Assignment 3- Abby Shadwick

Eastern Kentucky has deep roots in my family. I often visit my grandmother on my mother’s side, who lives in a tiny town bordering West Virginia called Inez, Kentucky, where poverty and addiction run rampant. Service in Eastern Kentucky is something I have recently found a passion for in the last 3 years. Through Christian Appalachian project, my entire view of Kentucky and service has been changed forever. I realized that solutions to those types of problems may be easy to propose, but the roots and lifestyle in Eastern Kentucky run deeper than I ever thought they did. Small efforts are all I have to give these people, through the building of decks and ramps for the disabled, and even homes for impoverished families. That work is the most rewarding I have ever done. The participants are so thankful and welcoming, the epitome of Southern hospitality. Additionally, my dad has his own charity, Direct2Kids, where we find sponsors in Lexington with the means to buy Christmas gifts for children at a church in Middle Fork, Kentucky, who otherwise would not have any. Delivering those gifts fills my heart every year.