APPALACHIAN N AVIGATI N G THE STORMS OF APPALACHIA L A K EF R O N T MI N I S T R IE S MAGAZINE Coping with the storms of the past, present, and future
TOOLS TO HELP COMBAT FOOD INSECURITY IN APPALACHIA On-Line Grocery Circular Years ago, when Wal-Mart, and other big box stores started talking about smartphones and apps that would allow customers to order in advance and have their food waiting on them at the pick-up counter, many laughed and said that was futuristic thinking and that thought was unrealistic. Forward those thoughts to today. The market has completely skewed toward this method of shopping with the expansion of internet and technology, many of the large box stores have physically changed their space to accommodate this growing market. We at Water Into Wine Food Pantry are excited to pioneer that model in the pantry. Water Into Wine is currently the only program in the state of Kentucky working on Order Ahead. We are third in the United States to offer this program. Since induction into the program, we have grown exponentially. We set out to serve 50 families, and in a matter of two months, we have increased our distribution to 125 families. The process is simple, and the clients love the convenience. Some of the major problems that we find the program addresses is for those who are physically disabled, those who have limited schedules because of doctor appointments and work, for those who lack reliable transportation, for those who wait in line, and it also helps to alleviate traffic during the normal pantry distribution. Our next move is to migrate our various agencies that pick up for their clients into the system. This will help mitigate problems that arise during normal distribution. It will also allow case workers to sit down and work with clients on food choices. The newest change comes with the addition of the produce box. Instead of listing each produce item that our clients can order, they can now elect to add a produce box to their cart that counts as one item. This box will include potatoes and any other fruit and vegetable that we may have.
POST-FLOOD RECOVERY IN APPALACHIA POST-FLOOD IN APPALACHIA The raging flood waters have receded into the memories of those living along the streams in Eastern Kentucky. The sound of roaring waters, cries for help from neighbors and friends, the wail of sirens coming to the rescue, and the sounds of the raging thunderstorms have been replaced by the sound of the whippoorwill and nightingale during the evenings. As normal as those sounds usually are, they are far from the norm in these hills. A drive along the backroads of Breathitt, Knott, and other Eastern Kentucky Counties affected by the flooding in 2022, a new normal has come to those who called the deep mountain hollows home. Rows of homes, nestled along the rivers and creeks were once the center of life for mountain families. Passing in the evenings, light from the windows spilled onto the pathways and roadways welcoming those who journey through. The sounds of life resonated through the rows of houses. The voices of children as they did their homework and got ready for another day at school, the sound of the tabby cat as she chased mice in the yard, and the crow of a rooster taking roost for the night, let the passerby know that life was there. That same journey, months after the flooding, shows a much changed landscape. Those same homes, once hubs of life, now sit silhouetted against the Kentucky moon clothed in a darkness that human words can not describe. The loudest sound that echoes through the once bustling communities, is the deafening roar of an indescribable silence. The homes that were once warm and welcoming, now sit as hideous monsters with gaping black holes where windows and doors used to be. The animals have moved along, the barnyard cat and the rooster have each found a new home. The families have moved to farms higher on the ridges or now gather in public housing. The only visitors that still haunt this forsaken land are the ghosts of those who were lost in the mountain mayhem of that night.
POST-FLOOD RECOVERY IN APPALACHIA (CONTINUED) As the car makes its way up the snake-like route 542 in Breathitt County, one will notice less debris along the creekbanks. The roads have been repaved, while the breaks in the shoulders are being rebuilt. Missing from the fields are the pieces of homes and vehicles washed away in the night. New bridges now cross Quick Sand Creek. Replacing tents are now make-shift tiny homes and campers. Many of these dwellings are not finished. They lack basic necessities, such as running water and electricity. As deplorable as the dwellings are, the families that huddle inside the dwellings make the most of it. Many are thankful for the roof over their heads, and for the family members that were spared on that rainy night. They continue to grieve as remembrances of lost loved ones make their way into the conversation. They tell of horrific stories of loved ones washed away, seeing whole generations of homes scattered about the countryside. Some of these people wear their scars openly, while others suppress them deep in their souls. For many, life has taken on a new normalcy. The government, which failed these people with the meager financial offerings of FEMA, worked feverishly to move these families from their land and into new home development communities. Many of the Appalachian people refused this governmental gesture. They are as much married to their land as they are their spouses. Many returned to their plots along the creeks where generations have been raised. Each hoping that the next storm will not be as bad. Life in Appalachia has hardly been free of the storms since that night. The people, bewildered by their government, shamed by the outside world, continue their struggles. Flood waters have rose and receded since that night, cold came creeping into the trailer camps at Christmas, and families had to be evacuated to local shelters to weather the pending cold. April, a resident on 542 has yet to see the light at the end of the storm. Her home washed away in the night during the flood. When found, she was huddled in a tent with two children and her husband. Supplies were quickly brought in, and a church in Tennessee came forth with campers and placed them as temporary shelter for April and her neighbors. Grateful to be out of the tent and back in warmer quarters, April faced the storms once again. Two months after the storm destroyed her home, her son was killed in a tragic car accident, and two days later April lost her husband to the demons that lurk the hills. If these storms were not enough, the bottom where April and her neighbors had their campers was hit by a tornado, and now lies in a mass of twisted trees and debris. Yet though the storm rages on, April continues to move forward with life. April, pictured on the right with a friend following the horrific flooding. Disaster continues to strike her family. April is like the hundreds of other Appalachians in these hills. This is not their first storm in life, and the next storm is always in the distance, waiting to pounce upon the land and its people. Scientists called the flooding that hit Eastern Kentucky a thousand year flood, yet already in 2023, Western Kentucky, 200 miles to the west of this ravaged land, the same amount of rain fell in the same time frame. This only raises fears among these mountain people, and the question has become not if it happens again, but rather when will it happen again.
