Applications for Emergency Home Repairs will be accepted beginning in February 2020.
Guidelines:
Please call Audrey Collins (Outreach Director) with the Piarist School Outreach Ministry at 606-789-1967 for an application after January 31.
Please remember that all work is done through the generosity of volunteers.
PiaristSchoolOutreach@gmail.com is our new email address for the Outreach Program. We do not ask for money in any way as this hack email has done and we apologize for this inconvenience.
Our outreach email has been hacked and a dummy account has been created to mimic it. If you receive any email from piaoutreach@bellsouth.net or piaoutreach@gmail.com that is from our Outreach Director Audrey Collins asking for a favor, please disregard it. We will be creating a new email address shortly.
PIARIST SCHOOL YARD SALE
The yard sale will take place in the gym at the back of the school, located across from Porter Elem. & Davis Produce in Hager Hill, KY.
Backpacks, Shoes, Household items, Blankets, clothing, Dishes and much more will be available.
3 shopping bags of clothing for $5.00
All other items will be priced individually.
Shopping bags will be provided for your convenience.
If you have questions please contact our school at 606-789-1967
We are hard at work in the final stages of the annual Christmas Program. Thanks to the generosity of multiple parishes and individuals throughout the country, over 800 kids will be receiving store-bought presents that they otherwise could not afford.
We will post pictures as the dates draw nearer.
Anyone wishing to help purchase gifts may contact Outreach Director Audrey Collins at 606-789-1967
We are currently scheduling groups for the 2019 Emergency Home Projects. Any group that wishes to volunteer, please send your availability to Audrey Collins by email or phone as soon as possible: 606-789-1967.
Four mission groups have already scheduled for the 2019 year.
The need is great and we hope to see many this year.
This summer, we welcomed Helping Hands Christian Missions to the Piarist Outreach Emergency Home Projects. This is a wonderful group dedicated to their Mission and always giving a hand up to those in need. They completed work on two separate homes for families in need this year.
Thank you to our wonderful friends from Holy Spirit at Geist in Fischer’s, IN. This summer, they built a beautiful ramp for an elderly man in need and painted over half of the school’s gymnasium. We could not provide the help we do without the help we receive from the generosity and spirit of others. Thank you to all who worked so hard to help a wonderful man be able to access his home safely.
June 10-15th we welcomed St. Timothy Catholic Church Mission group. They built a ramp for a family in need in Martin, KY and organized our Outreach Room.
This was their first trip to our mountains and we would like to thank everyone for the wonderful gift of serving others. Welcome back anytime guys!
Audrey Collins, Piarist Outreach Director, is hard at work organizing names of families and children in the surrounding counties who will receive two store-bought gifts from our many volunteers and benefactors around the country. Collins organizes hundreds of names of children by location and coordinates with various organizations and volunteers from multiple states to ensure that children who are living below the poverty line and would not otherwise receive a Christmas gift, will be able to celebrate Christmas this year.
The program is in its 15th year under her guidance and each year it increases in size.
Collins states that she has already received the names of around 900 kids for this year but she expects that number to increase before November.
If you are interested in sponsoring children for the Christmas Program, please contact Audrey Collins at the Piarist School – 606-789-1967.
The following is an article from the Painstville Herald.
JCSO “Full Baskets, Full Bellies” feeds 300 kids
A Paintsville Herald staff report
For the second year, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department oversaw the “Full Baskets, Full Bellies” project to ensure more than 300 children in need would not go hungry while they are home for two weeks on Christmas Break.
The sheriff’s office began taking donations as far back as October, with volunteers collecting donations at Walmart and Food City.
“Last year, when we began this project, we weren’t sure how many students we would be able to impact,” said Sheriff Dewayne Price. “This year, we were more prepared and aware of the number of students that we would need to impact. With the summer mobile lunch program implemented this past summer, we knew we wanted to reach many of the students that had taken advantage of the summer lunch program. With the help of the family resource center directors, I was able to obtain contact information for many of those students’ parents or guardians. Either Deputy Clark or one of the volunteers contacted those folks and advised them of the project.”
The students received their baskets at one of several giveaway events, including a swimming party, personal deliveries or a day long event at the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff Price said that, in addition to getting the baskets into the hands of the students, he wanted to spend this year meeting them personally.
“Some have never met an officer, others may have had parents arrested,” Price said. “I wanted them to know I, or one of the Johnson County Sheriff’s officers, are always a phone call away.”
Program organizers worked with Audrey Collins of the Piarist School Outreach and Ramanda Penix at the First Methodist Church in Paintsville, and were able to use extra food from the program to help stock the church’s Blessing Box
“Our community projects touch hundreds of people each year,” Price said. “However, this project is the most meaningful to me. We feed kids.”
The Piarist Outreach Program has worked for over 20 years providing clothing, household items, emergency home repairs, school supplies, and more to the families in eastern KY. One of the most important parts of the Outreach Program is the Christmas Drive. Outreach Director Audrey Collins has been working for months with local agencies, local families, and schools across the surrounding five counties to gather names of children living below the poverty line who would not otherwise receive a store bought gift. The project is massive and takes a lot of planning and help from volunteers across the country to carry out.
This year, over 600 kids in the area will be receiving two store bought gifts delivered to them by Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Mrs. Collins herself. Volunteers include parishes and organizations from across the country who tell Collins how many kids for which they can purchase gifts. Mrs. Collins then organizes lists of kids, along with their wants and clothing sizes, to give to each organization. She then must cross-reference each list with the donations as they come in, making sure that no child is left out. After this, she organizes each list of hundreds of kids into deliveries by stop. Over the years, she has become a regular fixture in the hollers and with the families of the area. She has stated often that while the joy on the children’s faces when they see Santa is a glorious thing to behold, she is often drawn to the emotional faces of the mothers during the deliveries.
