil for frying 20 dry land fish, whole (see also preparation) 2 eggs 1 cup flour 1 cup corn meal (or polenta) 1 tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. garlic powder 1/2 tsp. onion powder Prepare the mushrooms first by washing them gently under cold water, slicing them lengthwise into strips (the bigger the mushroom, the more slices you can get), then soak them overnight in salt water in the refrigerator. Drain water off mushrooms. Using a colander, rinse the mushrooms under cold, running water. Pat the mushrooms dry with a paper towel. When ready to fry: Beat eggs in one bowl. In another bowl, mix flour, corn meal, salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Dip sliced mushrooms into egg. Then into flour mixture. (For a thicker coating you can dip them again by putting them back into egg and roll in flour). Heat a skillet with the olive oil. Place the mushrooms in skillet and fry mushrooms until golden brown or slightly darker, Mushrooms must be turned to evenly cook both sides. Place on paper towel to drain any grease. Note: If you have 10 whole mushrooms cut in half length wise, it will serve 20 people at 2 pieces each. Directions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Dry-Land Fish When Spring comes, those in the mountains take to the hills to search for the valuable morel mushroom, known as dry-land fish. Folks in the hills will spend hours scouring the mountains for this diamond in the rough. The recipe follows:
do not depend on Tide, Gain, Armor Hammer, and other laundry detergents to clean their clothing. The Appalachian often made their washing detergent from Lye Soap made in the back yards throughout the mountains. Making Old-Fashioned Lard Soap Soap Making Precautions Let’s get the scary but important stuff out of the way first. Soap is made from lye (otherwise known as caustic soda or soda ash) which is extremely alkaline. When mixed with water, it causes a chemical reaction that gives off fumes and will burn your skin on contact. So due care must be taken when mixing the lye and water and making the soap. Always add the lye to the water not the water to the lye, or you might get a volcanic eruption happening "Daddy loved and raised eight kids on a miner's pay Mommy scrubbed our clothes on a washboard ever' day Why I've seen her fingers bleed To complain, there was no need She'd smile in mommy's understanding way"...Loretta Lynn Long before Loretta Lynn sang these lyrics, long before Maytag, Amana, Hotpoint, and the countless other brands of the modern washer, the women of Appalachia washed the family's clothing daily on a washboard. In Coal Miner's Daughter, Lynn sang, "Mommy scrubbed our clothes on a washboard every day, why I've seen her fingers bleed, to complain, there was no need..." Women of Appalachia, in some of the remote hollers throughout Eastern Kentucky, continue to scrub clothing on the washboard, and hang their clothing on a backyard clothes line. Several cabins throughout Eastern Kentucky still lack the basic necessity of electricity. This has not hampered the survival of the mountain person. The families of Appalachia oils or fats water (distilled, filtered or rainwater is best) caustic soda/lye . Wearing gloves and protective glasses is advisable. If you do happen to accidentally get some on your skin, keep some vinegar close at hand to help neutralise the burn. When the lye and water mix, there is a chemical reaction, and they give off fumes, so it’s best to mix them in a well-ventilated area or outside. And make soap when the kids and the pets are not around. Lard Soap Ingredients There are three basic ingredients for making soap: You can also add essential or fragrance (synthetic) oils, colours and botanicals for speciality soaps. Lye is a naturally occurring substance, and while it’s the scary part of soap making, there’s no way of making soap without it. You can actually make lye yourself, by leaching water through ash from a fire, but it’s also readily available and cheap to buy from the supermarket or hardware store. I got mine from Woolies and used very little to make around 1 kilo of soap, so it’s going to last for years!
