Together for Hope Appalachia

Newsletter - November 2025

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SEE Appalachia Joins the Coalition

Welcome SEE Appalachia to the TFH Appalachia Coalition

Together for Hope Appalachia is excited to welcome SEE Appalachia to the coalition and we look forward to future collaboration. Founded and led by Peter S. Corum and based in McDowell County, West Virginia, Peter’s company addresses one of the major challenges to prosperity in counties of persistent rural poverty, affordable housing—one of Together for Hope’s Four Priorities of Hope. The SEE Appalachia model is designed to be both sustainable and replicable.

Peter was introduced to TFH through our friends at Economic Development Greater East (EDGE), T&T Organics, and Appalachian Gold, Jason Tartt and Amelia Bandy, as they have collaborated on integrated approaches to community development in the region. There is a shared hope that, one of the joint projects would be to develop housing at Jason’s Demonstration, Research, and Training (DRT) Farm, providing a place for employees and participants in its on-site workforce education programs to live and learn.

The work of these partners addresses all four of our priorities:

• Education

• Health & Nutrition

• Housing & Environment

• Social Enterprise

About SEE Appalachia

SEE Appalachia, LLC is a social-enterprise initiative focused on addressing West Virginia’s and Appalachia’s housing crisis through affordable modular home construction, workforce training, and community reinvestment. Founded and led by Peter S. Corum, SEE Appalachia integrates financing, construction, and community development functions to create a scalable, sustainable housing delivery model.

Peter shares the heart behind the work:

“I created SEE Appalachia out of frustration and love: I’m tired of West Virginia and Appalachia ranking last in health, education and opportunity and of watching towns hollow out and families break apart.

The solution I kept returning to was simple—build safe, affordable homes and couple them with training and support so people can stay and thrive.

When I listed the communities we would serve—those in recovery, veterans, single parents, foster youth, the homeless and people with disabilities—I realized they are my own family and friends.

SEE Appalachia as both a business and a personal mission; it reflects my commitment to restore dignity here by investing in people.”

Learn More

Watch a 90-second overview of SEE Appalachia: www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5Zq5q7WJOY

Read about SEE Appalachia’s grant award from the Pitch Southern West Virginia competition: wvpress.org/wvpa-sharing/see-appalachia-llc-seeking-to-bring-affordable-housing-model-to-mcdowell-county/

Job Openings

Job Opening: TFH Appalachia Director of Programs and Partnerships

Together for Hope Appalachia is currently seeking a Director of Programs and Partnerships for the Appalachia Region. This position plays a key role in supporting our Rural Development Coalition. The person in this role works closely with Keith Stillwell, TFH Regional Vice President for Appalachia, in discovering, enlisting, and supporting coalition members; coordinating programs; strengthening relationships; managing collaborative efforts; and supporting our shared work throughout Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Ohio.

We would be grateful if you could share this opportunity within your networks, especially among individuals who are committed to asset-based community development, rural empowerment, and collaborative ministry.

Location: Within the Appalachia service region (KY, WV, VA, TN, OH) - tfhope.org/appalachia-counties
This position involves travel; office location is flexible/negotiable within the region.

From the job description, the “Position Objective” is:

The responsibilities of the Director of Programs and Partnerships for Together for Hope’s Appalachia Region are to assist with day-to-day organizational functions and tasks; assist with the recruitment and management of the churches, towns, nonprofits, and other partners in Together for Hope Appalachia’s Rural Development Coalition; assist with the creation and management of all Together for Hope Appalachia programs; assist in creating and managing strategic partnerships in states and across the region; assist with grant applications, management and reporting; and manage office services by implementing administrative systems, procedures, and policies.