Currently presents are being bought and shipped by volunteers across the country. The Outreach Program’s Christmas Drive is in full swing. We will post pictures of the preparations and deliveries when they occur later next month.
The following is a note of thanks from Outreach Director Audrey Collins.
2017 was a wonderful year for some families in eastern KY. This year we welcomed a group from Louisiana led by two women. They tore off a porch and replaced it with another complete with a new roof. Thank you for your donation to the camp.
Next we welcomed a group from ‘Helping Hands Ministry’ from Loogootee, IN. They built two wheelchair ramps for families in need and have already rescheduled for next year. Thank you for all of your hard work and for always helping us with Christmas gifts for the kids.
The third group came to us from Fischers, IN. They built two wheelchair ramps and also helped out at the school and camp with various projects. This is one group that has already rescheduled for next year. We would like to say thank you for your donation to the camp, which helps keep us running and thank you so very much for helping us at Christmas for several years.
A large group of students led by Deacon Mike from Michigan arrived next. They painted at the school and worked at the camp cleaning the grounds and doing necessary work. Three parishes were represented in this mission trip. It was wonderful to meet you all and we thank you for all of your hard work.
This year- we welcomed one of our largest group ever for the first time. Around 47 young men and women representing two Parishes arrived from St. Louis, MO. They built a beautiful deck, planted a flower garden, and worked on many other projects with the kids in the community. Thank you for your donation to the camp, which helps keep us running, and for all of your work.
Next, we welcomed a group from Cathedral High in Fischers, IN. They built a wheelchair ramp and completed several other projects in their short time they got to spend with us. Thank you for your donation to the camp, which is necessary for us to continue! Your hard work is very much appreciated.
Last, we welcomed our friends from Columbia City. They are a small, but hard working group and a lot of work was accomplished. Flooring, building a ramp, repairing a porch and several other projects were completed while they were with us. Thank you for your donation to the camp and for all of the work that you did for families.
Groups that come to Kentucky to work on Emergency Home Projects, do so as servants of God on a Mission trip. They raise money for projects and they are working for the people in need.
I will repeat this again…They are not working for me or The Piarist Outreach. I get the names and addresses of families in need and look at the projects before our volunteers arrive. That’s as far as my job goes with them.
We have a camp that the volunteers stay at when they arrive. Nothing fancy…but accommodations are there. We are thankful for the donations we receive because we pay all electric bills, upkeep on cabins, and repair a gravel/dirt road weekly. No one helps us with this. Most of the time it is coming out of our pockets.
Please know that we are very grateful for all of the help we receive here from amazing groups like these. The families helped by their generosity and hard work are forever changed. We could not do this without you.
The following is a letter written by Jennifer Bollich, the Youth Minister at St. Mary of False River Catholic Church, on what brought their parish to work with the Piarist Outreach Program and the aftermath of their mission trip to eastern KY. The volunteers who come to eastern KY to donate their time and efforts do so out of a calling from God to help those in need. These volunteers stay at the Piarist Frontier Camp. This was the old Oddfellow’s Camp and was renamed after Audrey and Ed took over as caretakers and managers of the property. The Piarist School Outreach is eternally grateful for the help volunteers provide. We could not do our work without theirs.
August 28, 2017
In 2014 Fr. Tom Carroll, a priest from the Piarist order, visited our church parish in New Roads, Louisiana, and spoke to the congregation. His visit wasn’t announced prior to his celebrating mass with us so I was a little surprised to see an unfamiliar priest in the procession. He said mass in a very quiet, calm manner and delivered his homily the same way. It was through the quiet and calm voice of this humble priest that the Holy Spirit began to speak. He told us of His children suffering in eastern Kentucky. He spoke of the traditions of the Appalachian people, and of their joys and sorrows. He told us of the economy, and lack of educational and job opportunities that kept His people in this cycle of generational poverty. He spoke of His Piarist order that had been sent out to the poorest parts of the world to teach. He spoke of the conditions in rural Appalachia that seemed like a third world country when compared to the rest of our nation. Finally, the Holy Spirit called us to help. He called us to reach down deep and give of our money, resources, time, and talent.
At mass that weekend, our parishioners gave the largest sum of money ever collected that wasn’t pre-announced—and they kept giving in the weeks to come. But more, they kept talking about Fr. Tom’s words, and the Holy Spirit kept moving. Soon, I was prompted to contact Fr. Tom by telephone who then gave the phone to Audrey, his Outreach coordinator. Through emails and Facebook messages, our first mission trip began to take shape for the following summer.
Twenty-three youth and adults made plans to travel to Kentucky in July of 2015. We spoke after mass, placed a multi-page insert in the bulletin, and again the Holy Spirit began to move. Donations began pouring in and enthusiasm continued to build. We rented a small U-haul trailer and packed it with donations: school supplies, bedding, first aid kits, cleaning supplies, and bottled water. Not quite knowing what to expect, or what Christ was going to ask of us, we headed to Kentucky and the Piarist Frontier Campground. (In hindsight, had some of my drivers known the road they had to drive to get to the camp, they may have cancelled. But God is good, and asks us to trust Him one step at a time even when we can’t see the whole journey.)
It’s hard to comprehend the range of emotions I experienced on that trip. Nervousness—I was in charge and had never done anything like that before. I had never even stepped foot in Kentucky and had no idea what to expect. Terror—I was driving a large van full of teens up, down, and around a narrow and steep dirt and gravel road into a mountain wilderness. Relief—the first time I safely navigated to the camp. Exhilaration—when I could drive the road without blinking an eye–even in the rain. Shock—at the amount of work that needed to be completed before the tuition-free Catholic school could open at its new location in just a few short weeks. Awe—at the amount of work our teens and adults accomplished in just a few short days. Exhaustion—at the amount of work we did in just a few short days. Gratitude—at the prayers, meals, and financial support our faithful parishioners sent with us. Heartbreak—at the living conditions of the beautiful children and families the Outreach serves. Admiration—for the way our teens embraced the mission and the people of eastern Kentucky. Wonder—at our teen’s abilities to look at these poor children and see the joy, and value in each of them. Reverence—for Christ shining in each face I encountered during that week.
