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Roadmaps for Opportunities - Tater Delivery - Ice & Flood - Archery Honors - "touched our hearts" - kynect on Queendale

Writer's picture: Tim CrawfordTim Crawford
The Friday Finish – January 31, 2025

Connectivity Plan Provides Roadmap for Lasting Opportunities

Red Bird Mission is dedicated to building healthy, sustainable communities in southeastern Kentucky. Dependable, affordable internet access is extremely limited at Red Bird and within our surrounding communities. Access to the internet is essential for education, healthcare, jobs and other economic opportunities.


In October, 2023 Connect Humanity chose to have Red Bird Mission join with other locations in Appalachia to explore ways to improve access. The results of this important partnership are seen in our Connectivity Plan. The year-long work focused on discovering the gaps in broadband accessibility, affordability, and understanding the training that community members need to improve their use of the computers. We discovered that for those that have internet in their area, it is often prohibitively expensive.


This Connectivity Plan outlines a strategic approach to addressing our area's internet needs. One strategy will be partnering with internet service providers to improve network access and affordability. Additional access may include the development of a community hub for internet skills training, providing computers for telehealth access, and focusing on developing internet job opportunities. The plan serves as a roadmap for Red Bird’s vision to create lasting opportunities for education, healthcare, and economic growth.


Delivery Delayed But On Time for Most

The folks from St. Mark’s United Methodist Church had planned to deliver 2,000 pounds of sweet potatoes supplied through The Society of St. Andrew last Monday in time for Family to Family and Gap Pantry distributions last week. They wisely delayed delivery a week due to continued icy road conditions but were able to make the drop on Monday so that they could be included in the 204 Commodity Boxes picked up Tuesday.


Then and Now

Facebook prompts users to post a “then and now” - a new photo that would match up a scene or person with an old photo posted in the past. Here’s the Meals on Wheels delivery drivers’ “then and now” post. Last week, some roads in our area were impassable due to ice and this week there are some impassable due to flooding.


Archery Honors Beginning to Build

From practice to the podium, it is undeniable that the Red Bird Christian School (RBCS)

Archery Team is making impressive achievements in its first official NASP (National Archery in Schools Program) season. Competing in the elementary, middle school, and high school divisions, the RBCS Archery Team takes the meaning of “aim high and score higher” to the next level as the team conquers one tournament after another.


Ashlyn Adams brought home the first medal for the RBCS Archery Team! Placing 5th in overall Elementary Girls, Ashlyn deservingly gains recognition for her hard work, positive attitude and strong will of never giving up. Along with Ashlyn, four archers also earned a spot in the top 20 of their age division competing in the “Bows in the Snow” Tournament hosted by Perry County Central School on Saturday. Congratulations to students; Aiden Smallwood, Natalie Asher, Emma Kulp, and Marcus Adams on achieving their personal best scores of the season.


RBCS archers in Grades 7th through 12th aimed even higher for a chance of competing at the state level taking on Pineville Independent and Jackson County archers at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) All A Regional Tournament in Pineville, Kentucky on Tuesday. As a first in the history of Red Bird Christian School, coaches are incredibly honored to announce that Sarah “Katniss” Adams (12th grade) and Braxton “Bullseye” Asher (7th grade) qualified to compete at the KHSAA State Archery Tournament taking place this spring. Other Red Bird students whose talent and persistence earned an honorable mention in the All A Regional went to Aiden Smallwood, Keira Walker, and Benaiah Kulp. 


With a passion for the sport and the motivation to succeed, the future is bright as all students hold tremendous potential now and in the years to come for Red Bird Christian School Archery.


 “…touched our hearts…”

Charity Gilbert & Candace in the Outreach Reception Office
Charity Gilbert & Candace in the Outreach Reception Office

A popular fitness chain claims to be “a no judgement zone,” but Red Bird Mission Community Outreach has been a safe place for people needing assistance for much longer. A few days ago, Candace, Women and Children Ministries Coordinator, and Angelina, Early Childhood Development (ECD) staff helping out that day, shared how a woman “touched our hearts.”


She came in seeking assistance with clothing needs, and they acknowledged that “times are hard for everybody”. After a check of income to see that she qualified for a clothing voucher at the Red Bird Mission Community Store, she mentioned that her food stamps had been reduced. Candace informed her that her income level also allows her access to one of our food pantries. Candace and Angelina said their hearts were “touched” when she expressed appreciation to them for the kindness they had shown her, something she had not always received when seeking help in other places.



kynect on Queendale

Ashley Carroll (pictured here) and Della Adams were at Red Bird Mission Community Outreach on Wednesday and Thursday representing kynect, the state benefits assistance program in Kentucky that connects eligible persons with health care insurance, food assistance and child care assistance. By coming to Red Bird Mission on a monthly basis, the community members with limited transportation in the Red Bird area have access to these state benefit programs. Ashley said that they’ve mostly been helping folks with Medicaid and SNAP benefits enrollment or issues this week.






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