This coming holiday season, Americans Helping Americans® is providing grant funding to our Appalachian partners to enable the less fortunate in their distressed communities to enjoy festive Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

In Georgia, our partner in Gainesville, LAMP Ministries, will be preparing dinner for an expected 1,200 individuals who otherwise would not have a holiday meal—and likely not any meal that day.

In Kentucky, our partner in Beattyville, Cumberland Mountain Outreach (CMO), will distribute $25 turkey vouchers the week before Thanksgiving and Christmas. The families served by CMO often live on limited incomes, which tend to run out at the end of the month—and holidays, oddly enough, are also at the end of the month. CMO estimates a total of 1,470 individuals will be served between the two holidays.

In Tennessee, our partner Appalachian Ministries of the Smokies (AMOS) will conduct a week-long distribution of food baskets, during which funds from Americans Helping Americans® will be used to purchase turkeys and hams for Christmas baskets. AMOS expects to serve 1,200 individuals.

In Virginia, our partner in Tazewell, Labor of Love Mission (LOLM), will be distributing turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas. LOLM expects to serve 900 individuals.

In West Virginia, our partner in McDowell County, Big Creek People in Action (BCPIA), will host several Christmas parties and deliver meals to shut-ins. BCPIA expects to serve 700 individuals.

In total, with $32,590 in grant funding, 5,470 individuals will be served at an average cost of $5.96 per meal.

Last year, Americans Helping Americans® granted $27,700 to sponsor four partners’ holiday food celebrations in Appalachia, feeding 3,358 individuals.

“These grants are extremely important to these communities because without them there wouldn’t be any main entrée to the meal,” says Americans Helping Americans® Executive Director Cameron Krizek. “Our grants fund the primary protein for the celebrations, ensuring a healthy, nutritious event for all recipients.”

BCPIA purchased 160 hams to deliver to all residents in War, along with a food box also distributed by Americans Helping Americans®.

LAMP fed 678 Gainesville residents at their Thanksgiving celebration.

CMO distributed turkey vouchers to 380 individuals for Thanksgiving and also held a Christmas party at their facility for 219 children and 169 adults, supported by 74 volunteers, providing a hot meal and distributing Americans Helping Americans® in-kind coats and blankets.

“This was the best year ever,” said Church of God leader Larry Hyler.

Times are tough for many Appalachian families, but we hope the holiday season brings them warmth, comfort, and a moment of joy.