Each of the 23 missionaries from that first trip returned home to Louisiana changed in some way. Friendships were built. Eyes were opened. Hearts were touched. But most of all, the Love that is Christ grew in each of us as it was poured out on others.
Unfortunately, due to necessary repairs on our home church and catastrophic floods in our own area, we were unable to return in 2016. However, in 2017, I and my good friend, Kim, were able to take 9 youth back to the Piarist Outreach to work again. Again, I was nervous. This time not because I didn’t know what to expect, but because I did. And I wasn’t quite sure how Kim and I could pull this off with 9 kids on our own. Of course, we weren’t really on our own. (Never discount the work of the Holy Spirit. He can magnify your meager efforts to supernatural proportions if you simply say “yes” and get to work.)
He provided us with willing hearts, enthusiastic youth, prayer support back home, and Ed. Ed is Audrey’s husband and helps her run the Piarist Frontier Camp, manage the groups, and do whatever else Audrey and Fr. Tom need. Ed got “stuck” teaching us carpentry skills on the jobsite. Somehow through the intercession of St. Joseph, the miracle worker, and the help and guidance of this man, our motley crew built a new deck with steps and a roof for a family on Audrey’s list in three-and-a-half days. (To say this was a miracle is a vast understatement and I’m still amazed at God’s faithfulness.) All the experiences from the first mission trip were again present, but in many new faces as well as many I recognized from before.
The impact the Piarist Outreach has had on my family and me is hard to put into words. I originally wanted to take my children on a mission trip to show them what true poverty looks like. I didn’t expect for Christ to show me what He really looks like. And yet, isn’t that what He asks of us all? Mother Teresa (St Teresa of Calcutta) said, “I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus, this one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus.”
We each must ask ourselves, “Where is God calling me to serve today?” Service starts in our families, spreads into our communities, and out into the rest of God’s vast creation. I’m thankful for the time God called me to serve in Kentucky and I hope, with His help, I will be able to return many, many times in the future.
God bless you,
Jennifer Bollich
Youth minister,
St Mary of False River Catholic Church
One of the most important parts of the Piarist School’s mission is our Outreach Program. This summer Outreach Director Audrey Collins has been gearing the program up once again. Currently, she and volunteers have been working with St. Albert the Great and Helping Hands Christian Missions to put together food donation packages for 100 kids in need in eastern KY. St. Albert the Great and Helping Hands Christian Missions generously donated the food items and transported them to the school. From there, Collins has been working with volunteers to separate the items into packages to be delivered soon to the 100 families.
Currently, the Outreach Program is also working with volunteers from New Roads, LA who are donating their time, materials, money, and hard work to assist in emergency home repairs by building a porch for a family.
The Piarist School Outreach Program works with numerous groups to help provide needed items like food, clothing, emergency home repairs, etc… throughout the year. The work it does for the community is invaluable and wouldn’t be possible without the generous help from multiple groups.
For more information on the Outreach Program, contact the Outreach Director Audrey Collins at the school at 606-789-1967.
2015 was very big year for us. As you know, we had to move our school from the building we had occupied since the 1990’s. After a long and uncertain process, we acquired an old alternative school in Johnson County that was in major disrepair. With the new school year looming, we had a strict deadline to meet to get the school ready for students and faculty. There was no way this would have happened without the amazing contributions of several groups who traveled to eastern Kentucky to help us repair and build classrooms, offices, and the outreach area.
We would like to acknowledge the tireless work of Helping Hands Christian Missions from Indiana. 2015 was their 10th year of working with us, and I cannot say enough how much we value their friendship. Multiple people from the mission helped move the school to its new location in addition to putting in many hours doing construction and repair at the new school. Each year, they also buy and deliver over 200 Christmas presents for children living below the poverty line in our area, as well as bringing a truckload of turkey from Purdue Farms to be distributed to various families in need.
The Church of the Resurrection from Rochester, MN continued their yearly mission trip to help move the school from its old location, while also contributing countless hours to the construction of the new school, as well as building a ramp for a family in need and a porch and railing for another family. This was their 6th year of helping the families in eastern KY and we look forward to many more years of cooperation and help.
We also welcomed back St. Paul of the Cross from Columbia City, IN for their sixth year of help to our mission. They worked tirelessly to construct rooms in the school’s new location, while generously doing any projects that sprang up.
This year we welcomed four new groups: Most Holy Trinity from Wallingford, CT; St. Dominic Church from Bremen, IN; Holy Spirit at Geist from Fischers, IN; and St. Mary of False River from New Roads, LA. All of these groups generously donated their efforts to replace tile, paint rooms, fixing ceilings, building the cafeteria, and any other project that allowed us to finally move into the new school location. Holy Spirit at Geist also purchased emergency gifts for the outreach Christmas drive for families in need.
We could not have hoped to achieve our move or any of our outreach work without the help of these groups and more.
Speaking of the Christmas Drive, we would like to take this opportunity to thank those who generously donated their time, funds, and gifts to allow over 600 children in need to have a Christmas. Thank you Helping Hands Christian Missions for the purchase and delivery of 200 gifts and a ton of turkey.
Thank you to St. Alberts the Great of Louisville, KY who purchased over 200 gifts for the Christmas Drive. Their help every year is integral to our work.
St. Patrick’s of Havanna, IL and Immaculate Conception of Manito, IL worked together to provide over 200 gifts for the drive. This marks another year in a long friendship between the Piarist School and these parishes.
St. Michael’s of Greenville, PA held yard sales and raised money for the John Shearer Foundation in order to purchase gifts for families in need in eastern KY. Words cannot express our gratitude for all of those who participated in the raising of these funds.
