 Red Bird Mission, Kentucky – Red Bird Mission, in the heart of the Appalachia, serves a remote area in Bell, Clay, and Leslie counties in the Cumberland Mountains in the Southeastern part of Kentucky. Access to the region is sometimes difficult depending on the weather and/or time of year. Public services and infrastructure are virtually non-existent. The small towns that are county seats range from 25 to 34 miles from the area. Public water is inadequate and there is no public sewer. Telephone and electricity service is available, but can become unreliable during adverse weather conditions.
- The three-county area is undereducated: in 2000, nearly 50% of individuals over 25 did not complete high school.
- Clay is the poorest county in Kentucky, with a per capita income, according to the census, of $9,626; about 40% of the county's citizens live below the poverty level. In contrast, Jefferson County, home of Louisville, Kentucky 's largest city, has a per capita income exceeding $22,000. Leslie and Bell counties are similarly distressed economically. There are no economic development initiatives in the area.
- The 2000 census revealed that median household income in Kentucky was $33,672; in Clay County, it was $16,271.
Red Bird Mission is the local coordinating agency that helps to make up menus and distributes Family-to-Family cartons. Red Bird Mission is a national mission institution of The United Methodist Church. Since 1921, Red Bird Mission has been providing education, medical, and community outreach programs for residents of the Red Bird River Valley; a new Lending Library will open soon to improve children's school readiness and to help instill a love of reading and learning.
The F-to-F program is coordinated by Red Bird Mission’s Community Outreach department under the guidance of Mrs. Tracy Nolan, RN. The Family-to-Family program interfaces with the Elderly, Family, and Community Aid programs of the department.
Families in Georgia, New York, and Texas are currently contributing cartons to families served by Red Bird.
Sources:
Education – CensusScope. Poverty/Income Rates – QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau. |
