Amanda Gadd: A Transformed Life

Above: Amanda Gadd was given a rousing standing ovation after sharing her story at CAP Day of Prayer. Amanda’s powerful story about overcoming difficult odds brought many to tears.

I have often said – give me a soap box and I will sing the praises of Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), so here I am.

I am from Mt. Vernon in Rockcastle County. I am the mother of three wonderful children and recently became a grandmother. My oldest son Jeremy is 28 and retired from the United States Marine Corps. He is married and lives in Kentucky. He is the father of my 2-year-old grandson. My daughter Sarah is 26 and also married. She lives in Tennessee, and is a self-employed business woman. My youngest son James Allen is a growing 8-year-old, who is full of life.

I have been a CAP volunteer and participant for 25 years and counting. I currently do my volunteer work at CAP’s food pantry and thrift store and have been there for the past five years. But I got my start many years ago in 1993, when my son Jeremy was enrolled in CAP’s Child Development Center (CDC). Parents served as volunteers to help around the center with cleaning, supervising children in the classroom and on the bus. I helped with whatever needed to be done. During this same time, my daughter Sarah was enrolled in the Infant/Toddler Program. The teacher came to our house for one hour a week to interact with Sarah and prepare her for preschool. When she became old enough, she also attended the CDC. During these years of preschool, I attended parenting classes and job readiness training – any activity or program I felt would help me better myself.

I was a young mother who did not have a role model for how to parent my children. I owe my early parenting skills to Judy Bruner. I watched her for hours at a time interact with my son, who was very emotional and very needy. He would cry and have tantrums when I left him at school.

I remember she would get on her knees, down to his level, to console him. She would talk calmly to him, reassure him that everything was okay. I wanted to be like her – loving, patient, and kind. I wanted to have that kind of influence over his negative behavior. I knew and felt she cared and loved him, just as I did. I trusted her with my babies fully.

Judy Bruner was the first CAP relationship that I formed in what I call my “CAP Family.”

I do not have a formal family support system, such as parents or siblings. For most of my teen years and early adult life, I formed my family through CAP employees who I respected and admired. They helped me to find myself and encouraged me to do great things. Some of the biggest milestones in my life have been shared with my CAP family, such as continuing my education because I dropped out of school in the eighth grade. I received my high school diploma through CAP in 1994. Keith Gilbertson was my teacher. He would come to my house weekly to help me study. He would bring me books and supplies. He would always encourage me to do my best and to consider going to college, which I did. I attended Berea College for three years.

On the day of our GED graduation ceremony, Keith was the only family member I had there to support me. But I was okay with that, even though it was not the norm. I knew he believed in me. He was proud of me and he was my CAP family.

As my children grew and went on to school, I continued to volunteer at the CDC until I was fortunate enough to find a good job to better my life for my children. Throughout the years, there were times of struggle and hardships to which I would reach out to my CAP family for support and direction.

One of the really amazing programs my children have attended was at Camp AJ. Both Jeremy and Sarah went to camp every year throughout their childhood. They were always excited and counted down the days to next summer. As my daughter grew to be an adult herself, she began to realize what a positive impact camp was for her, as a child, and returned to be a camp counselor. She worked herself up to the position of lead counselor.

So now my youngest son, James, has grown old enough to begin going to camp and history repeats itself. He counts down the days until summer camp rolls around again.

Not only have I been fortunate enough to build my own relationships with CAP, my children have their own connections and memories.

For the past few years, Sarah and I have been going to the Women’s Retreat, hosted at Camp AJ. It has been a time for us to reflect on our friendship, as well as building new friendships. It has also given us the opportunity to look at how far our family has come from years past, and look ahead to where we want to go and who we want to be as productive individuals. I know in my heart, without my CAP family, without their guidance, encouragement, and non-judgmental love, my life would and could be very different. I have many stories like these. Some are of a more serious note and some are full of laughter, but all of them are important, all of them make me who I am.

In an article I read recently, CAP’s President/CEO Guy Adams stated, “We make a difference one individual, one family at a time.” I am that one individual. My family is that one family.

CAP builds hope! CAP transforms lives! CAP shares Christ’s love through service!

That is why I am a participant and that is why I choose to have my CAP family.

Together we can do great things!

Amanda and her daughter Sarah at a CAP Women’s Retreat.