Our Lady of the Assumption from Strafford, PA purchased over 100 gifts for the Drive and their help was much appreciated and needed.
A final thank you to the Holy Spirit at Geist from Fischers, IN for stepping up and provided emergency gifts for over a hundred kids when their original donor could not follow through. We were so thankful for their generosity and grace.
Our mission would not be possible without the generous donations and help that we receive from mission groups and parishes. Our thanks can never be enough.
Thank you to our 2012 Volunteers!
Each year we have some wonderful people volunteering to come to KY for their Mission work. This year we were fortunate enough to have several groups volunteering to repair homes in eastern KY.
Helping Hands Christian Missions returned again this year. They are a group of wonderful people from several Parishes in Indiana who give to help others. Together they repaired two homes and built ramps and decks. This group also buys gifts for 100 + children each year. Thank you my friends.
Next we welcomed St. Michael’s group from Greenville, PA. Together they repaired 3 homes and also helped work at our school. This group also shared their ministry with several families and their wonderful cooking with us. They also have been Ministering to eastern Ky for several years. Thank you my friends.
We also welcomed back Church of the Resurrection from Rochester, MN. They repaired several homes and also built a shed for Oddfellows Youth Camp. I apologize for the inconvenience that the power outage caused. Unfortunately sometimes things happen that is beyond our control. Thank you for all the hard work and all the food…
I would also like to thank the many friends from St. Francis & Clair in Greenwood, IN and I really appreciate all your work and I really admire your dedication to finishing all of those jobs that you had lined up.
Thanks also to OLA and Devon Prep. from Strafford, PA . Thank you for the work that was done here.
Thank you to all that have helped us in some way. Maybe you came and worked on homes in the 100 degree heat. Maybe you cooked and carried lunches, or visited some families and spoke some kind words. Whatever your Mission, may God continue to bless each of you.
Thanks to our 2011 Volunteers!
This year many parishes and groups from across the nation donated their time and efforts to help those in need in our area. From donating Christmas presents to completing multiple emergency home repair projects, these groups have been invaluable to our School, Outreach work and community. Although a thank you will never be enough to express the heartfelt gratitude to these amazing groups, we would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to each.
Helping Hands Christian Mission from Loogootee, IN has worked in Appalachia for many years in muliple facets. They purchase 200 Christmas gifts yearly for needy children in our area. This year they also contributed many hours of manual labor to our school and families in need ranging from fixing windows at the school to purchasing and installing storm doors for families. Recently they built a wheelchair ramp, repaired a bathroom and painted a trailer for familes in our area. They will be bringing a truck load of turkeys to be distributed to families in the area over the upcoming holidays.
A group from St. Michael parish in Greenville, PA recently travelled to the area to help in multiple projects around the school and community including budiling steps for familes and repairing a bathroom. They also worked tirelessly at the Odd Fellow’s Youth Camp. They will be returning next year to mark their 3rd anniversary in our area.
Individuals with St. Paul of the Cross from Columbia City, IN recently donated their time and hard work to help on emergency home repairs for families in our area. They will be returning next year to mark their 4th anniversary helping those in need in our area.
Church of the Ressurection from Rochester, Minnesota joined us again this year to donate their efforts for emergency home repairs. They took on 4 service projects around the school, Odd Fellow’s Youth Camp and in the community. They helped to almost completely remodel a home in need of repair. Their efforts and help were much appreciated!
Finally, we would like to thank members of Our lady of the Assumption who, together with volunteers from our sister school in Devon, PA, tirelessly donated their time and efforts to help families in eastern Ky.
The work done in this area could not be accomplished without the help of the amazing individuals who donate their time and efforts. If you would like to schedule a mission trip to the area, please contact Audrey Collins at 606-285-3900 or email outreach@piaristschool.org.
PIARIST OUTREACH AND HELPING HAND MINISTRIES WORK TO REPAIR HOMES – SUMMER 2010
This summer, the Piarist School of Martin, KY is hosting numerous groups of volunteers from all over the country who are coming to this area with one purpose in mind: to help the people of eastern Kentucky with emergency home repairs.
While the Outreach Program of the Piarist School exists to help people in our area with home items and food or clothing needed, this program is one of the most special. Audrey Collins, the Director of the Piarist School Outreach Program says, “To see the work that these people do; to watch a family who is in such need of basic repairs on their home and who thought they’d never receive it, finally get these things free of charge makes everything we do worthwhile.”
One group that The Piarist School has been working with for many years is Helping Hands Christian Missions: a group of Christian men, women and young adults dedicated to helping the less fortunate by providing assistance in home maintenance for persons unable to afford to have work done. These people consist of the elderly, low income and individuals with disabilities. Helping Hands Christian Missions come from Southern Indiana and work tirelessly to coordinate the numerous work projects for the volunteer groups to follow them. Their work does not stop when they leave a job completed behind them.
The group started in 1998 with several members making trips to Mexico to work for a Catholic Priest, Fr. John Tasto, to better the lives of the impoverished of his parish. They built houses and additions to the Seminary and school. Although a very rewarding trip, the area became overcome with drug violence and the workers felt it was no longer safe to travel with the young adults to the area.
No longer being able to make this trip, they felt they still had a strong calling to do God’s work with the less fortunate. This calling prompted them to start another mission group which has come to be called Helping Hands Christian Missions. After attending an appeal by Fr. Tom Carroll, the principal of the Piarist School, in Washington, Indiana, they were made aware of the outreach work being done by the School in Appalachia and decided to become involved.
Unlike the first group, which was made up primarily of members of the Catholic faith, the new group is made up of Christians of all manner of denominations. Since its inception, Helping Hands Christian Missions has a great deal of experience in multiple areas, such as plumbing, electrical, bathroom rebuilds, roof repairs, drywall repairs, stairs building, porch repairs, door replacement, siding repair and replacement, handicapped ramps and many others. They have worked in southeastern Kentucky with the Piarist Outreach program providing many of these things to numerous families in need.