FENTANYL EPIDEMIC BEYONDTHE DARKMATTER SCI BUZZ > The 420 counties in the Appalachian region of the United States have been disproportionately impacted by an evolving epidemic of opioid addiction but have fewer resources with which to respond to the epidemic, according to new research published by NACo in a report titled Opioids in Appalachia: The Role of Counties in Reversing a Regional Epidemic. The report was published in collaboration with the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a federalstate partnership established by Congress in 1965 to bring the region into socioeconomic parity with the rest of the nation. At the turn of the millennium, the opioid overdose death rate for Appalachian counties was roughly equal to that of the rest of the country, but by 2017, the death rate for opioid overdoses in Appalachian counties was 72 percent higher than that of nonAppalachian counties. This disparity in opioid deaths was driven in part by the abundant availability of prescription painkillers in Appalachia, according to the report. In 2017, opioid prescription rates were 45 percent higher in Appalachian counties than elsewhere in the nation. The report further finds that even as opioid prescription rates in the region decreased from 2012 to 2017, total opioid-related deaths in Appalachia continued to increase as individuals struggling with addiction turned to more dangerous illicit opioids, such as fentanyl. Further compounding the impact of the opioid epidemic on Appalachia, according to the report, is the strain it places on county governments and the relative scarcity of resources available to the region’s counties. One study cited in the report found that the cost of opioid misuse rose to more than $1,000 per capita in 2015 in 15 Ohio counties. Appalachian counties, especially, are struggling with these additional costs because the region generally has fewer resources than other counties. In 2012, Appalachian counties generated 35 percent less revenue per capita (or, $650 less) than nonAppalachian counties, and spent 38 percent — or approximately $711 — less per resident than nonAppalachian counties. In addition to its research findings, the NACo-ARC report offers recommendations for local action on the part of Appalachian county officials that can help to decrease overdose and addiction rates in the region. These recommendations are discussed in five sections, each of which features key action steps and one or more case studies highlighting an Appalachian county: (1) leadership, (2) prevention, (3) recovery, (4) rehabilitation for justice-involved individuals and (5) economic development. The recommendations and case studies contained in the report are designed to aid Appalachian county leaders in their efforts to formulate effective, efficient and sustainable responses to the opioid epidemic. As stated in the report, “As leaders in their communities, county officials in Appalachia and across the country are well-positioned to drive local efforts to overcome the opioid epidemic. They have authority and legitimacy from holding public office, coupled with empathy and trust from daily community involvement and can leverage relationships with businesses, community organizations and other governments to enhance the community response to addiction.” OPIOID ADDICTION HOTLINE Call the 24/7 helpline 1-844-289-0879
The heart of a community Prepared and delivered over 5500 meals. Distributed toys, school supplies, and over 400 backpacks to children in need. Distributed clothing such as coats, boots, socks, and hats to help flood victims make it through the winter. Distributed cleaning supplies, water, food, clothing, toys, animal supplies and food, fruits and vegetables, pressure washers, and tools to more than 3000 families. During the Thanksgiving holiday provided 300 food boxes, 300 hams, and 500 cooked meals. Delivered and distributed 12 loads of furniture and three loads of appliances. On Thanksgiving Day, cooked and provided 184 meals for families. Distributed nearly 100 kerosene heaters along with nearly 200 gallons of kerosene; 30 propane heaters and tanks; 90 buddy heaters and tanks; blankets/throws; and 70 electric heaters. Distributed gift cards from Lowes, Walmart, and Dollar General along with pre-paid gift cards and fuel cards for kerosene. Given out 30 dehumidifiers and 20 air purifiers. Gave multiple loads of cleaning supplies, clothing, water/drinks, blankets, and many more items to otherlocal fire departments. The RFD was able to have a shed built for a mother and son as temporary housing. Provided 11 campers and one RVforfamilies in need of immediate housing.Expecting more campers to arrive. Distributed building supplies such as drywall, drywall mud, insulation, and lumber. Provided 20 new beds. During Christmas holiday events, distributed over 6000 gifts. Provided 74 wood-burning stoves and are expecting more to arrive. Communities that thrive and survive are defined by the level of commitment from individuals and organizations that are willing to do whateverit takes to take care of the people. The heart of a community is rooted in its very fabric. And at the heart of the Rousseau community (and neighboring areas) beats the Rousseau Fire Department(RFD). The RFD has been on the front lines helping its community and neighbors since the day afterthe devastating July 2022 flood, providing food, clothing, furniture/appliances, toys, gift cards, campers, building supplies, heaters/blankets, cleaning supplies, baby necessities, and much more. According to the RFD as of Friday, January, 27, 2023, it has: The RFD will continue to serveBreathitt County from its CommunityBuilding at 9421KY-30.Provided 20 new beds. Recently the RFD, passed out nearly 200 rolls of insulation, 100 food boxes, clothing/coats, and more, all while working diligently to procure more campers, wood stoves, heating supplies, clothing, furniture/appliances, building supplies, and as one RFD member described “anything else we can get forthe people.” Mr. and Ms. Richard andEdith Hochstetterfrom Albany Wisconsin assisted with helping supply thousands of new toys from our Wisconsin connection. They made the several hundred mile trip twice in a month to insure that the boys and girls, men and women of Rousseau received Christmas gifts and also a hot Christmas Dinner. The couple helped several hundredEasternKentucky flood victims that would not have had a Christmas if it had not been fortheir dedication to theAppalachian Region and its people. The folks of EasternKentucky would like to send out a heartfelt thank you to those who donated, those who prayed, and those who sacrificed time and laborto bring comfort to these mountains and its people. Several Thousands of gifts wrapped and donated by folks from around the United States. Many for North Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and other states.
