Program Overview
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Understanding Poverty in Kentucky: Causes and Solutions
Kentucky continues to face one of the highest poverty rates in the country, and the numbers tell a sobering story. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Kentucky poverty rate was 16.4% in 2023, well above the national average of 12.5%. Median household income in…
250 Years of Americans Helping Americans: Fighting Hunger in Appalachia One Food Box at a Time
Since 1776, Americans have relied on their relatives, neighbors, and friends, charitable organizations (such as Americans Helping Americans®), and their communities at large to help them through the challenges our nation has faced throughout its history. From the…
Why is There So Much Poverty in Georgia?
Georgia is one of the most economically diverse states in the nation, with booming metropolitan areas alongside deeply struggling rural communities. So many people wonder, is Georgia a poor state? The answer lies in the sharp contrasts between prosperity in its cities…
Appalachia Tennessee: Where It Is, What It Means, and Which Counties Count
Appalachia is a widely used name for a multi-state region in the eastern United States, shaped by shared geography, history, and economic conditions. For official federal regional planning and data collection, the Appalachian Region is defined using a county-based…
Understanding Poverty in Tennessee
Families across Tennessee continue to face the difficult realities of poverty. Rising costs of housing, food, and healthcare, combined with job losses and long-standing systemic issues, leave thousands struggling to cover even their most basic needs. These challenges…
Help Us Equip Appalachia Volunteers With the Tools Needed to Repair Homes
Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “The best investment is in the tools of one’s own trade.” For Big Creek People in Action (BCPIA) in McDowell County, West Virginia, having reliable tools is essential to carrying out its home rehabilitation program for low-income…
Summer Camp Programs in Appalachia Support Children Beyond the School Year
This summer, thanks to the supporters of Americans Helping Americans®, we are once again able to support summer day camp programs in rural Kentucky and West Virginia, benefiting a projected 225 children ranging in age from 5-13. Last year, executive director Cameron…
Flood Recovery in McDowell County: Rebuilding Homes in Appalachia After Disaster
In February 2025, McDowell County, West Virginia, was hit once again with historic flooding following “the worst floods” of 1977, 2001, and again in 2002, reports The Appalachian Voice. “But now,” it reported in July 2025, “the new benchmark for horrible flooding will…
Summer Hunger in Appalachia: How Food Programs Are Helping Children When School Is Out
Americans Helping Americans® is preparing now for the summer months, when thousands of children in Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia will lose access to the school meals they rely on during the academic year. Last year, Americans Helping Americans® partnered with…