Together for Hope Appalachia

Newsletter - October 2025

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TFH National Annual Meeting

The National TFH Annual Meeting is Comming to Appalachia

October 16-17 - Huntington, WV

MORE INFORMATION & REGISTRATION

We look forward to bringing together a community that is committed to alleviating persistent rural poverty across America.

Bread for the World

Nourish Our Future: Seeds of Hope for Kentucky Conference

Thursday, October 30, 2025 - 8:30 - 3:00 ET

South Frankfort Presbyterian Church

224 Steele Street Frankfort, KY 40601

Join us to engage in Bread for the World's work and learn about Kentucky food and farm systems. Discussions and workshops will include:

the importance of advocacy;
the current state of food relief efforts;
national dialogue with local Kentucky farmers;
the effects of current federal policies; and much more.

You will leave this conference with a spirit of collaboration, ready to embrace change, inspired and hopeful, with an increased awareness of the potential for a lasting impact!

This event is a collaboration between the Presbyterian Hunger Program, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Coleman Crest Farms, Henson Media, BSK Theological Seminary, and Bread for the World.

TFH Appalachia in Virginia

CBF Virginia General Assembly

Keith represented TFH Appalachia is at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia General Assembly held in Richmond, September 23.

CBF Virginia has done much to support the Bridges For Hope partnership in Bluefield, WV/VA and partnerships in McDowell County, WV.

Bridges for Hope has fostered numerous fruitful connections for TFH Appalachia, including collaborations with:

The Wade Center in Bluefield, WV

T & T Organics, Appalachian Gold, and Economic Development Greater East, in McDowell County, WV,

and many more

TFH Appalachia in West Virginia

Coalfield Development's Ground Up Gathering

Keith attended Coalfield Development Corporatio n's Ground Up Gathering at the West Edge Factory in Huntington, WV — the site of the upcoming Together for Hope National Annual Meeting.

Hundreds of community members, business and nonprofit leaders, agency staff, and neighbors from across Appalachia came together to celebrate solutions, address challenges, and collaborate on future plans to strengthen Appalachian communities.

Among those present were several TFH partners and friends, including Debra Davis (One Voice), Sebrena Williamson (Regional Intergovernmental Council), and Joe Crocket (Project Healthy Kids). Poster displays also recognized two other TFH Coalition Members for their outstanding work in their communities—M.O.C. Mullens Opportunity Center (RAIL) and Economic Development Greater East

TFH Appalachia in Tennessee

BetterFi with an Office in Chattanooga

Keith's first visit, on his recent Tennessee tour, was with Spike Hosch, Executive Director of BetterFi, and the team at their new Chattanooga office.

BetterFi also serves Grundy County—one of our Together for Hope counties of persistent poverty—and is licensed to serve the entire state of Tennessee.

BetterFi helps people escape the trap of predatory loans.

By refinancing a payday loan, borrowers can:

Pay less each month
Pay less overall
Build their credit score
Actually pay off the loan

Churches, nonprofits, and community organizations can refer individuals in need by sharing BetterFi’s contact info:

BetterFi also offers:

A Savings + Credit Builder program to help people save toward a goal while improving their credit
Free Financial Coaching
…and more!

If you or your organization want to do more, Spike and his team can help you design financial literacy classes, low-interest loan programs, church-based ministries, and other efforts to free people from predatory debt.

TFH Appalachia is proud to partner with BetterFi, Spike, and his team in the important work of alleviating poverty.

We encourage our Kentucky friends to keep BetterFi's information handy to share with any who might need it.

Rē: The Rēgenerative School

Next Keith enjoyed a peaceful little retreat at Rē: The Regenerative School, one of our TFH Appalachia coalition members.

He stayed in a cozy Tiny House, woke up with a cup of coffee and a book on the porch, walked the beautiful trails, visited the vegetable and flower gardens (and chickens), and learned more about the inspiring work of Rē with Ashlei Laing, Co-Founder/Director.

“Catalyzing transformative learning to build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world.”

Such a refreshing and hopeful space!

Check out Rē’s Info-webinar:

Future of Rural Infowebinar

We would like to co-imagine the Future of Rural with you through a mini presentation on Imagination and Ecology.

Join us for one of our 90-minute sessions!

October 8 – 11:00 am CT / 12:00 pm ET

October 11 – 11:00 am CT / 12:00 pm ET"

South Cumberland Community Clinic

Keith traveled from Rē to Grundy County where he next stopped by the South Cumberland Community Clinic for a tour and visit with Dr. Thomas Phelps and the clinic staff.

