Hannah Thomas

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. The Child and Family Development Center, Grateful Threadz Thrift Store, and Grateful Bread Food Pantry have positively impacted almost every person in my family. However, Camp AJ has had the most substantial impact. My mom, my brother, two aunts, three uncles, and seven cousins have all been able to call Camp AJ home.

My grandmother worked frequently to support her family. Camp AJ was a safe, fun place, but it was also affordable. My family for generations had worked to make ends meet, but every year they managed to send us to camp. My grandmother used to save any coins or bills she could find and place them in a mason jar in the freezer covered with Saran wrap -- just to make sure that no one would mess with money for camp. My mother had the same tradition.

I was seven years old when I first went to camp. My mother had to almost drag me to the front door. I started to cry because I didn’t want to leave my mother. I celebrated my eighth birthday that year at camp. Everyone smiled and sang “Happy Birthday.” They gave me extra banana pudding as a birthday gift. I had heard that familiar song many times before, but this time I felt like I was on top of the world. I cried so hard on the last day of camp, the same mother that dragged me to the front door that first day had to drag me right back out on the last day. I continued to come back every summer.

One year, I decided to sing in the talent show. I was nervous and asked my counselor to sing with me. At some point during the performance, she sensed my newfound confidence and sat down to cheer me on. That very night I realized I was meant to be on stage. Now, I have been involved in the theatre arts for over 7 years. As a college freshman I’ve already been cast in two shows! This love of performing originated from that Camp AJ talent show, when the support of a CAP volunteer first allowed me to do great things.

When I turned 17, I became a junior counselor. When I received the letter inviting me to the Leadership Training Program, I sat in my living room and cried out of joy. Leadership training helped me to see myself as a strong, competent leader whose voice mattered. This past summer I served as a full summer junior counselor. Through CAP’s partnership with AmeriCorps, I earned an AmeriCorps education award which has allowed me to keep the costs of my first year of college down.

People always say, ” Home is where your heart is.” The place you feel most at home is where you thrive. On the last day of camp, I couldn't stop crying because of how much I would miss the place. But I knew I’d be back next summer. Then I cried some more because of how far away a year seemed from then. That’s when I realized that home isn’t necessarily a place. For me, CAP and Camp AJ will be my safe haven and forever home. They always made me feel loved, and like I mattered. They reminded me that I am worthy, that I am enough, that I can do great things.

When I look back at the moments of struggle in my life, I see the faces of the people who helped me to overcome. I see friends, I see family members, but many of them are also the faces from CAP. I see that little girl that did not want to get out of the car at camp, but just four short days later did not want to leave. I see that pre-teen that was continuously torn down by hurtful words by her loved ones, but built up at camp. I see that young woman that embraced the unknowns that awaited at college. But mostly, I see the confident woman I have grown into. I am grateful for CAP. I am thankful for Camp AJ. Today, I tell myself that I am strong, and that I have made it through!