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Stories written by Renee Kube

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Kentucky Strong

In the Hills of Kentucky, Children Are Still Waiting for Opportunity

The mountains of Eastern Kentucky are breathtaking. Rolling hills stretch for miles. Horses graze quietly in green pastures. The Red River Gorge draws visitors from across the country to hike towering cliffs and explore the beauty of Appalachia. But beyond the scenic overlooks and winding mountain roads, many families are quietly struggling just to get by. Recently, our Director of US Programs, and our Assistant Director visited Wolfe County, Kentucky — one of the poorest […]

Our Shared Hope Fund Helps Students in Desperate Need

A Letter from our Director of U.S. Programs

Dear Friends, Our Shared Hope Fund, which provides basic needs support for children waiting for a special sponsor, is one of our most valued funds. Recently, I saw yet another example of its importance and how it helps students who are in immediate and sometimes desperate need of help. The story touches my heart, and I believe you will feel it, too. Alex’s Story One of our volunteer coordinators at a newly affiliated U.S. high […]

Reaching Significant Milestones

René Kube discusses Cowan Elementary School's growth as a sign of progress

Cowan Elementary School, located off State Highway 931 in the Dongola community, just south of Whitesburg, Kentucky, serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade. It’s worth noting that Dongola, the school’s physical address, lost its post office, so the school’s mailing address is now Whitesburg. With a growing student population of about 287, Cowan Elementary School is reaching a significant milestone. For many years, its Family Resource Youth Services Center has been combined with that […]

Educational Aspirations in Rural America

Renée Kube visits Arlie Boggs Elementary School in Kentucky

Our affiliated school, Arlie Boggs, is a kindergarten through eighth-grade school with a small population of just 128 students. It’s located in the community of Eolia, in the southeastern part of the county. It’s in a rural area, sandwiched between Bad Branch State Nature Preserve and the Virginia state line. There is a lot of poverty in this community — 84% of the children come from low-income families. The children are also struggling academically. The […]

Dealing with Persistent Poverty in Kentucky

Renée Kube visits Jenkins Independent Schools while in Letcher County

During my visit to Letcher County for the first time since the historic flooding that struct southeastern Kentucky in July 2022, I first visited Jenkins Independent Schools. Jenkins Independent Schools comprises two schools: Burdine Elementary and Jenkins Middle-High. Several years ago, at the request of our coordinator, Angela, Children Incorporated “administratively merged” Burdine Elementary into Jenkins Middle-High. They operate as one affiliated site. Angie looks over both schools; they share one Family Resource Youth Services […]

A Catastrophe with Continuing Impacts

Renée Kube visits Letcher County for the first time since the 2022 flooding

Letcher County is in the southeastern part of Kentucky. It is bordered by four other Kentucky counties and Wise County, Virginia. The county seat, Whitesburg, is located in the middle of the county. As European explorers and the earliest settlers made their way into Kentucky, the Native American populations of the area (Shawnee in the north and Cherokee in the south) were steadily displaced. Kentucky became a state in 1791, and what became Letcher County […]