Full Job Description: tfhope.org/work-with-us

Learn more about Together for Hope Appalachia: tfhope.org/appalachia

Inquiries:

Keith Stillwell - keith@tfhope.org

SNAP

SNAP Cuts are Impacting Appalachia

At the beginning of November, a reporter from the Louisville Courier Journal interviewed Keith about how reductions in SNAP benefits are affecting families in eastern Kentucky. Keith asked several of our coalition members to share what they are seeing in their communities. Here are a few of their responses:

Olive Branch Ministries

Scarlette Jasper, Olive Branch Ministries (serving Kentucky and Tennessee):

“I have families reaching out nonstop, panicking about how they’re going to feed their children. We have had multiple requests for help with basic food needs as well as Thanksgiving baskets—things we do not traditionally provide.

We are working on assembling additional food boxes and basic items for Thanksgiving meals, and gathering non-perishable food to distribute to our local pantry.

Our food pantries are already stretched thin, and this has exacerbated the situation.”

Manna from Heaven

When I spoke with Lois Tackett, Director of Manna from Heaven in Myra, Kentucky, she was in the middle of distributing food and supplies to neighbors. She had already served 150 households, with cars lined up down the street. She expected to serve over 200 families by the end of the day—an increase from the previous month, and a dramatic increase over the previous year.

Cooperative Christian Ministry

When I talked with Traci Barnett, Associate Director of Cooperative Christian Ministry in Middlesboro, Kentucky, I asked if they were feeling the impact of the SNAP cuts. She replied:

“We have been swamped with people needing help with food. The only reason I can speak to you right now is because we are out of food today. Otherwise, I would be too busy.

We do have some money to help, and people have been generous. Just in the last few days, we received donations of $1,200, $581, $1,000, and $5,000.”

She shared a story:

“We loaded up a single mother with food. She started crying and said, ‘Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.’

She works at a daycare for $106 a week. I think you’d have to have two or three jobs to make it.”

Emma Quire Mission Center

A volunteer at the Emma Quire Mission Center in Owsley County shared:

“I’ve never seen such desperation in their eyes.”

Linda Witt, the Director of the Mission Center and a volunteer with the Owsley County Food Place, said that during two recent distribution days, two full trailers of food were gone within hours.

She noted that Head Start may have to shut down, because it relies on SNAP to feed children. The Food Place has already had to end a program serving those just above the poverty line—including a grandmother raising six grandchildren. The amount of food distributed has been cut in half.

One neighbor told her:

“This really helps. After I pay all my bills, I only have $75 left for food.”

Lend-A-Hand Center

Diann Carnes, Co-Director of the Lend-A-Hand Center in Walker, Kentucky, shared:

“It hasn’t been this bad in 60 years.

These SNAP cuts have really hurt the people in our area. It is devastating. People are afraid. They don’t know what they are going to do. Mothers are crying, saying, ‘We don’t know how we are going to feed our kids.’”

Each day, they are providing emergency food assistance to families on the days they would normally receive their SNAP benefits. They are bracing for an especially high turnout on their regular pantry day on the 15th. A recent large food donation from Nashville is helping for now — but the needs are growing.

First Baptist Church of Corbin, KY Food Pantry

Pastor Alex Lockridge reported on the impacts felt at the First Baptist Church of Corbin, KY Food Pantry : "The FBC Food Pantry, on our normal month, expects 40-50 households/individuals on a first Thursday of the month. On 11/6, our food pantry served 93 households/individuals. In addition to this, at least a dozen decided to walk away as they were unable to wait any longer. Also, on average, the food pantry sees 3-4 new customers on any given Thursday. Yesterday, they had 16 new customers. Janie Akins, one of the food pantry’s directors, had several conversations with patrons who expressed increased need because of SNAP benefits being greatly diminished."

The Impact Goes Beyond Kentucky

While these stories come from eastern Kentucky, similar reports are emerging across the region and nation. When SNAP benefits are reduced, the burden shifts to local food pantries and community ministries—many of which are volunteer-run and already operating at full capacity.