A Cold Christmas Following the floods in the mountains during 2022, the Federal Government rushed modular units utilized in the deep south that once housed hurricane victims to the mountains. They set up large sweeping settlements for families displaced by the flooding. In many instances, neighborhoods were formed, and a social footprint was created as neighbors befriended others who had weathered the storms. Camper communities to house the homeless following the floods in 2022 An arctic front located across the central Midwest on the morning of Thursday, December 22nd would quickly shift eastward towards the region throughout the day. By late evening, the front was rapidly approaching northeast Kentucky and southeast Ohio. Temperatures in advance of the front were warm enough for rain showers, but precipitation would quickly switch to snow as the arctic front rapidly pushed through the region, crossing the entire NWS Charleston forecast area from approximately 12 AM to 5 AM on Friday, December 23rd. While post-frontal snowfall was on the light side with generally less than two inches across most locations, the impacts would be much more significant, as sustained winds and gusts quickly increased following the front’s passage courtesy of cold air advection and an extremely tight pressure gradient. Wind gusts of 40-50+ mph were recorded during the morning of December 23rd as temperatures rapidly plummeted across the region, resulting in some blowing and drifting snow. Temperature drops in excess of 40 degrees over the course of six hours were recorded across portions of the region, leading to a flash freeze of roadways in some cases. Huntington, WV went from 45 °F at 1:20 AM to (+) 1 °F at 7:20 AM, or a temperature drop of 44 degrees in 6 hours! These bitter temperatures and gusty winds resulted in dangerous wind chills across the entire region on December 23rd into the morning of December 24th. Wind chills of 10 to 30 below occurred in the lowlands, with values as low as 50 below across the higher mountain elevations! Accumulating snowfall would quickly end for most lowland locations by late morning of December 23rd, with just some very light additional accumulations for the higher terrain through Christmas morning. The bitterly cold temperatures would however persist into the holiday weekend. Low pressure associated with the (aforementioned) arctic front would phase with a disturbance moving up the eastern seaboard during the morning of December 23rd. This helped to facilitate a rapid intensification of the system, with a central pressure of approximately 996 mb just north of Detroit, Michigan at 11 PM December 22nd lowering to 968 mb at 11 PM December 23rd over the southwest portion of Quebec. Given such, the system officially met the criteria of a "Bomb Cyclone", in which barometric pressure readings dropped in excess of 24 mb (0.71 in Hg) over a 24-hour period. The immense size, slow movement, and extremely tight pressure gradient of the system would allow for continued gusty conditions and bitter cold temperatures (and wind chills) through Christmas Eve, albeit not as harsh as what was observed on December 23rd. The system would continue to gradually weaken and exit northeast away from the area on Christmas Day, allowing for winds to continue to gradually lessen. Well below normal temperatures would persist through December 25-26th, but to a much lesser extent than what was observed the prior two days. Strengthening return flow as high pressure shifted east across the region on December 27th would allow the area to finally exit the deep freeze. In the midst of the deep freeze that settled over the land, the government realized at the last minute that they had made a grave mistake. The campers that had been brought to the mountains were designed for warm climates and lacked insulation to maintain heat. A knock on the door in December, was often in the form of a uniformed man who was coming to evacuate the family from the freezing cold campers, where water pipes had frozen and burst, and temperatures had fallen into the 30s. Families were taken to shelters at state parks to weather out the storm through Christmas. Flood survivors living in travel trailers in Crocketsville had to be transported by first responders to Buckhorn Lake State Resort Park after water lines froze due to the arctic blast. The evacuation happened so fast, one family was not able to bring their Christmas presents along. “What little presents we did have, the kids didn’t, we didn’t have time to bring nothing. We didn’t have too much time to evacuate or whatever,” Josh Cockerham, who is a husband and father of four, said. What they do have during this time is a temporary cabin, and even a Christmas movie on display, but the usual early morning excitement was actually a painful reminder of uncertainties from this year. (Continued...)
“Adults, you know, we’re different. We grew out of a lot of stuff, but like I said what little stuff we did have, we didn’t really have no money to buy much, but what stuff they had, they didn’t get to open it,” Josh Cockerham said. What continues to be on their mind is the hard task of finding a new permanent home after losing everything they owned. Josh Cockerham made money in the past by logging and other handy work, but the cold has made job seeking difficult. “We gotta find a place to rent, which I ain’t got the money to rent a place, or fix our house back, which I ain’t got the money to fix the house back neither,” he said. While the Cockerham family is happy to be together this holiday weekend, the thrill Christmas usually brings is instead a chill. From Adair County to the narrow, winding roads of Eastern Kentucky, a special delivery made its way to a Breathitt County couple Friday. Doug and Rena Allen’s home of 35 years was destroyed in last summer’s flood. Since then, they spent time living in a tent, in a car and eventually an RV. Finally, on Friday, their new home arrived, a tiny home to Eastern Kentucky flood survivor Rena Allen. “It is just beautiful,” Rena Allen said of the home. “It’s the prettiest tiny home that I’ve ever seen in my life and I’m happy that it’s mine. I love it.” Rena Allen cried as her new 200-square-foot tiny home was delivered, a gift organized by Nancy Fouser of Versailles. “Hearing about the flooding in Eastern Kentucky, it bothered me from the beginning,” Fouser said. “I know when something like that happens people send clothes and food, but then I keep reading and seeing on the news how bad things still are. I thought ‘what in the world, what can we do?’” Fouser’s friend Danny Reeves of Columbia, KY., designed, built and delivered the labor of love. A local church and the Rousseau Volunteer Fire Department helped connect Fouser with the Allens, and on Friday the whole plan came together. “It just brings tears to your eyes because I’ve never met her in my life until today,” Rena Allen said of Fouser. “It’s just amazing, you know, what a prayer can do.” After a difficult nine months, Rena Allen said she’ll never lose her home to a flood again. They plan to keep it on the trailer it was delivered in so they can easily move it should flood waters ever return. “I won't lose what I got anymore,” Rena Allen said. Fouser, who organized the donation, isn’t done trying to bring homes to people in need. She said she’s working on starting an organization called Freedom Homes. “The reaction of the people, to have something to move in, was just overwhelming,” Fouser said. “We turned down this drive and we all started to cry, we just could not believe it.” A Home of Their Own Hope Evangelical Free Church of Monroe Wisconsin Hope Evangelical Free Church of Monroe, Wisconsin is a very small congregation with a huge heart. They also operate the Care Closet and the Pregnancy Center where women can come for help without feeling guilty or whatever other feelings are associated with an unplanned pregnancy. The women can get whatever they need after the baby is born, from formula to clothes to baby furniture. There’s no cost for anything. It’s all given with love and a caring spirit. They have donated a lot of clothing and furniture to us, and we have brought it all to Appalachia. To help residents of Eastern Kentucky they have provided 20 new fans. This is just an example of folks from Wisconsin working to change a part of the world that they have only heard about. The Appalachian people of Eastern Kentucky would like to thank these folks for the love and support that they show. They would like for them to know that you do indeed make a difference hundreds of miles from your home. "They call us lazy, deplorable, and bums, and then tell us to get a job..we look around and see none in sight...."
