God Is Spoken of Here: Fifty Years of Meeting Unmet Needs
By Lisa McSkimming10/15/2026
From a small mission in Kentucky to a growing ministry in the heart of Appalachia, Anawim Ministries continues to bring people together in service, compassion and hope.
In September 2026, Anawim Ministries celebrated fifty years of serving others, honoring a mission that began with a simple but powerful belief: when someone has a need that is not being met, there is an opportunity to make a difference.
The story began with Sr. Therese, whose vision brought young people together through Young People Who Care. In Kentucky, young volunteers gave their time and energy to help families in need. They built, cleaned, and worked alongside people who needed a helping hand. They learned that service was not simply about providing things; it was about showing up, sharing what they had and recognizing the dignity of every person.
Sr. Therese eventually carried that mission north to Frenchville, Pennsylvania, into the rural Appalachian communities that would become home to Anawim Ministries. The landscape changed, but the heart of the mission remained the same. What began with young people willing to serve grew into a community of ministries working together to meet the needs of individuals and families.
A Mission That Continues to Grow
Today, Anawim Ministries brings together several connected ministries, each responding to different needs within the community.
Young People Who Care remains part of the organization's roots and its commitment to service. Life Line Pregnancy & Infant Services supports expectant mothers and families caring for children under the age of two. Through the provision of diapers, clothing, formula and guidance, Life Line helps caregivers navigate the early years of parenthood and provides practical assistance when it is needed most.
But unmet needs do not end with infancy. Families may find themselves struggling with challenges that require more than supplies. A home may need a ramp to make it accessible. A living space may need cleaning or painting. Transportation may be necessary to reach an appointment or obtain essential services.
Through direct service, Anawim helps connect these needs with people willing to offer their time, skills and compassion. Sometimes, meeting an unmet need means providing an essential item. Other times, it means rolling up our sleeves and working alongside a family to make daily life a little easier.
The mission also reaches families during the Christmas season. Through Anawim's Christmas program, generous individuals and families throughout the community help provide clothing, coats, household necessities and gifts to families who might otherwise go without. It is a beautiful reminder that a community can come together to ensure that others feel remembered and cared for.
In so many ways, the mission comes full circle. A young child receiving assistance today may grow up knowing the importance of generosity and one day become someone who offers that same kindness to another.
The Connection Between Yesterday and Today
Although Anawim's work has grown and changed over fifty years, the connections to its beginnings remain strong.
Dave Roncolato, a facilitator who leads Directed Retreats at Bethany Retreat Center, continues to visit the communities in Kentucky where this mission first took shape. He generously donates his time and brings special items from there to share with the community at Bethany. Through these continued connections, the story of Anawim's beginnings remains part of its present.
Bethany Retreat Center offers another expression of the mission. It provides a place where people can step away from the demands of daily life, find quiet, deepen their spiritual lives and reconnect with what matters most. Its grounds, prayer spaces and retreats welcome people seeking reflection, renewal and peace.
Together, these ministries form a circle of care. Each has its own purpose, yet all are connected by the same desire to respond to human needs with compassion and dignity.
Fifty Years of Community and Gratitude
The September anniversary celebration brought together people whose lives have been connected to Anawim across generations. Some remembered the mission as children and have continued their connection into adulthood. Others have served, volunteered, supported the ministries, or experienced firsthand the difference that a helping hand can make.
The gathering was a joyful opportunity to reflect on the past, recognize the people who have sustained the mission, and celebrate the community that continues to make its work possible.
Among those joining the celebration were Bishop Mark Bartchak, Fr. Jerry Simmons and District Attorney Ryan Sayers, along with many others who came to recognize this important milestone.
Fifty years is a remarkable achievement, but the anniversary is about more than the number of years. It is about the countless acts of kindness, the volunteers who gave their time, the families who received assistance, the donors who made the work possible and the people who continue to believe that no unmet need should be overlooked.
Looking Ahead
As Anawim Ministries looks toward the next fifty years, its commitment remains rooted in the vision that started it all. The needs of our communities may change, and the ways we respond may grow, but the purpose remains constant: to recognize those who need help and to bring people together to provide it.
From the young volunteers in Kentucky to the families receiving assistance in Appalachia, from direct service to Life Line, from Young People Who Care to the quiet spaces of Bethany Retreat Center, the same spirit continues to connect us.
We are proud of where this mission began, grateful for all who have carried it forward and hopeful for all that lies ahead.
God is spoken of here — in the kindness offered, the needs met, the burdens shared and the lives touched through fifty years of service.
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