How You Can Help

Advocate for Policy Change

Bread for the World: www.bread.org/act/advocate

Kentucky Policy Institute: kypolicy.org

Donate Food or Money

Consider donating food, funds, or volunteer time to your local pantry—or to any of the ministries mentioned here:

• Olive Branch Ministries

• Manna From Heaven

• Cooperative Christian Ministry (Middlesboro)

• Emma Quire Mission Center

• Lend-A-Hand Center

• First Baptist Church Corbin Food Pantry

Learn More

www.bread.org/article/snap-safety-net/

www.feedingamerica.org/advocate/snap

Bread for the World

Nourish Our Future: Seeds of Hope for Kentucky Conference

Keith took part in the “Seeds of Hope for Kentucky” conference sponsored by Bread for the World and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Advocacy in Frankfort, Kentucky, on October 30.

The event came at a critical time, as many organizations working to reduce food insecurity are facing increased stress due to federal budget cuts and the pause in SNAP benefits.

Florence French Fagan, Bread for the World Senior Regional Organizer for the Southeast, reflected on the gathering:

“We had two main goals for the Seeds of Hope for Kentucky event: to ensure participants left feeling hopeful, inspired, and connected to their community, and to strengthen our collective power by building lasting relationships with our members of Congress. Last Thursday, together, we truly planted hundreds of seeds—not only of hope, but of concrete action—laying the foundation for a growing team of Kentuckians who will continue organizing and supporting one another in their communities.”

A number of TFH Appalachia friends were involved in the event in addition to CBF Advocacy and Bread for the World:

First Baptist Church of Corbin, KY
FBC Corbin Food Pantry
Immanuel Baptist Church - Frankfort, Kentucky
First Baptist Church on St. Clair, Frankfort, KY
Lyndon Baptist Church, Louisville, KY

Watch local news coverage of the event:

fox56news.com

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear’s Video Welcome Message:

Youtube: Gov Beshear Welcome Message

More pictures from the event:

www.jordanwilliamscreative.com

Immanuel Baptist Church Frankfort

Keith Speaks at Immanuel Baptist Church in Frankfort, Kentucky

Keith was honored to celebrate CBF Kentucky with Immanuel Baptist Church - Frankfort, Kentucky, and their pastor, Rev. Dr. Emily Holladay, on Sunday, October 26.

Bob Fox, CBF Kentucky Coordinator, brought the message.

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship launched the Rural Poverty Initiative—later known as Together for Hope—in 2001 as a commitment to focus on the twenty poorest counties in the United States.

From the very beginning, CBF Kentucky has been a leader in this initiative. Two of the original Together for Hope counties are in Kentucky—McCreary and Owsley.

The Emma Quire Mission Center in Owsley County and Extreme Build in McCreary County were among the early initiatives led by CBF Kentucky and CBF Kentucky churches. Both are still going strong today—Extreme Build, organized by CBF Kentucky, just completed its 18th home this summer, and the Emma Quire Mission Center continues to provide critical support and hope for its community.

We are grateful for the support of Immanuel Baptist, a mission-minded church and Together for Hope Appalachia partner.

Keith returned to Immanuel Baptist on Wednesday, November 5 to talk about the work of Together for Hope, economic insecurity in Appalachia, and the unique challenges of the unhoused in rural Appalachia communities.

TFH Annual Meeting

The National TFH Annual Meeting was held in Appalachia this year

TFH National Annual Meeting - Oct. 16-17, 2025 - Huntington, West Virginia (at Coalfield Development's West Edge Factory)

People and organizations came together in Appalachia to collaborate in alleviating poverty--prioritizing education, heath & nutrition, housing & environment, and social enterprise.

