Christian Appalachian Project: Enabling People in Impoverished Communities to Seek, See, and Secure New Opportunities

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) operates 17 human service programs in 11 of the 38 most distressed counties in Eastern Kentucky and extends support to nonprofits across the entire Appalachian region. CAP provides child development, elderly visitation, housing, day and overnight camps, emergency services, mental health counseling, food and clothing assistance, and in-home respite.

Through its Operation Sharing Program, CAP partners with over 1,300 nonprofit organizations, community-based agencies, churches, and schools across all 13 Appalachian states, as well as Arkansas and Missouri, to collect and deliver donated goods throughout the region. In nearly 40 years, Operation Sharing has delivered more than $2 billion worth of donated materials to more than 1.5 million people.

CAP exists to reduce the impact of devastating generational poverty which means that many struggle with having enough nutritious food to eat while others also deal with living in substandard housing. These are areas that CAP seeks to address.

The projected food insecurity rate in CAP’s service area is 20.74% overall and 24.5% among children. It is not much better seniors. An average of 72% of school-age children CAP serves qualify for free or reduced rate lunches. CAP currently operates two food pantries and partners with another community pantry to support Appalachian for children, their families, and seniors.

Last year alone, CAP’s Home Repair Program help repair or rebuild over 200 houses making these homes safe, warm, and dry. This included homes for a growing number of grandparents raising grandchildren.

Recurring, sustainable gifts are critical to CAP’s ability to continue to offer these comprehensive services. The steadfastness of our donors helps CAP fulfill our mission to build hope, transform lives, and share Christ’s love through service in Appalachia. We know that the health of our region and the nation begins with the provision of adequate support to enable people in impoverished communities to seek, see, and secure new opportunities. You can make that happen. CAP works toward a time when each person we serve can be either self-sustaining or be engaged in communities of care so that their neighborhoods and communities can thrive.

Support Christian Appalachian Project through your employer’s workplace giving program! If you are a Federal or Postal employee/retiree, or military personnel, click here to donate through the Combined Federal Campaign donation portal to Christian Appalachian Project (CFC #11102). If you work in the private sector, or work for a State government or municipal agency, please contact your HR for a link to your donation portal.