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A History and Analysis of the Lend-A-Hand Center in the Stinking Creek Community of Knox County, Kentucky

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A History and Analysis of the Lend-A-Hand Center in the Stinking Creek Community of Knox County, Kentucky TO LEND A HAND: A HISTORY AND ANALYSIS OF THE LEND-A-HAND CENTER IN THE STINKING CREEK COMMUNITY OF KNOX COUNTY, KENTUCKY A Thesis by KATHRYN S. ENGLE Submitted to the Graduate School at Appalachian State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS August 2013 Department of Appalachian Studies TO LEND A HAND: A HISTORY AND ANALYSIS OF THE LEND-A-HAND CENTER IN THE STINKING CREEK COMMUNITY OF KNOX COUNTY, KENTUCKY A Thesis by KATHRYN S. ENGLE August 2013 APPROVED BY: Bradley Nash, Jr., Ph.D. Chairperson, Thesis Committee Bruce Stewart, Ph.D. Member, Thesis Committee Alan Banks, Ph.D. Member, Thesis Committee Patricia Beaver, Ph.D. Chairperson, Department of Appalachian Studies Edelma D. Huntley Dean, Cratis Williams Graduate School Copyright by Kathryn S. Engle 2013 All Rights Reserved Abstract TO LEND-A-HAND: A HISTORY AND ANALYSIS OF THE LEND-A-HAND CENTER IN THE STINKING CREEK COMMUNITY OF KNOX COUNTY, KENTUCKY Kathryn S. Engle B.B.A., Eastern Kentucky University B.A., Eastern Kentucky University M.A., Appalachian State University Chairperson: Bradley Nash, Jr., Ph.D. This thesis documents the history of the Lend-A-Hand Center, Inc., a nonprofit community service provider in Knox County, Kentucky, that has served the Stinking Creek watershed since 1958. The brainchild and lifework of two women from the North, Irma Gall and Peggy Kemner, the Lend-A-Hand Center has become an influential organization in the region and has had a significant impact on the Stinking Creek community. Although the Center has been intertwined with many important movements, events, and organizations in Appalachia, it has not previously been the subject of any serious academic study. This thesis explores the history of the organization through the viewpoints of its founders, Gall and Kemner. Based primarily on oral history interviews, this examination gives a firsthand account of the organization’s philosophical underpinnings, programs, and changes over the years. Through formal interviews, informal interviews, participatory observation, and secondary research, this thesis considers the founders’ views of their organization, as well as representations of the organization in the media. The experiences of iv Gall and Kemner demonstrate their important leadership roles in the community and their continued commitment to the mission of their organization. This thesis is organized as a linear history with different themes embedded throughout. This analysis presents four distinct eras in the history of the Lend-A-Hand Center from its inception in 1958 to the present. For decades the Lend-A-Hand Center has impacted thousands of people from Knox County and around the world cultivating social capital and providing a range of services to those in need. With an original mission “to lend a hand,” the Center’s medical programs, children’s programs, adult programs, agricultural programs, education programs, Sunday school, volunteer opportunities, and involvement with other organizations at work in the area, including the local Community Action Agency, the Knox County Economic Opportunity Council, evidence the possibilities for service providers in the region. The Center has made countless other contributions to the county and the lives of people through acts of service, leadership, education, and compassion. Through its innovative and pioneering programs and partnerships, Lend-A-Hand has not only provided much needed help, but also inspired and empowered people, teaching life skills and offering opportunities in a poor, underserved area. The organization’s fascinating history of changing programs through the decades illustrates its intersections with other organizations, social movements, and events in the region, as well as many themes within Appalachian Studies. The Center has made an important contribution to the discourse on the history of nonprofits in eastern Kentucky. The rich history of the Center, its people, philosophy, programs, successes, failures, hardships, and influence on Stinking Creek demonstrates how service providers can make an impact on local communities. The exemplary work of the Center and its impact on the local community, the influence of a particular philosophy about v poverty and uplift work, the web of affiliations that affected the work of the Center, the central role of women and women’s empowerment in the history of the organization, and the great potential for the future of the Center and organizations like it in Appalachia are explored through this analysis. vi Acknowledgments Many people have contributed to the successful completion of this research project. I could have done very little without the support of many friends and family who have stuck with me through all the long hours of work that have gone into this history. I would like to thank my committee, Dr. Bradley Nash, Jr., Dr. Bruce Stewart, and Dr. Alan Banks for all their insights and encouragement. I would like to thank Appalachian State University and the ASU Center for Appalachian Studies which has been such a wonderful program to be a part of for the past two years. It has been a dream come true to consider, study, read, discuss, and teach about Appalachia for the past four semesters. Dr. Patricia Beaver and Dr. Katherine Ledford have been so supportive and encouraging. Debbie Bauer has been the most helpful person on campus and has always had the answers to my questions. Several grants have made this research project possible. The William C. Friday Research Fellowship in Appalachian Studies and the Cratis Williams Memorial Fellowship through the Center for Appalachian Studies provided much needed support for my academic pursuits at ASU. The ASU Graduate Student Association Senate and the Office of Student Research helped provide funding for many research trips to Kentucky and back. My family has been very supportive throughout my academic career. My mom, dad, sister, and brother have helped me through this process and have many times served as sounding boards. They have suffered through my rants, stress, disorganization, and vii meltdowns and have loved me through the process. Thanks to my granny and pappy and Uncle Daniel for letting me stay in their home while commuting to Stinking Creek and putting up with coming in with dirty boots and hay-covered clothes after working long days on the farm. Thanks also to my grandma and late grandpa who were always interested in my Knox County adventures. Thanks also to my friends who have suffered through my constant mentioning of Stinking Creek. Thanks to all the Lend-A-Hand volunteers and family over the years who have made this such a great story. Thanks to the many friends and acquaintances I interviewed for this project. Your insights have been invaluable to the process. Lastly, I would like to thank Peggy Kemner and Irma Gall for putting up with me all this time, answering my nagging questions, and opening up their lives and homes. Peggy and Irma are truly the most amazing people I have ever met and the greatest examples of Christian service, humility, perseverance, and unconditional love. It has been a joy to get to know them and work with them and I hope this little paper does some bit of justice to their amazing lives and legacy. viii Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my late grandfather, Dr. Fred Allen Engle, Jr., who instilled in me a love of learning, local history, and Kentucky. ix Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iv Acknowledgments............................................................................................................. vii Dedication .......................................................................................................................... ix Chapter 1 Introduction .........................................................................................................1 Chapter 2 Methodology .......................................................................................................5 Chapter 3 Literature Review ..............................................................................................10 Chapter 4 To Lend A Hand ................................................................................................39 1st Era: The Early Years: 1958-1964 ..............................................................................39 2nd Era: The War on Poverty: 1965-1967 ....................................................................114 3rd Era: The Home Health Years: 1967-1995 ..............................................................160 4th Era: The Later Years: 1995-Present........................................................................187 Chapter 5 Conclusion .......................................................................................................203 References ........................................................................................................................215 Vita ...................................................................................................................................222 x Chapter 1 Introduction Since the early twentieth century, missions, settlement schools, colleges and universities, nonprofits, and community organizations have served impoverished rural communities in Appalachia. An array of service providers in the region have strived to meet the needs of people. Organizations have responded to poverty,
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