"Preserving mountain stories, faith, and heritage — one memory at a time."
HEARTS OF APPALACHIA PROJECT
Welcome to Hearts of Appalachia
Come sit a spell, we're glad you're here.
Hearts of Appalachia Project, Inc. is a grassroots nonprofit serving communities across North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia. Our work brings together two things that matter deeply to us: preserving the stories, memories and heritage of Appalachia, and helping people find resources when they need a little help
Through our projects, we preserve family stories, coal-mining history, faith, town histories and the everyday memories that might otherwise be lost. At the same time, Holler Help connects people with food, senior services, addiction recovery, black lung resources and other community support.
We believe caring for Appalachia means remembering the people who came before us while showing up for the people who are here today. That's the heart behind everything we do.
Appalachia Holler Help
Serving North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky & West Virginia
• Food Banks
• Community meal programs
• SNAP produce match programs
• Senior food programs
• Senior food programs
Our goal is simple: make sure no neighbor goes hungry simply because they didn’t know where to look.
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Senior meal programs and food assistance
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Transportation services
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Affordable and senior housing
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Utility assistance
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Home repair and weatherization programs
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Medicare and benefits assistance
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Prescription assistance
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In-home care and support services
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Caregiver resources and respite care
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Senior centers and community programs
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Legal assistance for seniors
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Help locating local aging services
• Plushies for children in crisis
• Comfort gifts for first responders
• Support for first responder families
• Plushies for children in hospitals
• Comfort items for children in shelters
• Gifts for seniors and nursing home residents
• Holiday giving projects
• Community outreach and special needs
Our Story
Hearts of Appalachia began with a granddaughter's love for her Granny and a longing to discover the mountains that shaped the woman she loved.
Only after her Granny was gone did she realize how many stories had been left untold and how many questions would never be answered. Those lost memories inspired a desire to help other families preserve their stories before it was too late.
Through Hearts of Appalachia, that granddaughter continues her own journey of discovering the people, places, and traditions that shaped her Granny's life, while helping others reconnect with their own Appalachian roots.
What began as a personal journey has grown into something shared, where every memory matters, every voice deserves to be heard, and there's always room for another chair on the porch.
Shop with a Purpose. Help Feed a Neighbor.
Celebrating Appalachian Heritage. Supporting Appalachian Families.
Every Appalachian town has a story worth remembering, and every neighbor deserves a helping hand.
Explore our collection of hometown ornaments, personalized keepsakes, and Appalachian-inspired gifts. Proceeds from designated fundraising collections will help support local food banks and community assistance efforts throughout the region.
Preserve a memory. Share a little kindness. Make a difference close to home.
Our Projects
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Appalachia Holler Help: Holler Help organizes county-by-county resources to help Appalachian families find food, recovery, and community support.
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Heartbeats of Appalachia: Video storytelling series featuring towns, coal camps, and communities across the region.
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Faith on the Mountain: Faith on the Mountain is a place where pastors, Sunday school teachers, and youth leaders across Appalachia share short devotionals, encouragement, and prayer requests.
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Memorial Tributes & 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.
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.