In North Carolina, congregations are banding together to repurpose empty churches as community pillars to address issues like housing.

According to a study called "Twenty Years of Congregational Change," church attendance has declined, with 70% of churches seeing fewer than 100 members at their services each week.

Lynda Ferguson, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Asheboro, said the trend has affected churches in her area.

"Calvary United Methodist Church was a very vibrant church in our community here in Asheboro, with many members and a great ministry for many years," Ferguson recounted. "They found themselves, in 2018, declining in membership and attendance, and funding and other things."

The remaining parishioners joined another Methodist congregation in Asheboro, and rather than leave behind an empty building, they opted to transform it into another type of resource to benefit the community. It is now Lydia's Place, a temporary shelter for homeless women and families.

Ferguson noted in part, the decision was driven by a lack of resources. With support from the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, The Duke Endowment, Wesley Community Development Corporation and local partners, the former fellowship hall was renovated to provide 12 beds. It is the beginning of a four-phase project, with the goal of 50 beds and an emergency shelter.

Ferguson emphasized the importance of churches stepping beyond their traditional roles and embracing unexpected ways to use their resources.

"The most important thing is to be open," Ferguson urged. "To be open to what God is leading us to do. Being able to sense and know, what is the need in the community?"

Joel Gilland, CEO of Wesley Community Development Corporation, believes as churches repurpose their unused spaces, they establish a sustainable model to combine spirituality and social responsibility. He has been involved in projects ranging from providing housing for seniors and adults with disabilities, to larger initiatives in rural communities.

Gilland stressed the efforts allow churches to redefine their presence and offer services which may be more challenging for other groups.

"There's a real big push in churches now to roll the sleeves back up and to get back into the community and understand the need," Gilland observed. "We'll tell the church, 'If you go to a McDonald's and you see somebody trying to tutor a child in the middle of that sort of chaos, but you've got a building three blocks down the road that is empty, you're disconnected, and we need to reconnect.'"

Gilland sees church involvement in communities evolving toward a future in which religious buildings become pivotal centers of social support tailored to local needs.

A $20,000 grant from AARP Kentucky will help rebuild sidewalks in Jenkins damaged by the deadly 2022 flood that took the lives of 45 residents.

Rachel Rosolina, communications director for the nonprofit Appalshop, explained because its headquarters were severely damaged by the flooding, staff has temporarily moved to neighboring Jenkins, where the grant will help improve walkability.

She noted the new walking trail and benches will begin at a local senior center and extend about a mile into downtown.

"Twenty-four percent of the county is over the age of 59 and the poverty rate is also like over 38%," Rosolina pointed out. "We want to be part of this community for as long as they will have us, but we also want to work with the city and use our resources to make improvements and make things safer."

Other 2024 Community Challenge grants awardees include Hotel Inc., a Bowling Green organization providing training on home safety and aging in place for older adults; and Casey County Public Library, to build a series of public displays and activities grandparents can do with their grandchildren.

Tiffany Sturdivant, interim executive director of Appalshop, said while the flood was devastating, it brought out the best in a close-knit community.

"Speaking as someone who was present during the recovery, it was a special time where Eastern Kentucky really shined," Sturdivant recounted. "I feel like it shined its brightest because it brought out that deep-rooted togetherness and everybody was just pitching in."

Rosolina added the mural, designed by local artist Lacy Hale, will highlight residents' perseverance.

"Art is one way to process trauma and I think the flood is going to be part of all of these communities for the rest of time," Rosolina observed. "It's part of the history now. So having something beautiful come out of that, I think, is really important."

She added the art display will be formally presented to the public during the Jenkins Homecoming Days Festival at the end of August.


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A series of free summer camps focused on STEM and other career paths seeks to boost the career goals of youth in the agricultural community of Immokalee.

Florida Gulf Coast University has teamed up with the Immokalee Foundation to offer a series of free educational camps for underserved youth in the region. The initiative includes a STEM camp for middle schoolers and four high school camps focused on business management and entrepreneurship, education and human services, engineering and construction management, and health care.

Noemi Perez, CEO of the Immokalee Foundation, explained the value of the program.

"When you take a community and individuals who are just surviving and giving their students, their children this type of opportunity, it just, it creates such a huge impact," Perez stressed. "Not only for the family, but also for the community as a whole."

In its final week, students pitch their ideas to judges, like on the popular show "Shark Tank." The competitive program serves about 1,300 Immokalee students per year. Perez said 100% of participants graduate from high school and attend a postsecondary institution.

Heather Skoza-Acosta, director of the Whitaker Center for STEM Education at Florida Gulf Coast University, oversees the middle school STEM camp. She emphasized the importance of early exposure to science.

"They have four separate STEM disciplines on four different weeks," Skoza-Acosta pointed out. "I think it gives them an opportunity to find their passion, find their skill sets, meet some professionals working in the field. "

During Forensics Week, Florida Gulf Coast University's forensics anthropology team guided students through analyzing crime scenes. During Environmental Science Week, students examined water quality on campus.

Organizers said the initiative is part of a broader effort by both the university and the foundation to support educational equity and create pathways to success for underserved communities.

Community action agencies in Utah and across the nation are celebrating 60 years of battling poverty and empowering communities, which started with the signing of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.

Jennifer Godfrey, CEO of Utah Community Action, said there are a total of nine community action agencies in the Beehive State, with each one aiming to help Utahns in their own unique way. She added all nine organizations have the ability to provide services that can change people's lives.

"Not only is it incredibly humbling to be a part of that work, but it is also such an honor to be working with these individuals who are experiencing poverty," Godfrey noted. "Because everybody deserves a second chance from time to time."

Godfrey pointed out people who experience poverty are not a monolith, because poverty is a complex issue and there is not a single reason behind it for many people. In Utah, Native Americans experience the highest rate of poverty at just above 27%.

Utah has been a leader when it relates to volunteerism, and Godfrey encourages Utahns to continue strengthening its standing year-round by contacting their local action agency to help.

Utah's poverty rate is just below 9%, which sits below the national average of around 12%.

Godfrey stressed new challenges like increasing food, medical and housing costs are taking a toll on Utah residents. She added most people don't realize how many Utahns are actually living on the edge.

"In some instances, many instances in fact, the vast majority of individuals are one paycheck away from having a crisis," Godfrey asserted.

Regardless of the situation, Godfrey emphasized her organization is there to help, as action agencies are designed to be nimble to the needs of their respective communities.