One of the things the families who receive home repairs through this program always ask is how much it is going to cost them. The answer is simple: Nothing.
The volunteers working with the Piarist School Outreach provide their own tools and supplies for the projects. When asked how they can afford to fund such projects, Helping Hands Christian Missions revealed that they have an interesting way of raising money. They attend several different functions Statewide such as fairs, carnivals and festivals where they make and sell Kettle corn and Caramel Corn. This along with donations is how they are able to work with the Piarist School on such an amazing project.
This year, the group returned to eastern Kentucky to help the Piarist Outreach in Wayland, Kentucky. After visiting a number of projects for consideration and evaluating the needs, they had returned to Indiana to discuss which projects would be best for them to handle. In the case of Vaughn and Lucille Moore of Wayland, the decision was based on need and not want.
The Moores were in great need of doors that locked, a porch that did not allow snakes to continuously climb through the floor and steps that could safely be maneuvered down. Their safety and security were the deciding factors.
Lucille and Vaughn were contacted by Audrey Collins earlier this year with questions regarding repairs they needed on their home. When they were told about the program, and that they were being considered for the project, Lucille says, “I was happy, but I knew I wasn’t going to get anything free. We’ve always worked on our own.” Lucille said they needed front steps, their porch repaired and doors that they could lock. The doors were a particular worry for them, because they can’t get up and down quickly when someone had tried to get into their home twice before. Her husband Vaughn, in 5th stage kidney failure, was more disbelieving and told her, “Ain’t nobody gonna do that for us. You hear so much that ain’t true.”
Lucille laughingly recalled she had replied, “Well, I ain’t gonna lose nothing if they don’t.”
When Audrey showed up at the Moore’s home to look at the needed repairs, Vaughn recalls that he was still skeptical. “They may be back. They may not.” Lucille recalled thinking it was a miracle. “We had a skeleton key for our door. Anyone could get into it.”
Audrey left the site and contacted Helping Hands Christian Missions with the work needed in the home. They returned to eastern Kentucky and stopped by to take stock of the job themselves. When they came knocking, the Moore’s were still skeptical that they would be considered for any repairs.
“I’ve never had any good luck. What we’ve done here, we’ve done on our own. Everything on this house came from other people. Our railings, boards. We’ve worked all our lives for what we got, and ain’t nobody ever gave us anything for free. “ When Helping Hands left their home that day, the Moores forgot about the notion of having repairs done. According to Vaughn and Lucille, they went back to living like they always had.
Audrey recalls the look on Lucille’s face when she returned to tell her that the group would be back shortly to begin work on her home. “She was so surprised. I remember that look on her face, because I’ve had it in the past.” As the group returned and began unloading supplies in the yard around the Moore’s home, Lucille was ecstatic.
“I just couldn’t believe it! I just kept thinking that I’d get the porch but no doors.” She recalls seeing the lumber for the porch and the stairs being unloaded, but the moment her new steel doors were unloaded, she clapped her hands and declared, “Are those mine?!”
Helping Hands Christian Missions began work on the home that very day. The Moore’s home was the only project they chose to take on, wanting to devote all of their time to their needs. Lucille made sure to keep them fed, insisting on cooking them breakfast and lunch, sometimes dinner for their hard work. Coming to have an easy relationship with the Moores, Lucille would often make them turn off their power tools so she could finish dinner or run her air conditioner.
Once the repairs were completed, Lucille recalls immediately going to the road and looking up at her new doors as Vaughn recalls their reaction the first day the workers left. “We slept so good that first night with the doors. It was easier to close; easier to lock. We used to put a knife in the door to lock it. We didn’t have to anymore. It was so wonderful.”
The Piarist School Outreach Program and Helping Hands Christian Missions have been working together for years to help repair the homes of families in eastern Kentucky that have serious need. When asked what they ask for from this experience, the workers of Helping Hands honestly respond, “Merely your prayers.”
OUR OUTREACH MINISTRY CONTINUES TO GROW
The Piarist School and Outreach Program Director Audrey Collins would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to all those individuals who sent donations, Christmas presents, and donated their time to help make this last Christmas drive our best so far. We cannot do the work we do here without the help of all of you. Now that spring is moving in, it will soon be that time of the year when multiple groups of volunteers come down to help out with Emergency Home Repairs.
This year, we have several groups from all over the country coming together to help families in Eastern Kentucky. The month of June and first two weeks into July are already filled with volunteers.
This year, our generous group of volunteers from Loogootee, Indiana are returning once again. They have been helping this area with us for five years now and are very special people. In addition to the volunteer work that they provide, they also purchase 200 Christmas gifts each year for the children in Eastern Kentucky.
We also are fortunate enough to have a group from Columbia City, Indiana making this trip down their second year of working hands on with families in need here.
We are very fortunate to be able to also welcome groups from Greenville, Pennsylvania and Rochester, Minnesota.
All of the volunteer work groups will be staying at the Odd Fellow’s Youth Camp located in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. Audrey Collins, outreach coordinator for the Piarist School, and her husband are the volunteer caretakers for the Odd Fellow’s Youth Camp throughout the year.
GEARING UP FOR THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS SEASONS
This time of the year is the busiest time for the Outreach Mission. Audrey Collins, Outreach Director, is currently in the process of coordinating with multiple parishes across the country to gather donations of food and toys for underpriviledged and empoverished families. We currently have over 400 children signed up for this year’s drive. If you would like more information on this mission, please contact the Outreach Program at 606-285-3950 or by email at piaoutreach@bellsouth.net.
RECENT ARTICLES ON PIARIST MISSION WORKS
Here are some new articles on the Piarist School Outreach Program and the volunteer work being done this year! We want to extend a very heartfelt thank you to Paschalina Lott and the group of volunteers from Columbia City, Indiana and Marisa Larson and the wonderful group of volunteers from Big River, Wisconsin who donated time and great effort to help with much needed home repairs in Magoffin County, KY.