Located in Tracy City, the clinic provides a critical service to the region, providing:

“free medical care to the uninsured and underinsured community across the South Cumberland Plateau, primarily serving Franklin, Grundy, and Marion counties of Tennessee.”

Grundy County is one of Together for Hope Appalachia’s partner counties.

Growing Roots - Fresh Mess Festival

Next in Grundy County, Keith enjoyed a wonderful evening at the Grundy County Fresh Mess Festival!

There he spent time with TFH Appalachia's good friend, Stephanie Colchado Kelley, Director of Growing Roots, Ashlei Laing, Founder/Director of Re: The Regenerative School, and Annabel Hines, Service Area Director, Mountain T.O.P.—all members of the Together for Hope Appalachia Coalition.

The festival featured fresh local food, bluegrass music, a fire truck and hose the kids could try, face painting, sweet treats, and lots of friendship.

A big thank-you to Stephanie, a primary organizer of this great community event. TFH Appalachia is proud to partner with Stephanie and Growing Roots!

“Growing Roots is a community of people who actively support community wellness and food access on the South Cumberland Plateau. We maintain that our strength is found in the input, collaboration, and diversity of the voices that make up this group of people.”

Learn more: https://growingrootstn.org/

Mountain T.O.P.

Keith wrapped up his Grundy County stay with trips to Mountain T.O.P. on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Mountain T.O.P. is a special place — a hub of service with Grundy County neighbors, a spiritual retreat, and a vibrant community — all set in the beautiful mountains of the South Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee.

This past weekend, Mountain T.O.P. hosted Adults in Ministry (AIM), many of whom return year after year to serve and reconnect.

Together for Hope Appalachia is proud to partner with Mountain T.O.P. On this visit, Keith joined AIM for their orientation and participated in worship, toured home repair sites with Annabel Hines, Service Area Director, and met with Martha Pierce, Executive Director.

“Since 1975, Mountain T.O.P. has thrived as a strategic community partner in Grundy County, Tennessee. Mountain T.O.P. focuses on reducing substandard housing, supporting lifelong learning and leadership, and promoting overall wellness.”

Learn more about AIM here: www.mountain-top.org/adultsinministry

CBF Tri-State Assembly

Keith's Tennessee travels culminated in Chattanooga, TN on October 16–17, for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Tri-State Assembly, bringing together CBF state organizations from Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama at First Baptist Church, for a time of networking, fellowship, worship, learning, and planning.

Together for Hope has partnerships with all three of these state organizations, and CBF Tennessee is a TFH Appalachia Coalition Member. Keith joined Rachel Gunter Shapard, TFH Regional Vice President for the Black Belt region, to represent TFH at an exhibit.

Several other TFH Appalachia coalition members were also present, including:

• Wayne Smith, Samaritan Ministry (Knoxville, TN)

• Scarlette Jasper, Olive Branch Ministries (Kentucky & Tennessee)

• Kate McKinnie, Vice President of Resource Development, Appalachia Service Project

• Rick Bennett, Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Field Coordinator

• Dave McNeely, Program Manager of Connect Church, a new initiative with CBF Tennessee, assisting rural churches in assessing community assets

It was a wonderful time of connection and collaboration with partners across the region!

Photo from CBF Tennessee Facebook Page

Together for Hope Box

Order Your HopeBox

The new Together for Hope Box will include options for products from three of our TFH Appalachia coalition members:

Appalachian Gold - Mama's Meat Sauce (barbeque sauce)
One Voice, One Cup - Coffee Beans
Y'all Sauce - Southern Sauces

photo from One Cup Facebook

photo from Appalachian Gold website

photo from Y'all Company Facebook page

The TFH Appalachia Coalition

The TFH Appalachia Coalition at Work

Samaritan Ministry Marks 20 Years at the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS

For the 20th year, Samaritan Ministry, led by Wayne Smith, was a presence—the only faith-based organization—at the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA).

Each year, Wayne and Samaritan Ministry show up faithfully to offer friendship, encouragement, and resources to those living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

“We provide a variety of resources intended to educate about HIV, with an emphasis on reducing stigma, especially within the Christian community,” says Wayne.

Read all about Samaritan Ministry's experience at USCHA and how recent changes are "sending shockwaves through the HIV world" in the Fall Newsletter.

🐥 “The Sky is Falling!”

Find resources here to assist persons in your neighborhood: www.samaritancentral.org/resources