The Mountain Spirit News

Disaster Relief steps up to help frontline workers with equipment

Disaster Relief has found a variety of ways to help the community during the coronavirus crisis, including the Grateful Bread Food Pantry by donating rubber gloves, masks, and bleach. But staff also found ways to help the community at large.

“I knew we had extra personal protective equipment so I contacted the Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center,” said Robyn Renner, manager of Disaster Relief and chair of the Kentucky Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. After contacting the hospital, Renner learned that N95 masks was what they needed most. “I knew we had masks in our inventory and how important it was to get them in the hands of our healthcare workers. I couldn’t stand the thought of them running out and being exposed to this virus. I knew they were risking their lives to help save others and how important it was to keep them protected as well as their families.” CAP was able to donate 1,718 N95 masks to the hospital.

CAP partners with Toys for Tots and Good360 to help children

The pandemic has shuttered countless businesses, forced families to remain isolated in their homes, and resulted in millions of parents being unemployed, without income, and in dire need of support. While Toys for Tots is the nation’s flagship children’s Christmastime charity, the organization didn’t wait until the holidays to provide support. Toys for Tots partnered with Good360 and CAP to facilitate the distribution of toys, games, and books to families in need in Appalachia.

Operation Sharing turns 35

This year CAP’s Operation Sharing celebrates 35 years of service. Since its beginning, the program has received and redistributed gifts-in-kind at a value of almost $2 billion to nonprofits, churches, schools, and community-based agencies across the 13 Appalachian states, Arkansas, and Missouri. Jeff Burchett, director, said the program received nearly $106 million in gifts-in-kind donations this fiscal year. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Operation Sharing has seen a 21.5 percent increase in donations it has received.

Orphan Care Alliance donates needed essentials for infants

The mission of the Orphan Care Alliance (OCA), based in Louisville, Kentucky, is to equip, connect, and mobilize Christians to serve vulnerable children and families. This made them a perfect organization to partner with CAP’s Family Advocacy Program. OCA donated 148 boxes of infant and children’s essentials, plus baby clothes and diapers in a variety of sizes.

Preschool graduation brings joy in transition

Both locations of CAP’s Child and Family Development Centers celebrated their students moving on to kindergarten. Mt. Vernon had 18 preschoolers graduating and Eagle had five. Due to COVID-19, neither location was able to finish the school year or celebrate in their usual manner, so staff brainstormed for creative ways to let the students know how special and amazing they are. Eagle decided to provide each student their own private ceremony to prevent exposure, while Mt. Vernon opted to do a graduation parade.

“We wanted to celebrate the accomplishment that each of our kids were able to achieve and to let them know that even though we had to do things in a different way, we were still able to do what we wanted to do,” said Joseph Beaudoin, manager at Eagle. “Life is like that sometimes. But it is up to us to adapt and overcome.”

CAP finds ways to help pets too

CAP is known for helping people in need, but a partnership with Feed the Children provided an opportunity to help furry friends too. Feed the Children, one of CAP’s largest partners, also donates pet food and other pet supplies from national chains that go to help locally like the Whiskers or Wags Johnson County Animal Shelter.

“Primarily, we have received cat and dog food,” said Lisa Trusty-Roberts, president of Whiskers or Wags and shelter manager. “We have also received dog and cat treats as well as dog beds and toys. We are also a partner with Operation Sharing, and receive essential items for our volunteers too.”