Floyd County Lifestyles – August 7, 2009 Helping Hands – Piarist Outreach Program assists in a variety of ways
by Sheldon Compton
Martin – Outreach organizers at the Piarist School such as Audrey Collins are at it again, this time in Magoffin County.
It’s that time of year again when Collins starts working with outreach participants for summer programs primarily involving home repairs.
This summer, 26 adults and teens from Wisconsin have made the Odd Fellows Youth Camp in Prestonsburg, KY their home for a week while repairing windows in a community in Magoffin County, and have been all smiles while doing so, Collins says.
“You should see them, “ she said Thursday. “Here they were with mud up to their kneecaps and line dancing in the evenings. They really want to do what they’re doing.”
And so does Collins, who can always be found moving from one plan to the next within the halls of the school.
Fr. Thomas Carroll says he couldn’t have found a better pick for an outreach program director at the private Catholic school in Martin. “I found a wonderful person to do this in Audrey.” Carroll said, adding that the requests that often come in never cease to surprise him. “What fascinates me is the number of requests we get for school supplies from public schools.”
Which brings us to the many other functions the outreach program takes part in.
Since starting her position seven years ago, Collins has expanded the program from holiday gift giving and food donations to encompass a wide range of charitable efforts. Those efforts include, as with the visitors from Wisconsin, emergency home repair, a Christmas gift drive that grew from a few hundred donations to more than 1,000 gifts given out this past holiday season, making mixed CD’s for hospice residents, clothing donations during summer and winter and countless other efforts.
“I work about 60 hours a week, especially during the summer and winter,” Collins said. “During the winter, for instance, I go door to door in the region to give gifts and other donations. I do this by names that are given to us for people who might need help, but there are other times that I just stop when I see a house that has toys in the yard.”
The Piarist Outreach program is ran entirely from donations.
From the Catholic Times – September 2009
By Joseph O’Brien
Big River – A group of 26 adults and students from St. Mary Parish, Big River, found out what a few helping hands can do to help the poor of Appalachia.
On Aug 2., the group left for Martin, KY., a poor area in the Appalachian Mountains, on a weeklong mission to repair residential houses, donate around 70 duffel bags filled with school supplies, providing a catechetical program and celebrating good works well done with music, dramatic skits and pizza party with the Kentucky residents that benefited from their labors.
As the first mission for many on the trip – including the youth minister and trip organizer for St. Mary’s, Marisa Larson – the expedition inspired the parish group to build a relationship with the people they met and worked with during their week’s stay.
Active Faith
Inspired to help parish youth find a way to express their Catholic faith, Larson thought that a mission group would put their faith to work while it also gave them a chance to touch others’ live with that faith.
Last September, after hearing about the great need in the Kentucky segment of the Appalachians, Larson contacted the Piarist’s School in Martin, which organized the outreach program for the area. In May, she visited with Audrey Collins, the school’s outreach coordinator, to help organize accommodations in Salyersville, KY., and the other components of the trip.
The Piarists (Order of the Poor Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools) are the oldest educational order of priests in the Church, founded in Rome in 1617 by Saint Joseph Calasanctius (1557-1648).
The mission group worked on the property of four related Salyersville families living out of four ramshackle trailer homes sharing one piece of land. “Together they had about 20 children under the age of 11 and the homes were really old,” she said. “Our main project was to make and install windows. At the time they had nothing for the windows in the summertime and in the winter they would put up garbage bags across the holes to protect themselves against he elements.”
Although the majority of those the group met were Protestant, Larson said, the difference in faiths made little difference to the goal of the mission – to show God’s love and their own faith through good works. “While we taught the students the basics of evangelization before going to Kentucky, we also stressed what St. Francis said, “Preach always and when necessary, use words,” she said.
By the time the group had finished, Larson said, it was clear they had made a difference in Salyersville. “After we finished installing the windows and screens, a few of the family members asked us if we would be willing to leave the rest of the screen materials so they could screen in their remaining windows,” she recalled. “It was amazing to see the pride they felt and we were encouraged to see them take initiative in bettering their homes.”
Mission-bound
Two members found their missionary bearings through their efforts in Kentucky. Justice Dunning of St. Joseph Parish, Prescott, and St. Mary’s parishioner Kaila McNamara both plan to devote themselves to missionary work in the future.
Accompanied by her father Dan McNamara and sisters Jessica and Megan McNamara, Kaila McNamara, a homeschooling senior, attended the mission as a sort of trial run for working full time as a missionary in Russia. “Missionary work was something I put off and thought I could never do until I went on this trip,” she explained. “And you know I enjoyed it so much and seeing how we helped these children that I would to be able to adopt children like that in need.”
Dunning is already preparing for a life of mission work by working toward a degree in nursing at Chippewa Valley technical College, Chippewa Falls.
“I’ve always had this feeling inside me that I needed to help people,” she said. “My plan is to get my two-year Registered Nursing degree and specialize in obstetrics. My dream would be to end up in Africa and open an orphanage and teach women about care for their infants. Mission trips like this are going to teach me about the things I need to know and in the meantime I will pray that God leads me in the right direction.”
Coordinating hope
The mission was coordinated with Audrey Collins, outreach coordinator for The Piarist School, Martin, KY. The school has 72 students in grades 7 – 12, many of whom come from impoverished families, Collins said. The school’s outreach program works on a shoestring budget of donations and volunteers like Larson’s group who come in from around the country to help.
“The outreach is there to serve low-income families under the poverty level,” she said. “Marisa Larson’s groups, especially the youth, had such an impact on the community they worked in. These kids who live here were looking up to these teenagers from Wisconsin. They listened to them talking to them about God and they watched them fix the windows in homes that others had said there’s no use in even trying to fix. These people from Wisconsin fixed their homes and in the process gave them a little hope.”