Each pantry day, a familiar face shows up at the Water Into Wine Food Pantry. He visits every client in the parking lot, greeting them and giving away trinket items from Anthem Health Insurance. Craig Hall is the Medicare Representative assigned to the area as an agent for Anthem. Each visit, Craig stands ready to assist in new enrollment and to answer questions that his clients may have regarding their policies. One of the best solutions that Craig has to offer our clients is the dual eligibility program for those enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid. If a client meets these guidelines, they are eligible for $125.00 a month in free groceries and $40 a month toward any utility that they have. Health Insurance and Food Insecurity
Matthew 5:45 KJV reads: "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. A Sick Land In Appalachia, the most feared one in the land is God Himself. On Sunday mornings, droves of people flock to the hundreds of tiny churches scattered across the hills and hollers to pay almas to a God who is considered a loving and vengeful God. During the flood, many spoke that God caused the flood waters to ravage the land because of the evilness of mankind. Judy asks, "How can God bless a people that has turned from Him? How can He condone our drug use, our sexual immorality, and our evil intentions that plagues this country?" Judy, like many other Appalachians, find this attitude in Biblical scriptures when God dealt with Sodom and Gomorrah in biblical times, destroying the city due to moral decay and practices that were unclean. "How can we be blessed and spared God's wrath when we play church? We drink it up, shoot it up, sex it up, and teach our children to ignore God through the week and then come and worship Him on Sundays. How can God be pleased and bless His people?" In fact, God promised never to destroy the world by flood with the covenant of the rainbow. Judy slowly looks around the room and says, "We have even demonized the sign that God has given us through promise. The LGBT embrace it as their flagship. God was true to His word, He never destroyed the world by flood, only ours. We know better in Appalachia. Our ancestors drug us to church. We cut our teeth on the wooden pews of those old church houses" If we want our land healed, we have to repent and turn from our evil ways. " During the flooding of 2022, nearly 20% of the churches in the counties devastated by flooding were destroyed. Some, already in decline of membership, have locked their doors for good and moved on to other churches. Religion is a major player in the life of the Appalachian. They are steeped in tradition, and spans throughout the history of the region. Many communities are anchored by a small church that was begun by the forefathers of the families that lived up the hollers. They faithfully attended services and social gatherings at the church. In many cases, the church house and the school operated from the same building. Relatives were often gathered in these buildings for two days and two nights as they grieved the passing of their loved ones. It has rained on the just and unjust. Some have cried out for God to save them, and others wait. Judy says, "You can't cry out with that poison running in your veins and whiskey on your breath and expect God to hear you. We have to change our ways."
New Worship Center On July 16th, 2023 Lakefront Ministries celebrated answered prayers with the opening of a brand-new worship center. Located on the Lakefront property, the worship center, a 60x100 foot facility offers 6,000 feet of worship space. The facility will seat roughly 300 person and features handicapped accessible restrooms, a beautiful foyer to greet guest, a sound room, choir director's office and a pastoral study. This new building has been in the plans for years. The structure was held up during construction by the Covid pandemic and also by state regulators. This new sanctuary replaces a make-shift sanctuary in the gym of the school and will offer a more inviting atmosphere for worship and praise. The new space is equipped with a new sound system and will also feature a developed parking lot with handicapped accessibility in design. Education and dining options will continue to be offered in the existing school building as repairs and renovation is set to begin in several areas in the upcoming months. Future enhancements will include lighting, a steeple, and community electronic chimes. We invite everyone to come out and worship with us on Sundays. Sunday School is at 10AM and Morning Worship and Praise is on Sundays at 11AM. The design of the new facility was a vision of Sister Sarah Patrick. The plans started on paper as a rough drawing and moved forward from there. The church would like to thank everyone who helped make this day possible. They would like to thank the church in Cincinnati that so graciously donated the seating. All the movers who came together to make it possible to transport the seating to Salyersville, we share heart-felt gratitude. For all those who prayed, donated, gave us ideas, and stood with us and never gave up on us, we thank you. This is a community building and that is where we leave it. Pictured Above: An inside view of the new worship center. Pictured Below: Pastor Larry Patrick and Sister Sarah Patrick. P astor Larry Patrick and Sister Sarah Pat r ci k
Stephen's Memory Quilt Collection Where did they go, but to the rainbows end, where one day I know, Ill meet them again. The grief that a parent can feel while losing a child is unimaginable. They often speak how it feels as if a piece of them leaves with their child. As hard as it is, a parent must circumvent the inevitable and move on. A few years back, Kathy Bailey lost her son, Steven, to a rare form of cancer. Ms. Bailey elected to have her son Steven at the Lakefront Church of God for his wake service. It was during this time that someone came to Jeff Tackett, Administrator and Community Outreach, and asked if there was a quilt available. Over the next few weeks, God dealt with Mr. Tackett regarding this request. He called Ms. Edith Hochstetter in Albany, Wisconsin and spoke with her regarding a "memory" quilt program. She reached out to some of the local quilters in Wisconsin, and it was without delay that the first batch of hand-made quilts arrived at the mission. Since the beginning of this ministry, a total of 127 quilts have been distributed to families who have lost loved ones. Several of the quilts were donated to the flood victims of last year's flood. The quilts are often made with a theme in mind. Some quilts are made for adults, some for children. Some are designed with patriotic themes, while others are designed for farmers. A family who loses a loved one can call the mission at 606-349-6301 and arrange a time to come down to Stephen's Closet to select their quilt. Many are finding with the rising cost of floral arrangements, that draping the quilt over the casket and placing items atop the quilt is making a beautiful funeral. Following the service, the families are invited to keep the quilt in memory of their lost loved one. We would like to take this time and space to thank each person who has donated a quilt and their time to make it. The greatest peace and comfort are in knowing that somewhere in the world that people still do care, even if it's a stranger. Special thanks to our quilters: Rita, Mary, Rita, Joanne, Margie, Kari, Ardyth and her sewing club, Laura, Debbie, Jean, Mary and Edith. They truly do a labor of love. Each quilt will forever bring comfort and reminders of a day and time that hurt their soul, but a little optimism will surely rebound as people remember the kindness of a stranger who cared enough to make a quilt. A few examples of memory quilt designs to choose from.
