HEARTS OF APPALACHIA PROJECT
"Preserving mountain stories, faith, and heritage — one memory at a time."
Serving Appalachia Through Stories and Support
Hearts of Appalachia Project is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to preserving Appalachian stories while meeting real needs in our mountain communities today. We collect memories, document lived history, and build accessible resource guides for food insecurity, addiction recovery, and black lung support across Appalachia.
Our work honors the past while standing alongside families
in the present — because preserving heritage also means caring for the people who carry it forward.
Welcome
Hearts of Appalachia Project began as one woman’s effort to honor her Granny’s legacy and the stories of the mountains that raised her. What started as a personal mission has grown into a community-driven nonprofit shaped by artists, volunteers, students, and everyday folks who believe Appalachian voices matter.
Together, we gather stories from coal camps and country churches, record memories that might otherwise be lost, and create projects that reflect the grit, grace, faith, and compassion found throughout Appalachia. This work is built on love for these hills — and for the people who call them home.
Our Story
Hearts of Appalachia Project was founded with a simple but powerful purpose: to keep the heartbeat of our mountain communities alive through stories, art, and shared compassion. We believe that every family, every holler, and every coal miner’s tale carries the spirit of Appalachia — a spirit of grit, grace, and faith that deserves to be remembered and celebrated.
What began as one woman’s dream to honor her Granny’s legacy has grown into a grassroots nonprofit built by artists, volunteers, students, and everyday folks who love these hills. Together, we collect memories, record voices, and create projects that shine a light on the beauty and strength of Appalachian people.
Our Projects
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Heartbeats of Appalachia: Video storytelling series featuring towns, coal camps, and communities across the region.
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Memorial Portraits: Creating personalized digital portraits to honor Appalachian coal miners and community members. Each piece preserves a face, a name, and a legacy — ensuring our mountain heroes are never forgotten
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Stories from the Coal Mines: Preserving miners’ histories and honoring their families through portraits and documentaries.
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Stories from the Mountains: Connecting generations by recording elders’ memories and guiding young volunteers in the art of storytelling.
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Pearl & June Porch Wisdom: A lighthearted Appalachian duo sharing humor, heritage, and a touch of porch philosophy.
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Community Resources: Sharing food, addiction, and outreach directories across counties to help families in need.
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Nonprofit Resources: We've created a FB group which will list the nonprofit organizations you might receive help from or help support.
Volunteer
Opportunities
We’re looking for passionate folks to help collect stories for both Stories from the Mountains and Stories from the Coal Mines, assist with researching community resources across every Appalachian state we serve, contribute as guest writers on Appalachian heritage, and lend a hand with social media and outreach. Together, we can keep our mountain stories alive for generations to come.