Editor’s note: For more information about the outreach program at the Piarist School, Martin, KY., call or email Audrey Collins at (606) 285-3950 or email outreach@piaristschool.org.
From the Piarist Fathers USA Province Newsletter – November 8
Kentucky News
The Piarist School opened its academic year on August 14 with a record number of 72 students, due, in part, to the addition of a middle school program. Principal Rev. Thomas Carroll said that there has long been a need in the area for a college preparatory middle school program, and the Piarist School decided to address that need this year. Three new faculty members were hired for the program: M.J. Meade, Willis Thomas, and Sandra Griffith.
Several parish youth and young adult groups assisted the Outreach Program this summer. A group of 16 young adults from three parishes in Columbia City, Indiana repaired a handicapped ramp, renovated a bathroom, and built a deck on the back of a trailer home. Also, 26 members of the youth program at St. Mary’s Big Rivers Parish in River Falls, Wisconsin brought and installed brand new windows and frames in mobile homes in Magoffin County, KY. The volunteer groups stayed at the Odd Fellows Youth Camp in Prestonsburg, which is managed by Piarist School Outreach director Audrey Collins.
The Piarist School also supplied school supplied this year to over 600 students through public school family resource centers. Fr. Carroll commented, “What fascinates me is the number of requests we get for school supplies from public schools.”
IN HONOR OF PAM MURPHY
I would like to honor the life of a special lady, Mrs. Pamela B. Murphy. Pamela entered this world on May 8, 1942 and entered into the presence of the Lord on August 20, 2008. She met her husband Andy when they were both 16 and they spent most of their Navy career in the Virginia Beach area until 1985, when they moved to Philadelphia, Portland, Oregan, and San Diego. They retired in 1995 to Collegeville, PA., for seven years before returning to Virginia Beach. Pam never missed an opportunity to volunteer for causes she believed in. One of her most recent projects was to collect and deliver clothes, toys and school supplies to the Piarist Appalachian Mission in eastern Kentucky, one of the poorest areas of the country. Surviving are her husband, retired Navy Capt. Andrew Murphy; daughter, Kim Bradley; sons, Kevin & wife Hope, Brian & wife Kristin; sisters, Marylyn Cain, Jackie Gahlinger, Jocie and Megan Duhon; brother, Keith Browning and wife Carol, grandchildren, Cara, Kyle, Megan, Kristen, Katherine and Maura. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Piarist Outreach Program, Hwy 80, Box 870, Martin, KY. 41649.
Pam was a very dear friend of mine and I loved this special lady. She drove to Kentucky last year with her friend Peg for a visit. She was able to witness some of the work we do here at Piarist. This special lady will forever remain in my heart. Goodby my friend.
THANKS TO ALL THE INDIANA VOLUNTEERS! 08
I would like to say a special thank you to all our friends from Indiana.
This year we had 5 Parishes represented; All Saints, St. Peters, St. Johns, St. Joseph and Loogootee Methodist.
These wonderful men and women volunteered their time and money helping two families in the local area. They also repaired one side of our school. Their time was spent replacing a bathroom (which they bought) in one of the homes. In another home they refurbished a roof for a family.
All of our volunteers stay at Odd Fellows Youth Camp. They work all day in the hot sun and at night they get to take advantage of the wonders of nature. The camp is located 3 1/2 miles through the mountains and comes out at Dewey Lake. Noone seems to mind the drive or the swim in the beautiful waters.
Thank you guys for the answering the call for help. May God continue to bless you.
MICHIGAN GROUP 08
This summer we were blessed to have another group of volunteers from Michigan. This was their first visit and their first look at the needs in Appalachia. This group worked on a home for a elderly couple. The couple was removed from their home to Odd Fellows Youth Camp for a mini vacation while they worked painting and building a wheelchair ramp.
The couple are both disabled and they were very happy to have all the work done on their home.
In addition to all the work,the group shared their lunch with many families in another area.
Thank you guys for the wonderful ministry.
A heartfelt “Thank You” to all the Volunteers from Indiana. 07
August is a very special month for The Piarist School/Outreach.
On August 8th through the 10th a group of wonderful men & women from Indiana volunteered their time & money to help with projects for our Outreach Mission.
They also brought down a ton of non-perishable food to be distributed to families in need.
The men worked in the 100 degree weather insulating a garage to give me a warm place to work during winter. The heat did take a toil on some of the guys.
They also surprised me with an air conditioner for both my office & Fr. Tom’s. Now I am able to work in comfort.
The ladies all worked painting a large deck at Odd Fellows Youth Camp. They finished this in one day. I also volunteer my summers taking care of this camp so when these children of God come down they have a place to stay.
While here, the ladies were able to visit and take food and books to some of the children in the areas I work. I seen a lot of tears while we were there. Thanks to you guys these families will have food for their children.
Since the heat and lack of time stopped the work on the garage, some men are traveling back to KY. to finish this weekend.
5 Parishes were involved in this project. I don’t have all the names to thank each personally but God does.
May God continue to bless each of you.
August 2006 Project
August 10th through the 13th, a group of dedicated men and women replaced siding on our school. This group worked during the rain and 98 degree weather tearing off old siding, replacing and painting the new to match.
This was all done at their expense. On behalf of everyone at the school, I say thanks and may God bless each of you.
Thanks to St. Marie’s Parish.
A group of volunteers from St. Marie’s Parish in New Hampshire recently visited our community to help with some home repairs.
19 men, women and children repaired a porch,scraped and painted a home in the local community. Thanks to these volunteers this family have a home they are proud of.
School outreach program insures Appalachian children have a Merry Christmas
This year a lot of families in southeastern Kentucky were able to have a Merry Christmas when gifts of toys, warm clothing, and school supplies were delivered to over 860 children.