Gov. Andy Beshear on Tuesday announced a second site on higher ground in flood-ravaged Eastern Kentucky — this time near Hazard — where plans call for initially building about 150 houses. The project would be partially funded by the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund in partnership with local nonprofit builders, says a release from the Governor’s Office. The 50-acre site, five miles from downtown Hazard, is near the Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center, schools and shopping centers. The first site, announced by Beshear in December and dubbed the Olive Branch community, sits near the Knott-Perry County line in Talcum. Beshear made Tuesday’s announcement with local officials at the Perry County Courthouse. A news release from the Governor’s Office said the Ison family contributed “prime land for the project.” “This land is located near the heart of Hazard and can be a real boost to the community. There’s really no better use for such a great piece of land than to improve housing. Better and more housing attracts better jobs and a better future,” Paul Ison said in the press release. In a statement, Beshear said: “Rebuilding on high ground is a chance to lift up entire communities with upgraded infrastructure and safe, affordable, energy-efficient homes. But our work in Eastern Kentucky is not done until there is prosperity in the entire region.” Southeastern Kentucky was devastated by flooding almost six months ago. The official death toll is 44. Rebuilding is on the minds of many residents and state leaders. Some advocacy groups have turned to the legislature to fund a $300 million emergency affordable housing package over the next two years, but a bill has not been introduced. Lawmakers return to Frankfort Feb. 7. The Governor’s Office said more parcels of the land in Perry County will be developed during later phases of the project. The state is evaluating sites for rebuilding in Perry, Knott, Letcher and Breathitt counties, which account for 75% of homes lost to flood damage. All potential building sites will have geotechnical testing during the planning and construction process, the Governor’s Office said. “To be at this point so quickly is a great day for the community. As we work to rebuild and recover, housing is one of the biggest issues that we face,” Perry County Judge-Executive Scott Alexander said. “Perry County was in a housing crisis prior to the July 2022 flood disaster. Now we are in a catastrophic housing situation. I want to thank Gov. Beshear and his team, as well as the legislators, for such a quick response to working with Perry County to help solve the housing situation.” In Knott County, the early plans for the Olive Branch community included small, medium and large home lots as well as senior apartments, park and recreation space and an elementary school. In Tuesday’s press release, the Governor’s Office said the homes in Talcum will be partially funded by the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund. “Initial planning has begun and will include an improved water treatment facility, roads and utilities for the area which will benefit the entire region,” the press release said of the Olive Branch project. “Infrastructure projects have multiple funding streams, including Eastern Kentucky SAFE funds” and federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. Many Appalachians are appalled by the thought of settlement living. They see this as a way of loss of life and a loss of freedom and community. Many wonder why they want to build all-inclusive communities that take them far from their homeplaces of birth. Far beyond the hollers and creeks that they grew up at. Many will leave behind family cemeteries where parents, grandparents, children, and aunts and uncles are buried. They will no longer garden for their spring victuals or raise their own meat for slaughter. It brings back vivid memories of the coal mining camps that were once a way of life in Eastern Kentucky. Proposed Flood Recovery Community for the survivors of the 2022 flash flooding. A coal camp where many Eastern Kentucky families were housed during the coal boom, where men and women lost their lives and lived in deplorable conditions. Community Living "I have no more confidence in our politicians than I do a meteorologist who gives a 30% chance of storms on a summer day"
Magoffin County Takes the Lead in Having the State's Highest Unemployment Rate & Lakefront Ministries Responds Magoffin County had a 8.5% unemployment rate in April 2023, marking a 0.8 percentage point decrease from a month ago. Kentucky reported a 3.8% unemployment rate in May, which is the 10th highest in the country. The national unemployment rate last month rose to 3.7% but is still 0.1 percentage points higher than last year. Counties with the highest unemployment rate in Kentucky #1. Magoffin County: 8.5% #2. Lewis County: 7.3% #3. Martin County: 6.9% #4. Elliott County: 6.7% #5. Carter County: 6.5% With Magoffin County's soaring poverty rates and unemployment rates, the Water Into Wine Food Pantry has seen an increase of 21% in client growth. Many of these clients were forced into pantry shopping by elevated inflation food costs, and a dramatic decrease in Covid benefits offered by state and local governments. In June of 2023, nearly 1,300 families received assistance at the Water Into Wine Food Pantry. This is a monthly increase of nearly 500 families of the past months. One of the hardest hit groups appear to be the senior citizens. When Congress and the President signed the largest cost-of-living increase in social security benefits, the increased inflation of food, overwhelmed that increase. Nearly 2% of our total senior clientele went from being eligible for CFSP to no longer being eligible for them. Many of those seniors were forced from the program with incomes of $5 over the limit. In order to serve our clients more and increase our totals, Water Into Wine increased its productivity. The pantry now focuses more on food rescue and finding alternative food sources. In 2023, Water Into Wine and its partners rose to the top-ranking food pantry in the state of Kentucky. Water Into Wine has held this title for the last three consecutive years. This year Water Into Wine Food Pantry has distributed nearly 3,568,000 lbs. of food. This exceeds the metropolitan areas of Lexington and Louisville. Many of these increases have been possible through the development of new technologies in the front office that distribute the word of food availability, along with formation of new partnerships that create opportunity drop-off sites in the rural communities of Magoffin County. A strong growth of technology came with the smartphone app and our curbside distribution. The app has seen thousands of downloads, as it deals with the Magoffin County community at large. The system also allows notifications to be sent to client cell phones to pass pantry announcements along. The Water Into Wine is currently testing the online shopping pantry formatted after Walmart called Order Ahead, where clients go online and shop for their food, and submit their orders. Volunteers at the pantry level then fill their carts with the preselected items. The client then receives a notification that their order has been filled, and they can arrive to pick it up. Water Into Wine was the first in the state of Kentucky to use this new method. The pantry was the third in the United States to use the service. Donated nearly $10,000 worth of clothing in the resource center. Served flood victims with emergency supplies. Distributed 109 memory quilts. Provided 800 meals to neighboring Breathitt decimated by the flooding. Provided distribution to the Rousseau Fire Department for flood recovery. Networked with North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, and South Carolina to mobilize 5 campers to house flood victims in. Increased distribution to rural areas of Magoffin County. Increased support to Magoffin County Meals on Wheels Program. Increased support of classroom snack initiatives. Continued literacy awareness on a global scale through the WLFC radio station. The station itself saw a 3% growth. Housed several mission teams for flood recovery. Organized flood supply relief convoys through flooded Breathitt County. Provided hundreds of meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas along with gifts for Christmas to Breathitt County residents. Cornerstone Medical provided field first aide following the flood. Helping residents locate medications destroyed by the floods. Processed 100 applications for public assistance for utilities and medical insurance. Since the induction of the program, nearly 100 families a month are being served. Plans in the near future also include serving agencies through the service. In addition to the food service, Lakefront Ministries has the following accomplishments for our community and neighbors.
