蜜桃影视

The East Kentucky Dream Center empowers families stuck in the cycle of poverty. But what does that look like?

鈥淲e build relationships,鈥� explains Rachel Campbell-Dotson, the organization鈥檚 executive director. Sometimes the relationship starts with someone coming in for a box of groceries, but Food Stamps don鈥檛 always last a full month, and after that visitor comes in two or three times for a grocery box, staff asks questions鈥攏ot too nosy, just curious.

That first conversation might lead to a box of diapers or a car seat. It might lead to resume writing, life coaching or registration for public benefits. Inviting community members to volunteer is one of the Center鈥檚 strategies for engaging guests in job training programs. It starts with them feeling needed. They learn to use the iPad cash register at the thrift store, and then they have a job skill they didn鈥檛 have before. 鈥淧eople think there are no jobs,鈥� Campbell-Dotson says, 鈥渂ut we have connections.鈥�

The Dream Center collects and distributes used items. 鈥淓verything that you use, somebody can use,鈥� Campbell-Dotson says. This past winter she obtained four twin beds for two boys and two girls in the care of their grandmother after her son had burned down her mobile home when he got out of jail. She also stocked their pantry, found them a couch and dresser and provided a Christmas tree with wrapped presents underneath.

鈥淪erving this community is my love,鈥� Campbell-Dotson says.

In places like Pike County, Kentucky, which has a population of about 60,000, the resources available for struggling families generally come from churches and hospitals. The Dream Center is a local affiliate of a , but Campbell-Dotson says her operation is mostly independent. , a Medicaid Managed Care company in the state, makes grants to support nutrition and other social determinants of health. A national $1.75 million investment made last year to is providing meals to kids and equipping families with food and nutrition education.

鈥淲e know that sufficient and nutritious food fuels the rapid growth and development that take place prenatally and during a child鈥檚 first years,鈥� says Caron Gremont, No Kid Hungry鈥檚 director of early childhood. 鈥淭he East Kentucky Dream Center is a critical nexus for nutrition and health care support.鈥�

Last month, a baby was born six weeks early to a recently single mom, a 23-year-old who works at the local elementary school. 鈥淧regnancy and child birth are scary,鈥� Campbell-Dotson says. 鈥淓specially when you don鈥檛 have a partner.鈥� The Dream Center provided easy-to-heat casseroles when they left the hospital and regularly drops off a box on the front porch with hamburger, chicken, lettuce, strawberries and other produce.

Addiction is a growing problem here, she notes, adding, 鈥淚鈥檝e trained my team to take each interaction a step further and look at the root causes. We have to get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations.鈥� The Dream Center helps people with substance use disorders, helping them to enroll in treatment programs and to secure transitional living arrangements after rehab.

Indeed, the opioid epidemic has had a catastrophic effect on this part of the country. , the state is ranked fifth in the United States for opioid overdose deaths. 鈥淏ehind closed doors, substance use disorders are ripping Bluegrass families apart,鈥� .

Although COVID has aggravated the challenges of hunger and addiction in east Kentucky, Campbell-Dotson remains enamored of the natural beauty here and the spirit of volunteerism among her neighbors, and she鈥檚 quick to point out the stories of people who have overcome the odds. Not long ago, for example, Virginia was a pregnant 15-year-old. Today she鈥檚 a registered nurse working to help families to get and stay healthy.

鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to be what you were born into,鈥� Campbell-Dotson says.

This story originally published on Early Learning Nation and is now archived on 蜜桃影视. Learn more here.