08/17/2025
Ministries INC.
2024-2025
102 East Third Street Beattyville, KY 41311 606-464-8134 [email protected] Cindy Cell 606-599-7629 CMOKY.ORG
Cumberland Mountain Outreach Ministries, Inc. (CMO, is a faith based nonprofit organization (mission) 501/c3 for children at risk in impoverished counties in the Appalachian Region. We demonstrate Jesus’ teaching through the many facets of this mission: feeding the hungry, clothing the less fortunate, offering part time jobs, home repair, conducting 5 weeks of free kid’s camps, teen trainings, educational program, all the while sharing the love of Jesus. We believe that many will come to know God in a greater way because of the unconditional love that is shown through the volunteer staff.
Why are we here? Lee County is in the rural Eastern part of Appalachia. It has a very high poverty rate of 28.9% according to the latest stats from the US Census Bureau, in 2023 Lee County with the median household income being $34,182.00 per year. when compared to the state median income of $61,118.00. I have seen families living on $500- $700 a month. It is easy to see why so many of our families struggle to meet their basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. The state census shows that 40.7% of children under the age of 18 live in poverty. 80% of the children live with their Grandparents, due mostly to the opioid epidemic. Now we have 28.8% of the Sr. Citizens live with food shortages. People ask me,” Way don’t they not just move?” It takes about $2,000.00 to move, when living in poverty you can’t afford to move.
Due to the lack of income in our community hunger is a great concern. Our food pantry is open 24/7, we estimate feeding on the low side 1,050 people a month from there. The non-perishable food is generously donated through Churches, individuals and Americans Helping Americans(AHA) The USDA and CDC says 80% of Senior Citizens in our county have food insecurities ( that’s a fancy way of saying they’re hungry or starving ).We couldn’t fathom how detrimental the food situation was until we started working with the United States Department of agriculture (USDA), Gods Food Bank, the Lee County Fiscal Court , and the Center for disease control(CDC). We provide once a month food boxes to 240 to 360 low-income Senior Citizens. With just those two programs we serve 1410 people a month. Americans Helping Americans (AHA) generously provides funding for fuel for the Little Red delivery service and to feed the volunteers.
Thanks to AHA we are able to give away 380 Thanksgiving certificates to low- income families in Head start, and Seniors citizens programs. We’ve received much love and appreciation, for this kind gift. Carol said“With the price of utilities, medications and food it’s going to be hard to put together a nice Thanksgiving dinner. Thank you so much for this gift. It will really help”. It is hard to imagine Thanksgiving dinner without a turkey, as some said that they would have had to do.
6 church youth teams served 15 families with home repair, necessities and provided 6 weeks of vacation Bible school programs for the children here in Lee County.
The first week in June was perfect for a new Church group from Ohio, and all new mountain kids that came, their theme was OutCast. The men worked on Carol Taylors house (she is wheelchair bound) a bunch of much needed honey do jobs.
The next week was an old friend Church that came for 12 years, Centerville Christian Church from Indiana, to come back. Their theme was true north, about keeping Jesus as the true North of our life. They worked on Jake Halls home and Debra Banks house that needed floor repair and plumbing.
Community Gospel Church youth came in for two weeks. The first week was primarily vacation Bible school and helping here at Pinecrest. The next week was giving away commodities to 240 senior citizens; the youth had the opportunity to talk and pray with each one individually that drove through to receive their food. They provided kids camp/VBS the next week as well experiencing three Baptisms , where the children declared their faith to the world. Then the Fourth of July Celebration, where the youth set up canopies for free games, face painting, and snow cones. Also helped put in a drain system on Leslie Francis’ property so it would quit washing away her home. Then helped around here at Pine Crest.
The next group that came in was from The Edge Church in Illinois, they performed a vacation Bible school program called Super Stop as well as worked on Vicky Mays house.
Discovery club from Burton, Alabama represented by Carol and Scott Garagus, provided a four day vacation Bible school program on the miracles of Jesus.
Last but not least is Westbrook Christian Church that worked on finishing up Home repairs that did not quite get finished, as well as four other families homes, helped clean out the warehouse at CMO, and worked on the little cabins as well.
We have already scheduled four church groups to the summer of 2026 to help with the home repair and the kids camp program.
About 323 guests came to CMO for our annual Christmas party, this year’s theme is “All about Jesus”. The celebration was on Dec. 14th from 11:00 to 2:00. We thank AHA and a team of 30 volunteers from Georgetown/Cynthiana, KY area, who have been working with us for 17 years to make an unforgettable day for the children.
With dinner, endless hot chocolate, candy, games, toys, and a free photo with Santa, it is truly a joyous day! This year the celebration will be December 13th from 11:00-2:00, That way we can give out the shipment of free coats and blankets that we receive from American helping Americans.
The Secondhand Rose (thrift store) is volunteer ran by Pam Fox. The clothing prices are kid's clothing $.50, all tops $1.00, pants $2.00, coats and nice dresses $2.00, but those truly in need they are free (homeless, flooded and burned out), same for our back-to-school Kid’s clothIng. It is the Secondhand store that help pay the utilities for the mission. But even more, it’s a ministry to the women. They have found a community there. It’s wonderful to see.
We also rent out the cabins in our off season through Airbnb to keep us serving. So if you are coming to the Red River Gorge, Natural Bridge, area, we would appreciate you staying at Cumberland Mountain Outreach or Pine Crest Camp.
God has put together a great volunteer team, here at CMO! Pam Fox manages The Secondhand Rose Thrift Store.
David is taking care of his mom and keeps CMO camp looking great and everything running smoothly.
There is a small staff at Pine Crest Camp, Matthew Paul is the grounds manager, Amanda Williamson, Coty Shouse our maintenance.
And I just fill in wherever I’m needed.
Are you, or your group interested in coming and be a blessing to the families here in Appalachia? We always need help, especially the first Tuesday of every month to give out commodities to senior citizens. Call Cindy’s cell 606-599-7629 to reserve your dates. Or if you would like to sponsor the work here, send your gift to Cumberland Mountain Outreach at 102 E. 3rd Street Beattyville KY 41311.
We would not be here without GOD, His people, their prayers, and support. Thank you for believing in us so we can continue God’s work here in Appalachia.
In closing I pray,
Thank you Father, for giving me the best life ever, far more than I could have ever dreamed, or imagine, ministering and giving to those you love. I pray that whoever is reading this letter will find the joy that comes with sharing your unconditional love to a dark, cold, lonely world. Amen!.
In His Love, Cynthia Evanoff
We are a faith based non profit organization (mission) 501/c3 for children at risk in impoverished counties in the Appalachian Region. We demonstrate Jesus; teaching through the many facets of this mission: feeding the hungry, clothing the less fortunate. We cares about Appalachian communities and a...