Summer Victuals Summer months in the mountains is an important time of the year. It begins in the spring following a long winter spell where folks are holed up in their homes with little means of eating fresh greens. One of the most early prizes of summer is the green bean. Large stringing parties take place on front porches where the elderly tell stories and the children gather around to listen and help with the chore. Once bellies are happy with the greens, its time to start the canning for the months ahead. Often called shuck beans or leather britches, the green bean is strung on twine and placed before a sunny window to dry. Once dried, these beans are stored in a zip lock bag, and in the winter, the family can take them out and cook them with salt pork and have a good meal. Canning and pickling the green bean is another Appalachian tradition that families rely upon to feed their families through the winter months. This can be done with a pressure cooker or on an open fire. Corn is another staple crop for the mountain people. It has many uses from feeding animals, whiskey making, boiling it, freezing it, canning it, and pickling it. It is ate on the cob and off the cob, cream style or whole kernel. Beets are another food that mountain families enjoyed. The earthy taste is often cooked and pickled and ate as a side item. The juice is also reused to pickle eggs in giving it the red color. The potato is the most versatile vegetable grown on the family farm. If you want to boil it, bake it, grill it, steam it, fry it, mash it, or cook it, you have a hardy meal that compliments most dishes served on the Appalachian table. The vegetable is also good for storage so that it can be used in the family meal the year around. Whether you are topping a sandwich, making a salad, or mixing together for a hot pour of bacon grease, the lettuce and onion is staple at home. Fried Green, Juiced for Soups, Canned whole or chopped, made into sauces, or eaten on a salad or sandwich, the tomato is the red gold of the hills. The cucumber is a staple as well. Eaten peeled and with salt, used in salads, or pickled, the cucumber brings a lot to the table. Some peel and slice and put them in water, vinegar, salt and pepper, and eat chilled. Mustard greens are a fall or spring food. This leafy green is cooked in water, and then fried in grease. The greens are then served with bacon seasoning. The greens are often served with cornbread and topped with a vinegar topping. These greens are frozen or canned in a mason jar to be used at a later date.
Steve Earlin Collett age 61 of Board Tree Road, Salyersville, Kentucky passed away Friday, May 12, 2023 at the Pikeville Regional Medical Center in Pikeville, Kentucky. He was born May 19, 1961 at Middle Fork, Kentucky to the late Dewey Earlin Collett and Gathel Louise Allen Collett who survives. Survived by his wife, Regina Patrick Collett, four sons, Steven Odell (Lyndsay) Collett, Matthew David Collett, Andrew Ryan Collett, Kaden Douglas Collett, all of Salyersville, Kentucky, three daughters, Chasta Jane (William) Howes of Salyersville, Kentucky, Alisha Dawn (Billy) Crabtree of Paintsville, Kentucky, Carrie Merelene Collett of Salyersville, Kentucky, two special daughters, Rachel Collett, Jeannie Marie Porter, three brothers, Jerry Lynn Collett, Ronnie Edward Collett, Dewey Willard Collett, three sisters, Berta Ruth Ward, Alta Mae Jackson, Frankie Collett, five grandchildren, Elijah Clinton Howes, Morgan Shae Howes, Addison Grace Collett, Tinley Faith Collett, and Daniel Bryce Crabtree. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, May 16, 2023 from the Lakefront Church of God with Larry Patrick, Dallas Patrick, and Dwayne Gibson officiating. Burial will follow in the Collett Cemetery at Board Tree, Kentucky. Friends may visit the Magoffin County Funeral Home Sunday, May 14, 2023 from 6:00 P.M. till 9:00 P.M., Monday, May 15, 2023 from the Lakefront Church of God after 1:00 P.M., and any time to funeral services on Tuesday. Loving Memory Steve Collett May 19, 1961 - May 12, 2023 Loving Memory Darise Minix May 16, 1951 - March 8, 2023 Loving Memory Michael Allen Lykins October 22, 1974 - March 2, 2023 Michael Allen Lykins 48 of Saylersville passed away at his residence Thursday, March 2, 2023. He was born October 22, 1974 in Ashland to Allen and Diane Lykins. He was a HVAC Technician. He is survived by his mother Diane Lykins Westcott and her husband Barry, a son Allen Ray Lykins, a daughter Charla Lykins, a sister Aimee Grayson and her husband Tim, Mollie King that he thought of like a sister. He was preceded in death by his father Allen Lykins. Funeral services will be held 1PM Sunday, March 5, 2023 at the Magoffin County Funeral Home in Salyersville. Friends may visit Saturday, March 4, 2023 from 6 PM till 8 PM. Burial will be in the Lykins - Penix Cemetery on Mash Fork Rd in Saylersville. Grayson Funeral Home in Clay City is in charge of services. Darise Minix age 71 of Salyersville, Kentucky passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at the Paintsville ARH in Paintsville, Kentucky. He was born May 16, 1951 in Magoffin County to the late Bryce Bud" and May Minix. Survived by his wife, Wonnie Webb Minx, two sons, Derrick Thomas Minix, Justin Franklin Minix both of Salyersville, Kentucky, one daughter, Kimberly Lynn (Matthew) Caudill of Salyersville, Kentucky, two brothers, Kenneth Wayne Minix, Jackie Layne Minix, four grandchildren, Isabella "Bella" Minix, Nathaniel James Caudill, Lucas Elijah Caudill, and Jude Alexander Caudill. In addition to his parents, Darise is preceded in death by one brother, Earnest James Minix, two sister, Rosetta Minix Combs, and Mary Francis Slone. Darise was a heavy equipment operator by trade and a dedicated member of the Salyersville Freewill Baptist Church. Funeral services will be conducted at 4:00 P.M. Thursday, March 09, 2023 from the Magoffin County Funeral Home Chapel with Floyd Arnett officiating. Friends may visit the funeral home Thursday, March 09, 2023 after 2:00 P.M. till funeral services. Each of these men played a role in the Lakefront Outreach Ministries. Michael Lykins was the HVAC contact for the ministry. Steve Collett was a devoted church member, assisted with the sorghum making, construction and pantry distribution. Darise was everyone's friend, the world's greatest rabbit hunter, story-teller, and pantry distribution and volunteer. We thank these men for being a part of our lives.