Audrey Collins, Outreach Director of The Piarist School in Martin, extended the program to reach more children in different areas of the surrounding counties to include two headstart classes at a local public school.
Children of all ages at the school were very excited to see Santa, aka. Fr. David Powers, arriving with elves Fr. Rafel Capo, Tasha Collins, and Mrs. Collins. The group met with warm greetings from some of the upper classes as they witnessed the arrival and hurried to meet Santa. The group was able to spend a couple of extra hours greeting the different classes and handing out Christmas stockings.
Fr. Richard, Fr. Rafel and three students from The Devon School came to join in the fun and help Collins and her team of elves as well as students Tara Stevens and Ronnie Thompson, Piarist seniors, who donated countless hours wrapping, sorting, and helping deliver the gifts. The group also shopped for food baskets and helped Fr. Tom Carroll and Mrs. Collins deliver the baskets to area families.
The outreach program continues to expand each year. Christmas isn’t the only time that the program reaches out to help the community. All during the year Collins receives calls from Social Service workers and other agencies in the area asking for help for families in need. Whether the need is for clothing, food, school supplies, or home repairs, Collins and her team are ready to make sure that the need is met.
We would like to thank all the Parishioners that bought gifts,supplied clothing or just said a special prayer for us. Together we can make a difference.
Hand in Hand Ministries,
Our many thanks to all the volunteers from Hand in Hand Ministries that helped with the two home repairs. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to those less fortunate.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are in desperate need of volunteers to help with home repairs. This could include something as simple as cleaning to minor home repairs. If anyone is interested in volunteering or donating materials, please email piaoutreach@bellsouth.net or call the school.
Easter in the Mountains 2005
Thanks to Ste. Marie’s Parish in Manchester, NH. many children received large eggs filled with candies, toys and many Bible verses as well as special notes from the parishioners.
At least 300 children shared this wonderful occasion. These were distributed to three counties and several of the children were waiting for the van load of eggs.
Thank you everyone that took part in this Blessed Event. The children received treats but they also got a reminder of why Easter is celebrated.
To everyone at St. Marie’s, thank you for opening your hearts.
Christmas 2004
This year over 826 gifts were delivered to children in three counties. We spent 4 days on the deliveries but we gained a lifetime of memories.
A special thank you to everyone that bought gifts for the children this year . None of this would be possible without support from caring individuals across the country. You brought much happiness to many children this year.
Piarist School reaches out to the Community
On July 27th, The Piarist School Outreach Program gave away over 200 plus pairs of shoes, clothing and school supplies to many needy families in eastern Kentucky. Originally the time was scheduled from 10:00 till 3:00 p.m., We unfortunately ran out of items before 1:00. Twenty Piarist students volunteered to hand out items and help Mrs. Collins collect sizes of families needing school clothing for their children. The students were very excited to be helping others and some spent the rest of the week collecting items for those families.
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Outreach Program’s Mother’s Day Surprise
Four mothers were surprised this Mother’s Day when they were presented with a beautifully decorated cake to celebrate their special day. The school’s Outreach Director chose four women based on their needs. “We wanted these women to feel special today,” Collins said. “Each mother was shocked to receive a gift at all. A cake was chosen so that, even though it was their day, they could share it with their entire family.” For more information on the Piarist School’s Outreach Program, contact the school at (606)-285-3950
Easter in the Mountains
Many thanks to Ste. Marie’s Parish in Manchester, New Hampshire for helping make our Easter outreach a success. We were able to help many underprivileged children from two counties through your generous donations of 9 inch eggs filled with goodies and numerous other supplies. Our students were also surprised when Ms. Collins presented them with a beautifully decorated egg.
Our thanks must also go to Tom and Carol Childers for delivering them. Through your generousity many children had a Happy Easter, not only did they receive candy and other goodies, they learned the true meaning of Easter.
Christmas in the Mountains – The Y-Club began this program in conjunction with four Catholic parishes in 1991. The four parishes are St. Patrick’s in Havana, Illinois, Immaculate Conception in Manito, Illinois, St. Albert the Great in Louisville, Kentucky and Holy Family in Holyoke, Mass. Several other parishes have since joined with us.St. Joan of Arc of Bacon Raton, FL., St.Mary Queen of Creation in New Baltimore, MI. St. Marie’s in Manchester, New Hampshire, St. Peter & Paul School of Williamsville, NY. Timberland Company in New Hampshire have also been very generous in providing shoes, clothing etc for the Kentucky Kids.
Christmas Outreach Program 2003
The Piarist School Outreach Program delivered Christmas presents to over 300 children in two counties this year.It took over four days to deliver the presents to many differant locations, including churches, youth centers,and many individual homes. In many case the presents were to be delivered to the children of several related families, so they were asked to meet at one location.
Almost two thousand Christmas gifts were sent to the School from several parishes and organizations throughout the United States. Eleven seniors, two seminarians and a priest from the Piarist high school located near Philadephia came down to help deliver the presents.
The School Outreach Program, which is directed by Audrey Collins, also delivers new and good used clothing, household items, school supplies and cleaning supplies to many needy families throughout the school year. The School also delivers food to needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas and has assisted many families with food for their children at other times as well.
Canned Food and Clothing
Throughout the year, numerous benefactors send gifts of clothing, canned food, school supplies and other items needed here in Appalachia. The school provides the school supplies to the students and Ms. Collins works with numerous churches and social outreach organizations to distribute the food and clothing to the needy. St. Joan of Arc in Boca Raton, Florida has been especially helpful in providing food to the needy here in Floyd County.
Thanksgiving Baskets
This year the Outreach Program will provide baskets of food and all the things needed for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for needy families.
Summer Volunteers
The school also hosts a number of volunteer groups who come to eastern Kentucky in order to repair homes, paint houses, build wheelchair ramps and other projects as needed. Our students sometimes assist these groups during the summer.Our most recent group of volunteers were from New Hampshire.
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