Return to Stinking Creek: A personal war on poverty

See how two missionaries helped change life on Stinking Creek, a small Appalachian mountain community in eastern Kentucky. Over the past 50 years, a nurse midwife and a school teacher brought health care, education, birth control and loving aid to poor people there. Garrett Hubbard/USA TODAY
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[@royhoco5748]

awesome, 2 angels sent to earth and there are others up in those hills that you probably have not heard of of.

[@patriciaorsborn7165]

Imho, THESE are the type of people who we should be idolizing, rather than the pro athletes and untalented reality show people.

[@crysb5099]

My mom was raised here. I lived here for a few years as a child. I will never forget the place and would love to one day buy my grandparent's old home. I never really understood how my mom grew up until I was older. I know one thing, this place is beautiful and will always be a part of me.

[@Indeejo]

The only thing wrong this video is that it is toooooo short! I could watch things like this all day long! Those are REAL people!!!

[@ACGNikki]

That sound at the beginning is my favorite sound in the world!

[@darleneferree3887]

wish this video was longer-enjoyed it. amazing people!

[@mpaxton8991]

I would love to sit with these two ladies and listen to their stories all day.

[@thegrayknight71]

What an angel. Imagine all the sacred light she has inside of her. Probably over 90 %. I wish all poverty would go away. Thanks for sharing this video. Beautiful people and what a beautiful land.

[@finleys1hits599]

I was born and raised on Stinking Creek I know these ladies very well I used to work for them so they would pay my way to Bible camp for a week every summer hey give her my are very good people and very important to the community

[@elizabethdurbin3255]

I was with a group from Ball State who went to Lend-A -Hand Center and stayed with Peggy and Irma in the early 1970s. We helped visit the people from the area and one was a nurse and took people to doctor's appointments. I went 2 times.

[@cliffordmesser6294]

I was born and raised on stinking Creek I am sixty years old now the best time of my life was growing up there

[@theresabollman8061]

Amazing women.

[@marywoolum6509]

Even tho life was was very hard 50 years ago on Stinking Creek, Ky...those were the good ole days....we as children worked very hard, went to school, took care of younger brothers and sisters, growed up to be way more responsible than children these days. Never had everything given to us...no medical cards, no food stamps....no welfare....no hand outs from the government no one expected freebies....Life wasn't any different in Stinking Creek, KY than most likely in Stinking Creek, TN all poor.

[@11buleria]

Mary Woolum That sure doesn’t sound like the good old days. I’m glad I never had those experiences in my youth.

[@dianamoody7251]

God bless her.

[@moonpie859]

My daddy and mommy lived in hyden kentucky. It was in leslie county kentucky. Some of those old shacks I can remember as a kid. It was the best place in the world when I was a kid growing up.

[@ruthcross9222]

Actually this Stinking Creek is in Knox County, Kentucky.

[@Automedon2]

Nice story

[@tfleet01]

I love that these fantastic women have went into a rural Appalachian community to try to reach people who may be relatives of mine. I can only hope that the ladies are also doing something to teach that poverty is not a death sentence to which the people in Appalachia seem to be condemned.

[@johnholbrook6042]

tfleet01 lived near the Hensley Settlement School and worked for Bledsoe Coal.

[@smokinroxx]

my grandma n pa from here I was raised up on her story's ....

[@augustshyann3988]

I’m from Stinking Creek. The best childhood I could have ever of wanted. My daddy’s name was Farmer Sizemore. He was well known on the creek for awhile. Everyone knows everyone!!

[@rachelgambrell6926]

My Mamaw’s on stinking creek and she’s a Sizemore. Prolly related 🤣

[@saturn3344]

I haven't seen Escoe since I was a kid.

[@zigi4334]

Remarkable woman.

[@rocksorter]

I just read the book "stinking creek". yes, this film was way to short. I told my daughter I want to visit this place and talk to the people. I want to find the name of the little girl on the cover of the book and talk to her now! thank you so much for sharing!!!!!

[@leshiagambrel2170]

Rocksorter, her name was Christine Brown at the time of the book. Not sure what she goes by now.

[@billwilliamson9842]

save yourself the trip, it will disappoint you mostly. the war on poverty ruined many of the people around here. taught them how to scam the govt and live without havin to work. so many of them here throw more trash on the roads then any place I have seen and so many neglect their animals. They have the money to care for them, they just won't. Many have lost the knowledge of the value of things and simply expect things to be given to them and I have never seen people waste so much. Its just like the typical ghetto trash in the cities, just without all the violent crime. Its sad, these people here have no knowledge of their own culture and history, nor do they care as long as those food stamps roll in every month, hud pays the rent and they can scam the system to live while loafin around all day. Now this isn't ALL the people here, but a good majority fit into these or some of these categories. I have lived here 6 years now and think its one of thoe most beautiful places in the country despite the negatives. It could just be so much more if the people lost that hopelessness the welfare mindset gives them.