Lisa King woke up July 28, 2022 to knee-deep water in her bedroom. Within an hour, the rest of the house was totally submerged, but King, her boyfriend and their dogs escaped. In the days leading up to the one year anniversary of the flood, King recalled the disaster. “Even though we lost everything and I made it out with just pajamas –no shoes on my feet, no personal belongings whatsoever –we made it out with our lives,” King said. But the losses continued over the following months. One of her dogs swallowed flood water during the escape and later died from fungal pneumonia. King and her family lived with relatives immediately after the flood. She bought a motorhome, but it broke down before she could move in. Finally, she moved into a camper provided by Kentucky Emergency Management. She still lives in that camper, but won’t for much longer: she recently bought a home. King was able to sell her flooded property through FEMA’s buyout program, and purchased a new home in nearby Payne Gap. She’ll move there in mid-August. It’s a success story that fits in with the state and federal government’s narrative of the flood’s aftermath. In a press release earlier this week, Kentucky Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency said the eastern Kentucky flood recovery was “on course.” Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, released a video shortly before the anniversary of the flood, promising to “rebuild every home and every life.” But the process hasn’t worked out yet for many people in eastern Kentucky. Wesley Bryant is on his ninth appeal for FEMA aid, attempting to get money to replace his waterlogged and moldy home. He said a FEMA employee first said his home was uninhabitable. But when he applied for aid, the agency said his home had not suffered enough damage to replace it. He said it feels like the agencies that are supposed to help him just aren’t. “Everybody’s against us,” Bryant said. A year after the floods, the walls of Bryant’s home still bulge and parts of the ceiling have collapsed. The bridge to his property was destroyed in the flood. Bryant and his family were living in a FEMA trailer until last month, when they moved into his in-law's house. Bryant said he felt mistreated by FEMA employees who didn’t understand eastern Kentuckians. “My PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is not from those waters,” Bryant said. “My PTSD is from that D.C. number that’s on the phone, where I’m going to get told how disappointing, or what a failure I am or… how my stuff is not valuable. FEMA has paid out $108 million to individual flood survivors, but many people like Bryant are still frustrated with the agency. Valrie Horn, the director of the Whitesburg-based Cowan Community Action Group, said the recovery process has been successful for many, but it's also been uneven and slow to reach many people. “A lot of our community have built back and are in states of recovery but there are many who are not there yet,” Horn said. “There are some who I don’t think have begun the process.” Meanwhile, people with success stories like Lisa King, who was able to sell her flooded property and buy a new home, still struggle to deal with what they’ve lost. King, a retired nurse, said it was her dream to live in the part of town where her home once stood – Whitesburg’s Upper Bottom neighborhood. But the area is surrounded on three sides by the river. And now, many of the houses are either boarded up or completely gone. “I had a beautiful little home, and it’s gone,” King said. “Even though I’ve got a lot, and I know I’m going to have a lot, it’s not like having your dream.” Kentucky residents who are struggling to rebuild after devastating flooding face huge financial obstacles because almost nobody in the state has flood insurance. The area hit by the flash floods that began in late July and killed at least 37 people has a large concentration of lowincome families. Only 17,250 property owners in Kentucky have federal flood insurance, government records show. The public program provides the vast majority of flood policies in the United States. A recent Federal Emergency Management Agency report found that Kentucky has a low rate of flood coverage and ranks just behind New Mexico in the percentage of residences with flood insurance. In the 10 counties in eastern Kentucky that sustained significant flood damage in recent weeks, just 2,485 property owners have coverage through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, an E&E News analysis of federal records shows. That’s about 2.3 percent of households in the 10-county area. "Many Kentucky residents decline to buy flood insurance because they think the premiums are too costly and the risk of being flooded is too remote", said Britney Hargrove, a spokesperson for Knott County, which sustained extensive flood damage. “A lot of families don’t have that extra money to pay for something that may or may not happen,” Hargrove said. Flood insurance costs an average of about $1,000 a year through FEMA. The median household income in Knott County is $32,500 — half the nationwide median of $65,000. Flood coverage is sold separately from homeowners’ insurance policies and is considered vital to disaster recovery because policyholders can collect up to $250,000 in claims payments. Federal disaster aid, on the other hand, typically In Recovery Lack of Flood Insurance
When flooding from Hurricane Ida caused 11 New York City residents to drown last year, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) disclosed that the homes where the drownings occurred were all located outside of FEMA flood zones in areas considered to have a minimal flood risk (Climatewire, Oct. 6, 2021). One problem with the FEMA flood maps is that they only account for flooding along the coast or from major rivers. They do not account for flash floods such as those that recently devastated Kentucky, which result from intense rainstorms that overflow small streams or municipal sewer systems. “They really only take into account major river channels and coastal flooding, not rainfall or small waterways,” Porter said. “That leaves out huge portions of the country that are susceptible to rainfall-driven flooding.” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell acknowledged last year to Maloney that the agency’s flood maps “do not take into account [overflows of] the storm sewer systems.” The First Street Foundation’s flood analysis accounts for flood events caused by rainfall and overflows of small waterways. The low rate of flood insurance coverage in eastern Kentucky highlights long-standing problems with the affordability of flood policies. FEMA has warned for years that households with lower incomes are far less likely than higher-income households to buy flood insurance (Climatewire, April 6, 2021). In the 10 flood-damaged counties, the average median household income is $33,960, according to an E&E News analysis of Census Bureau data. That’s about half of the nationwide median household income of $65,000. Federal lawmakers led by House Financial Services Chair Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) have sought to create a subsidy program that would help low- and moderate-income households buy flood insurance. But Waters’ legislation has been stalled amid broader disagreement about overhauling the federal flood insurance pays residents just a few thousand dollars and covers only temporary home repairs. The absence of flood insurance and the minimal disaster payments from FEMA are forcing residents to rely on private charity, Hargrove said. “That is going to be what makes or breaks the county — the foundations and the amount of donations that come in,” Hargrove said. Another factor discouraging the purchase of flood coverage is that FEMA flood maps have vastly underestimated the flood risk in Eastern Kentucky, according to a groundbreaking analysis in 2020 by the nonprofit First Street Foundation. Nationwide, the foundation found, there are 14.6 million properties that face a significant flood risk — far more than the 8.6 million properties that FEMA says are in flood zones. The FEMA maps were especially inaccurate in Eastern Kentucky, the foundation found. “There is a significant portion of people there that don’t know they’re in a flood zone because they’re not in a FEMA special flood hazard area,” said Jeremy Porter, head of research for First Street. In seven of the 10 flooded counties in Kentucky for which property records were available, First Street found that 40,300 properties faced a significant flood risk. FEMA flood maps showed only 12,800 properties in those seven counties were in a flood zone. FEMA’s National Risk Index rates each of the 10 counties as having a “relatively low” or “relatively moderate” risk of riverine flooding. FEMA has acknowledged that its flood maps can be misleading and has warned for years that people who live outside of a designated flood zone are nonetheless susceptible to flooding. People who live in a FEMA flood zone and have a federally backed mortgage are required to have flood insurance, though many people flout the requirement. program. Hargrove, the Knott County spokesperson, said a subsidy program for flood insurance “would be an incredible asset to the people of Kentucky.” Asked about the low level of flood coverage in Kentucky, FEMA said in a statement to E&E News that it is focused on “recovery efforts and helping survivors register for muchneeded assistance.” Ministry Needs and Goals for 2023-2024 Funding to remodel the mission commercial kitchen . Installation of new lighting, ceiling, roof, and cabinets. Upgrade to seating in the dining facility to include new tables and chairs. Installation of a new community theater through the installation of new projectors, screens and sound system. The addition of another golf cart to assist with mobility and challenged accessibility. Winter Gas Fill ups: $1,200 to keep the tanks full. $5,000 estimated for this winter. 3 Mini-split units for housing, education, and meeting spaces New signage for Second Chance Thrift Store and resource center. All the proposed projects listed are to better serve our community and those in need. Over the past 8 years we have worked and assessed the needs of the people, and have placed programs into place that serve their needs. We realize that these needs are always changing and that we must grow to meet these needs. This is how we have developed the outreach model that has us ranked #1 in the state for the last three years in food distribution.
