Cumberland Today-Summer 02 - University of the Cumberlands

Mountain Outreach100th Home Completed“We’re like the Jefferson’s, we’re moving on up,” saidDeborah Vanover as she stood in front of her newhome built by Mountain Outreach, a service ministryof Cumberland College. Carlus and DeborahVanover were selected to receive the 100th home built by MountainOutreach since the organization began in 1982. “The Vanovers were chosenbecause of their hard work and dedication,” says Mountain Outreach directorDavid Honeycutt, “We were able to come in and finish a project thatthey had already started.”During the first three weeks of June, dozens of volunteers from across thecountry came to help Cumberland College students in the construction ofthe Vanover’s home (located between Williamsburg and Corbin, KY). Beforethat Carlus and Deborah had spent five years laying a foundation for a newhome. A dedication ceremony for the completed house was held on June 27,2002. Many supporters, volunteers and well-wishers flocked to the ceremonyto see the final product. Along with Mountain Outreach student workers,volunteers and the Vanover family, financial contributors Edward L.Hutton, of Cincinnati, OH, Jess Bell, of Cleveland, OH, and GeneralRaymond Mason, Jr. and his wife Margaret, of Columbus, OH, were inattendance. Williamsburg mayor Bill Nighbert and Kentucky StateRepresentative Charlie Siler also spoke at the event. “This program increasesthe life and cultural experience of the community,” said Nighbert.The house was dedicated in memory of Moriah Marie Lydon, granddaughterof Jess Bell. Moriah died September 12, 2001 as a result of a congenitalheart defect. “Moriah never complained,” Bell reveals, “she lived lifewith a strong heart for others.” To honor her life, the 100th home will beknown as “Moriah’s House.” Jess Bell presented the Vanovers the key to theirnew home. Guests watched as Carlus carried his wife, Deborah, over thethreshold, while their six children ran from room to room looking at eachnew piece of furniture and decoration that was donated. “It’s like a dream,”Carlus said, “I’m afraid I’ll wake up one morning and it will be a dream.”Mountain Outreach began in the summer of 1982 when a localCumberland College student decided to show another student from out of thearea through the mountains of southeastern Kentucky. The friend was from amiddle class family and had simply never seen truly poverty-stricken households.He was shocked as they passed one tarpaper shack after another andrealized that many of them had no running water, no electricity, and no propersanitation. And thus, Mountain Outreach was born. By the time the twostudents graduated in 1984, they had helped build nine homes. More importantly,they left as their legacy the Mountain Outreach program. One of theunique facts of the program is that it receives no outside government fundingfor subsidy. It operates solely on donations and gifts provided to the college.By the end of the summer, Mountain Outreach volunteers will havecompleted 107 houses. An additional house will be completed by fall, bringingthe total to 108 houses built over the 20-year life of the program. Inaddition, thousands of people have received clothing, dozens of wells havebeen installed and numerous handicap access ramps have been built throughthe volunteer efforts of Mountain Outreach. Since 1988, when data beganto be recorded, the program has involved 8,000 volunteers individuals frommore than 206 churches and other organizations, in addition toCumberland College students, faculty and staff.For more information on the Mountain Outreach Program contact,David Honeycutt, Mountain Outreach Director, at 606-539-4346 or byemail at mtout@cumberlandcollege.edu“Moriah’s House,” Mountain Outreach’s 100th Home.10