Located in rural and mountainous eastern Kentucky, Letcher County is best known for its natural beauty, as evidenced by small but growing efforts to promote the county as a tourist destination in recent years. One especially breathtaking site is the Bad Branch Falls State Nature Preserve in the town of Eolia. The park comprises over 2,600 acres of trails, waterfalls, and mountain vistas, boasting one of the highest concentrations of rare or endangered species in Kentucky. The breathtaking beauty of this land, however, belies the hardships that its residents face each day.

As with many towns in the area, the community of Eolia traces its roots back to the coalmining industry, which sustained this once-thriving region for generations. With the decline of the mining industry, however, employment opportunities here have plummeted, and poverty rates have soared. Many families have moved away in search of job opportunities, but a resilient few have stayed, working hard to revitalize their community despite hardship.  Daily survival here is a struggle, and children feel it perhaps most keenly. In fact, the childhood poverty rate here currently hovers at a staggering 32%. For this reason, Arlie Boggs Elementary/Middle School serves as a beacon of hope. In fact,  in many ways, it is the heart of this small, close-knit community. The school’s caring and dedicated staff is thrilled to partner with Children Incorporated sponsors to better equip students with the basic essentials and well-rounded education they need to break the cycle of poverty and rise above the difficult circumstances they face daily.