The Appalachian Mountains has long been the breeding grounds for Bluegrass and Country Music. The talent lies thick in the hollows of Eastern Kentucky, where beautiful vocals can be heard from the front porches of cabins during the summer months. Jen Tackett is one of those artist that is gifted with the musical talent. She has recently released her newest song, "If I Told You." The song is currently available on Spotify and Apple Music. A native of Georgetown, Kentucky, Jenn is the Kentucky 4-H talent specialist that works and develops talents in youth throughout the state. Jennifer, growing up on a tobacco farm in Stamping Ground, Kentucky, embraced her Kentucky roots early, and used her talents in music to reach children around the state. Always full of energy, and constantly bubbling over, Jennifer works with various groups in the state to highlight various causes. Recently she participated in a concert tour that focused on battered women and domestic violence through a concert series called, "The Mountain Grrl Experience." When Jennifer is not working, she is at home, where she is always seeking adventures with her 7 year old son, Reid and husband Ray, and their family dog Dinah, and an evil cat surnamed storm. What makes Jennifer so special isn't her gift to create music that tells stories of Appalachia, its the the attitude of the simple Appalachian Girl that she is. When asked if Nashville is in her future, she responds rather shyly, " I don't think so, I like what I'm doing here. I love being a mother and wife. The family that I have is everything to me, and I really am not ready to embrace the Nashville lifestyle. Jennifer, like many other Appalachian families, could chase fame and fortune, but its the family that keeps them grounded and at home. Jennifer's newest song is entitled "If I told You". It is a story of a painful period in her personal life. A story of someone who has built walls to keep others from getting too close. On Apple music, you can find that single and her others singles, Haunt You and Let It Play. "“I told you I only smoke when I drink / Because I didn’t want to know what you think / If I told you I needed one each night before bed.” Event the mountain honesty can not escape the words of a song. Appalachian Music Spotlight
Herbal Remedies: Appalachian Herbs In 1776, while the Declaration of Independence was being drafted, the great French botanist Andre Michaux stood atop North Carolina’s Grandfather Mountain and sang the French national anthem. It was a moment that represented the culmination of years of exploration into the magnificent variety of plants that flourish in the southern Appalachians — a concentration of flora unequaled on the North American continent or even in the whole of Europe. As significant as was the work of Michaux, Native American tribes such as the Cherokee and the Catawba had been roaming the lush hillsides and gorges for centuries before his time, discovering a multitude of uses for these plants — one of the most significant being medicinal. The region is a veritable outdoor pharmacy of medicinal plants, which were not only part of the recipes of yesterday’s tribal medicine men, but continue to occupy a place in today’s pharmacopoeias. In fact, so important are the botanical sources of modern medicines that environmental scientist G. Tyler Miller has estimated that 40 percent of all the medicine on the shelves of today’s drugstores have plant origins. While any attempt at a complete listing of known medicinal plants of the southern Appalachians might require volumes, a brief walk along their paths will, I hope, serve to illustrate the enormous impact the area has had on modern medical practice. Mayapple Still another abundant medicinal plant of southern Appalachia is the mayapple, known botanically as Podophyllum peltatum. These plants usually grow in clusters with umbrella-like leaves, a white inconspicuous flower, and a small greenish yellow fruit, whose sweet taste makes it ideal for jams, jellies and preserves. A medicinal substance called podophyllum is obtained from the dried powdered root and, compounded with tincture of benzoin, is used as a caustic for the removal of warts and other papillomas. Indian Tobacco During the warm months of August and September, when little else blooms in the fields and hillsides, the light blue flowers of Indian tobacco (Lobelia inflata) grace the landscape. The stems are yellow to purplish, quite hairy, and branched about midway. Its medicinal substance is an alkaloid called lobeline, which is derived from the leaves and tops of the plant, which, when dried to a powder, are greenish-yellow in color. Lobeline is used as a respiratory stimulant and for the treatment of spasmodic bronchitis and chronic emphysema. Its popular name comes from the fact that American Indians once smoked its leaves to relieve asthma and other ailments. In recent years, lobeline has also found use as an ingredient in preparations designed to help people curb the smoking habit. Witch Hazel A traditional astringent (skin cleaner) and ingredient in numerous other pharmaceutical products is witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana). It is a bush of the southern mountains that surprises us by blooming in autumn rather than spring, putting on a colorful display of bright yellow flowers that grow in feathery clusters. The name, witch hazel, developed from its reputed properties as a divining rod; folklore tells of the plant’s tendency to bend toward the Earth when held over underground water. Witch hazel is extremely important commercially. The extract made by distilling the bark and leaves in alcohol has been used by pharmacists for more than a century. Bottles on the shelves of drugstores worldwide have labels recommending use of the extract for bruises, insect bites, sun burn, poison ivy rash and as an aftershave lotion.
Water Into Wine Food Pantry 5083 Middle Fork Suite B Salyersville, KY 41465 Ginseng is a native plant to Eastern Kentucky. The plant grows in the deep-dark hollows, hidden among mountain nooks and crannies. Over the years, the medical industry has found the worth of this valuable herb, and the price is nothing to sneeze at, currently at $600 per pound. If a person has a good eye for the plant, he or she can easily dig several pounds per day. With poverty at a max in Eastern Kentucky, and gold growing from the ground in the form of ginseng, the mountains sometimes gets crowded with those digging the roots of this crop. Although the government now limits the season on this plant, Appalachian Gold- Ginseng and Other Herbs many in the mountains poach the crop out of season. In some cases, the poaching of this plant is not only out of season, but those who dare to cross property lines to rob another man of his crop pays a penalty. In some cases, it has turned to bloodshed with several individuals who have been shot stealing a neighbor's patch of ginseng. The hunt for gold in the mountains also includes other types of herbs, including: May Apple Root which sells for $3.00 per pound, Slippery Elm Bark sells for $300 per pound, bloodroot-$6.00 per pound, Sassafras roots, $122.25 per pound. There are plenty of gold hiding in the mountain fauna.