Naturally Appalachia was well represented:

Coalfield Development Corporation

One Voice - One Cup WV - Oceana

M.O.C. Mullens Opportunity Center (RAIL)

Economic Development Greater East

Y'all Company

Connect Church - Tennessee Cooperative Baptist Fellowship

Project Healthy Kids

Scarlette Jasper with Olive Branch Ministries

Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Kentucky

SEE Appalachia Affordable Housing

Hatfield McCoy Foundation

Stroud's Hardware

Progress Appalachia

Giving Tuesday

December 2, 2025 is Giving Tuesday

Join us in supporting Together for Hope Appalachia and our Coalition members who are working every day to reduce poverty in counties of persistent rural poverty throughout Appalachia.

Your gift helps strengthen food access, healthier communities, education support, housing repair, and community-led economic development. Every contribution makes a difference.

Be part of hope. Be part of change.

Donate on Giving Tuesday, December 2, and help build thriving, resilient Appalachian communities.

Check the list at the end of this email for a list of TFH Appalachia Coalition Members.

DONATE TO TFH APPALACHIA

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:

One Voice, One Cup - Coffee with a Mission
Appalachian Gold - Mama's Meat Sauce (barbeque sauce)
Y'all Sauce - Mississippi Comeback Sauce

The TFH Appalachia Coalition

The TFH Appalachia Coalition at Work

T & T Organics Wins First Runner-Up in the 2025 West Virginia Conservation Farm of the Year in the Nontraditional Category

We’re proud to share exciting news that marks a major milestone for southern West Virginia and for the future of food and economic development in central Appalachia.

T & T Organics of McDowell County has been awarded First Runner-Up in the 2025 West Virginia Conservation Farm of the Year in the Nontraditional Category, after earning the title of Southern District Conservation Farm of the Year.

This recognition places a farm from one of the most economically challenged regions of the state among West Virginia’s top conservation and agricultural innovators. It affirms that Appalachia’s land and people have both the capacity and the ingenuity to feed themselves and others — sustainably and successfully.

T & T Organics, a Black-owned family farm, operates within a growing network led by Economic Development Greater East (EDGE) to rebuild the food economy of southern West Virginia.

Through mountain-ranged poultry and egg production, agroforestry, composting, and hands-on conservation practices, the farm demonstrates how regenerative agriculture can create jobs, new businesses, and healthier communities.

It’s not just about growing food — it’s about growing futures. Every project on the farm trains community members, youth, and emerging entrepreneurs through EDGE’s AgForce Development Program, helping them turn agricultural knowledge into economic opportunity.

This award proves that central Appalachia’s challenge is not agricultural capacity — it’s infrastructure.

The region is not a food desert because the land is barren; it’s a food desert because systems for aggregation, processing, and distribution have been historically underdeveloped.

T & T Organics’ success shows what’s possible when conservation, entrepreneurship, and community investment align. With facilities like the Kimball Complex Community Grocery and Processing Hub, southern West Virginia can transform its productive capacity into a thriving, self-sustaining food economy that serves both rural and urban markets.

This work is already producing measurable impacts:

Health outcomes improve as communities gain access to fresh, locally grown foods.
Economic opportunity grows through producer training, business formation, and job creation.
Local wealth stays in the community as food is grown, processed, and sold within the region.

By connecting agriculture with health and workforce development, we are proving that food sovereignty is both a public health strategy and an economic development solution.

This statewide recognition represents more than an award — it’s an invitation for regional partnership. The momentum in McDowell County shows that with targeted investment, southern West Virginia can become a model for sustainable food production, workforce innovation, and community health.

We invite the continued collaboration and partners across Appalachia to join us in expanding this work. Together, we can:

Build the infrastructure that connects rural farms to regional markets
Support entrepreneurship and training that empower local families
Create lasting systems change that turns food deserts into food economies

We welcome the opportunity to host you for a visit to our Demonstration, Research, and Training (DRT) Facility in Berwind or the Kimball Complex in Kimball, WV — where conservation, innovation, and community come together to grow the future of Appalachia.

With appreciation and partnership,

Amelia Bandy

ameliabandy@gmail.com

(276) 596-4002