One of nature's most marvelous creations can be found in the web that a spider spins. The web, so defined by perfection, is used for protection and to catch food for the sustainability of life. The web itself is completely integrated in layers with precision. An outreach ministry must learn to weave these webs to insure success in their missions. Not one ministry can do it all. It is simply impossible. However, when you incorporate outside assistance into your goals, and form a network, things become more possible. In the business world, this web spinning is called networking. Many outreach ministries survive by donations and limited public monies. It often becomes competitive to maintain the mission and acquire the funding needed to operate. Too often, this puts outreaches at odds with each other and drives the network apart. At Water Into Wine and Lakefront, we embrace outreach ministries and assist them as they become a part of our goal of helping the needy. We understand that not one mission can do it all, and that if we network, we can piggyback off of each other to get more accomplished for our neighbors. A well woven web allows resources of each agency to create new opportunities. In several cases we have worked with individuals to create new ministries, and even help with creative funding. The Middle Fork Volunteer Fire Department is an example of these expanded resources at work. Located near the mission, the department, under direction of new fire chief, Zack Allen and Wavy Cole, the department has thrown itself into helping the community that it serves. These services have included community meals. It is also serving as an outpost to distributing materials to the community using their facilities and resources. Fire Chief Zack Allen directing community distribution. The addition of the Middle Fork Fire Department to Outreach, has brought many resources to the table for our community. Outreach Fundraising & Community Presence Passion to Missions In rural Appalachia, computers are a luxury when putting in perspective of clothing and feeding a family. The rest of the world has woven the web and computers into their life and they have become a necessity. This has left many Appalachia children at a disadvantage. Recently, the mission received a call from Dan and Delores Lee. from Wisconsin. Dan is a physician who has a passion of refurbishing laptops. He currently purchases them and refurbishes them. During our call he expressed interest in donating these units to the children of Appalachia. In return the mission would place the laptops with families in need, and provide some training for proper usage and how to navigate the web safely. Stay tuned as we update this ministry Edith & Richard Hochstetter Dan & Deloris Lee. Mary Studola & Family Hope Church Our loyal listeners children for their prayers All those who donate with a willing heart and clear conscience.
Dear Readers and Friends, As I write this edition of the magazine, I have come to realize the toll that being submerged in the Appalachian sorrow brings. For days, and sometimes weeks, I look back and constantly see the sorrow in the eyes of the needy and desolate. I remember each question that I have no answer for. The empathy that I feel in my heart and soul for these people often has me wishing that I could bear their pain, help them in their decision making, or at least right the wrongs they have been dealt. I am left with a survivor's guilt that I cannot control. I look up on the very hills that lie before them. I transverse the same hollers of darkness searching for the same light. I pray my prayers to the same God. The same storm clouds that rains upon this land, rains upon me. I pray for the same sobriety for the addict as they pray for themselves. We in Appalachia are on this journey together. Forging our way towards a light. We have yet to realize what this light is, or will it be the light that we seek, although there is no answer; for now it is a better alternative to the darkness that engulfs our land. We look beyond the Appalachian world, and we see through foggy glass. The things that appear to be good are sometimes bad. We as a people tend to allow our impoverished state of living overtake our common sense. We long to bring things into our culture that bring trouble to our way of living. We forget that this Appalachia does not belong to us, but rather to our ancestors who braved the wilds, fought enemies, and forged a way of life. We are only called to preserve a way of life for future generations that lie before us, just as their duty will be to future generations. Those who live outside of Appalachia can not see in. Their visions are blocked by the rolling ridgelines just outside of Stanton, KY. to the west, and to the east the high towering Appalachian mountains that run through the heart of of Appalachia, all the way to the piedmont of the Mid-Atlantic. The world knows us from history. They judge us by the stories from these hills. The injustices that Hollywood has dealt us through the big screen. Fake news has left a bad taste of Appalachia in the minds of most Americans. To many in the world, we are backward hillbillies. We are lawless and ruthless in nature, and heathenistic in our religion. Many think of us as drunks and incestuous in our relations. Others don't think of us at all, simply a place and people that does not exist in the world. The truth is that we do exist. We are a good people that the world should know. We invite you to come and get to know us. Come and see what our world is like. Do we need your help? Sure we do, do you need our help? Sure you do. We are in this web of life together. Our friends, the Hochstetters, from Wisconsin can attest to this. They have developed a profound love for Appalachia and its people. In fact, one of the most proverbial questions was asked on the Monday evening story time show to Ms. Hochstetter. A young listener asked, "On your mission trips to Appalachia, do you come here to save us, or do you come here so that we can save you?" Donations: Donations to the programs and outreach of Lakefront Ministries can be made by sending a check made to the Water Into Wine Food Pantry at 5083 Middle Fork, Suite B- Salyersville, KY 41465 Electronic donations can be made by calling 606-331-9681 All Donations are 100% Tax Deductible 501c3