HINDMAN, Ky., Dec. 5, 2024 – The American Electric Power Foundation has awarded a $52,500 grant to Hindman Settlement School in Knott County to empower nutritional education and service opportunities for the people of Appalachia. The grant was recommended by Kentucky Power to address the issues of food insecurity and health disparities facing the region.
Hindman Settlement School has been a vital part of community life in Knott County for over a century. The school has continually adapted its programs to meet the evolving needs of the community, offering dyslexia intervention services, music and arts programs, and support for food entrepreneurs and low-income families facing food insecurity, according to Rebecka Fugate, program director.
“In recent years, eastern Kentucky has seen significant changes in its agricultural landscape, shifting from self-sustaining farmsteads to a reliance on convenience foods,” said Fugate. “The community faces numerous challenges, including limited access to full-service grocery stores, higher-than-average obesity rates and low median household incomes.”
The AEP Foundation grant will support a multi-faceted initiative that provides agriculture and nutrition education through various programs to address some of those challenges, including:
- Home-Based Gardening Support: Assisting Knott County families with home garden projects, providing personalized support for planning, planting, and caring for their gardens.
- Community Gardens: Establishing community garden locations at local schools to create raised bed plots and train volunteers for maintenance.
- Education and Training: Conducting educational activities in local schools using classroom-based hydroponic growing farms and mobile kitchen carts, focusing on agriculture education, cooking skills and nutrition.
- Youth Incentives: Introducing "Carrot Cash," a voucher program allowing children to purchase fresh produce from local farmers at the farmers market, encouraging healthy food choices and community engagement.
- Access to Resources: Providing organic seeds, fertilizers and access to a certified commercial kitchen for canning and food processing for home gardeners.
“To promote healthier choices, it’s all about changing mindsets, and the earlier we can start that process, the better,” Fugate shared. “This grant allows us to connect more with local schools, which is essential for driving real change. I’m really excited to kick off these programs and truly believe we can make a positive difference in the lives of Knott County families.”
The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) and its operating subsidiaries. The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area. As an independent, non-profit philanthropic organization, the Foundation is funded solely by AEP through shareholder dollars.
The Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math; and by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger. Other Foundation support may be offered to protect the environment, promote healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music and civic vitality.