Hello from Kentucky again!
This week we made our way from Kanawha County, West Virginia, to Harlan County, Kentucky. Even though we were in Kanawha last week, we decided to spend a little extra time there before heading across the state line, giving us the chance to explore just a little bit more.
Week six has officially come to an end, and honestly, I can’t believe how quickly this summer is flying by. At the same time, it feels like I just got started. I think that’s what happens when you’re traveling to two different counties almost every week. Every few days you’re unpacking, meeting new people, learning a new community, and then before you know it, it’s time to pack everything back up and do it again.
It can be tiring, but I’ve been reminding myself to slow down and stay grounded. Taking a moment to reset my mind has become so important because there is always another adventure, another conversation, and another community waiting around the corner.
Being back in Kentucky has been so much fun. Although this is a completely different county from where we had been in the beginning of the summer, the scenery continues to amaze me. The drive into Harlan was unforgettable. We wound our way up and down the mountains, and as we reached the top, we had to pull over for a minute. The sun was beginning to set, filling the sky with warm colors, and the view stretched for miles. It was one of those moments that makes you stop everything and simply appreciate where you are. As if that wasn’t enough, just a few minutes later we spotted a baby bear sitting in the grass, completely unbothered, just eating and enjoying the evening. It was the first bear I have ever seen with my own two eyes, and it was such an unexpected moment and one I won’t forget.
Sometimes, coming from busier places, it’s easy to forget just how beautiful nature really is. While I enjoy cities and everything they have to offer, there’s something calming about being surrounded by mountains, trees, and open fields. It has a way of slowing everything down and reminding me to breathe.
One of my favorite parts of this week, though, wasn’t the scenery. It was getting to spend time with homeowners again.
Yesterday I sat with one homeowner while the staff checked in on the volunteers working at her house. I spent most of the visit playing with her dog, Zeus, while we talked about her experience with ASP. She shared that ASP has been working on her home for three summers now, helping make it warmer, safer, and drier for her and her son.
What she told me next really stuck with me.
She said this may be the last year she asks for help because she worries she’s taking opportunities away from other families in the county who also need assistance on their home.
I’ve heard similar thoughts from several homeowners this summer. Even though they are incredibly grateful for everything ASP has done, many of them hesitate to ask for help again because they believe someone else deserves it more.
That perspective has stayed with me. Asking for help once is difficult enough. Asking again can be even harder when you know there are other people facing similar challenges. It reminded me just how much trust homeowners place in ASP and how deeply they care about their neighbors. Their gratitude isn’t just for the repairs being made to their homes—it’s for the opportunity itself.
Conversations like these remind me that the work being done here is about so much more than construction projects. It’s about relationships, trust, and people caring not only about themselves but about the communities that surround them. That’s something I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
As week six ends, I’m excited to see what the rest of my time in Kentucky has in store. Every county has brought something completely different, and I know there are still more stories, more people, and more lessons waiting ahead.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll talk to you later.
Cassidy Smith
Story Gathering Intern