[@bluetoad2001]

i've read the book. excellent read

[@jbcurdog72]

There also is a "stinking creek" Tennessee... I thought this was it when I clicked.

[@wendellwatson5998]

My grand mother was a Messer from stinking creek KY. but never got to know any of them .

[@rhondac.willis8049]

bless her sole!! thank you, Jesus!!! I know there is a God!!

[@janethoulette1802]

soul

[@theresabollman8061]

I don't know about that, Allison. My mother always had a saying. "A fox smells his own hole". And I came away from the very same video thinking...If I had been a single lady back in those days, with a dream to help people in a difficult area like that, and knew of another lady who wanted to do the same; I'd feel a lot safer sharing a home with her rather than living out on some ridge, alone, with very little by way of conveniences, money or protection. I guess we all see with different eyes.

[@richarddavis7809]

The stinking creek that I am semi-familiar with is in Campbell County, Tennessee and runs between I-75 and 25w. The video should be more specific about the location.

[@tammyhuennerkopf7552]

xoxo...shared

[@bluetoad2001]

i recommend the book to all my friends interested in Appalachia

[@elizabethdurbin3255]

buzz kirschner, when I helped there, they gave us a copy. I saw it recently when I was cleaning my apartment.

[@debbiecooper1677]

U am from Eastern Ky. and you can go up in some of them howler's and there still that way 2018

[@user-lt5bp3ww3n]

2023 an still the same all across many counties in every state across the Appalachian.

[@Mrwnbingham]

@olobertini This is in Kentucky, this place is about 4 miles from my house . I beleave I know what state I live in!

[@theresabollman8061]

Yes. We must do better. I'll never understand why it's taking so long.

[@jackgeorge3362]

Does anyone in Stinking creek know a William George moved there about 1970 or so. He is my 1st cousin.

[@smug8567]

Is this anywhere near stankwell falls?

[@KidKewl]

cool name

[@yedon68]

Is their a stinking creek Ark?

[@annaleedaughterofyhwh7767]

Beautiful ladies and peoples. This is however, in Tennessee!

[@j.h.5425]

Stinking Creek is in Kentucky :)

[@annaleedaughterofyhwh7767]

Jen M - There must be two! :)

[@j.h.5425]

That's awesome ! I live about 15 mins from Stinking Creek :)

[@bobbielaughlin8322]

+Annalee Sellars There are two Stinking Creeks one in KY and one in Tenn. my dad lived at both locations when he was little...he was born at Stinking Creek, Tenn I have been at this location near Habersham. Tenn.....

[@crystalwilliamson876]

Annalee Sellars this "stinking creek" is in Kentucky. I grew up there. I used to go to Lend-a-hand when I was a kid. Peggy used to pick us up after school and take us over there, we would help take care of animals as far as feeding them, we learned about the bible, we played games, she made sure we got to eat while we were there. I lived on stinking creek for 19 years. I know all about that place. my grandparents moved up there back in the late 70's. My grandfather passed back in 2010, but my grandmother still lives there. it's rough up there. it really is.

[@deckiedeckie]

No loud drama....blue wigs....

[@WhiteStarWoman]

People lived like that 40yrs. ago, they still live like that on our Indian reservations! It is a disgrace!

[@cliffordmesser6294]

It was hunters and trappers not the Indians

[@tulipchic34]

You think they could change the name of the place.

[@budmangt2]

Land,game,farming how is there poverty..The Amish have the same thing yet there just fine...they have everything they need.....

[@leshiagambrel2170]

Budmang2 it takes money to buy land animals, and so on. Those women had money to do things.

[@trisgilmour]

WHY STINKING CREEK?

[@elizabethdurbin3255]

Cletus Biggum,because the creek stinks.

[@leshiagambrel2170]

Cletus that's been the name of that place since I remember. I'm nearly 53 and it was named that well before my time. People are still very poor there like poor people anywhere. There are rich and poor people, rich keep theirs and the poor keep theirs. The way it is anywhere, people don't choose to give up what they have because others are poor. But these women were considered to be wealthy to have land, and then to be able to build and have all those things cost money. That's what the poor didn't have, so poor people turned to Lend A Hand for help since they offered help.

[@fauxmanchu8094]

Whether they could feed them or not, they had many kids. Not smart and not good.

[@sparx180]

Funny how children don't know they are living in poverty. Surprising such a rich country but I guess people did not care, people did not know about them. What a horrible way to live. I could not imagine going hungry, no shoes, proper clothing.

[@leshiagambrel2170]

Chloe, it's still much the same. There are those who have, and those who don't. But not just stinking creek though, many people live this way. They have no choice. Yes there are plenty of land but that don't mean you can go on people's land to take what is not yours. My children are pretty close kin to most the people in the book, and the girl on the cover. The girl on the cover is about 60 years old now. I stopped taking my daughter to visit the kin up there about 34 years ago when the elder of the family we visited died.

[@notyouraccount566]

I thought it was pronouced stankan creek