Friends of TFH Appalachia

How to Become a Supporting "Friend of TFH Appalachia"

Make your annual gift of $120 (or more) or a recurring monthly gift of $10 (or more).

Friends of TFH Appalachia receive a nice appreciation gift--a candle holder and beeswax candle or a bead oil lamp created by Appalachian artisans.

Also consider affirming our partnership covenant: Partnership Covenant

DONATE TO TFH APPALACHIA

The Mission of TFH Appalachia

The mission of Together for Hope Appalachia is to transform persistent rural poverty in Appalachia through asset-based community development that prioritizes education, health & nutrition, housing & environment, and social enterprise. We have a vision for a world where all people have access to food, housing, education, healthcare, and meaningful work and income. Our mission is working with others to make that vision a reality, especially in the 63 counties of persistent poverty in Appalachia, with counties in Kentucky (42), West Virginia (9), Tennessee (7), Virginia (4) and Ohio (1).

Appalachia was long dominated by a single extractive industry, which did not result in development of schools, infrastructure, or economic diversity. As that industry has declined the Appalachian economy has suffered greatly.

While we intervene to repair homes, feed the hungry, work for better healthcare, innovate creative solutions, and advocate for just systems, we keep our focus on the big picture vision of poverty alleviation. We continue to go to the root of poverty and ask why these inequities exist as we seek long-term sustainable solutions.

Learn more about: Together for Hope Appalachia

A Coalition

We are better when we work together, so we continue to build a coalition of organizations, churches, and individuals who share our goals, while we work to provide resources, support, and networking for existing partners.

Coalition Members and Partners

Your annual gift of $120 (or $10 a month) supports this work of transformation in rural Appalachia:

• Engaging in poverty alleviation through asset-based community development and the four priorities of hope: education, health & nutrition, housing & environment, and social enterprise.

• Growing a coalition of non-profits, businesses, churches, and individuals that share our goals and priorities.

• Networking through social media, email, personal contacts, and through Zoom meetings which bring together coalition members for collaboration, encouragement, and support.

• Providing resources, support, coordination, and capacity building for our coalition members.

• Advocating for issues of importance to poverty alleviation in Appalachia, building a network of churches and church members, and working with other advocacy organization.
• Expanding our impact by providing additional leadership in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Ohio.

Leadership

Keith Stillwell, D.Min., serves as Together for Hope Regional Vice President for Appalachia.
[email protected]

APPRECIATION GIFT

To show our appreciation and to commemorate your partnership with TFH Appalachia we would like to present you with a candle holder and beeswax candle or a bead oil lamp created by Appalachian artisans, Kirk Banks, Sarah Culbreth, and Jason Hughes.

Thank you for sharing your light (Matthew 5:15).

: Kirk Banks

: Kirk Banks

: Kirk Banks

: Sarah Culbreth

: Sarah Culbreth

: Jason Hughes

: Kirk Banks

MEET THE ARTISANS

Richard Kirk Banks

Head Ceramic Contract Artist
Appalachian Artisan Center, Hindman, Kentucky

Richard Kirk Banks is a multi-disciplinary studio artist working in Hindman, KY. A Whitesburg, KY native, Kirk is a graduate of Choate Rosemary Hall and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise with an emphasis in fine/studio art. He practices primarily in three media: ceramic arts,
printmaking, and painting. Kirk’s pieces from each medium are characterized by bold, saturated colors, simple patterns, and lively functionality. His ceramic work is generally functional and wheel-made, with instruction offered weekly by the artist. His print work includes serigraphs and monotype/monoprint on paper, while his paintings are made with acrylic, oil, and pastels on canvas or panel.

Sarah Culbreth

Tater Knob Pottery and Farm, Berea, Kentucky

Sarah Culbreth

I fell in love the first time I saw pottery being made on the potter’s wheel. This happened when I was 18 and got a job at Berea College’s Ceramic Apprenticeship Program.

Every student going to Berea College has to work, so instead of serving food at Boone Tavern, I got a job at the pottery. I had no idea how hard it is/was to “throw” a pot, much less be in a business selling the work of my hands. All I wanted to do was make my own dinnerware. Now I do dinnerware as a specialty.

I have always tied education to the sale of my finished pottery. I figured that people would appreciate the price of my work if they recognized how hard it is to do and what it entails.

For 35 years visitors have viewed clay spinning around on our potter’s wheel, while I give an explanation of the process. I still love “throwing” pottery and having the public get excited by watching.

I keep my prices reasonable so everyone can afford a real piece of earth, turned into a thing of beauty to eat and drink from, that will last a very long time (unless you drop it on concrete!).

I still love what I do, and I hope to teach others the skill of my heart and hands.

Jeff Enge

David Enge

Jason Hughes

Johnson County Center for the Arts

Jason is always pushing the boundaries of his work in leather. He creates useful items, such as bags, bookmarks, valet trays and keychains as well as framed artistry. He is currently creating a series of Celtic crosses in leather. Jason is also a bee keeper and sometimes has local honey and pure beeswax candles available.