25,885 households do not have a vehicle, and 26,116 households can not afford a telephone. Absence of telephones and vehicles, compounded by physical isolation, create serious accessibility problems for health care and emergency situations. Hunger and malnutrition are a hidden disaster for many of the region's poor. Pride and physical isolation coupled with lack of public transportation keep many people from applying for food stamps. The people of Appalachia are rallying to preserve the beauty of their land and to provide future generations with stable employment, public utilities, strong educational systems, safe housing, and affordable medical care.
Mountain pride runs deep.
We encourage you to come to Appalachia to enjoy the grandeur of the majestic mountains, to listen to the people who live here, to share their joys and struggles, and to experience first-hand the work of the Appalachia Service Project. For links to other sites about Appalachian, Christian, and social justice issues, visit our Appalachian Links page.