In July 2022, Perry County, Kentucky, was struck by a devastating flood, the likes of which had not been seen in a century. The impact was not confined to Perry County; neighboring counties, including Letcher, Knott, and Leslie, also experienced significant flooding. In response to this tragedy, Lindsey Branson, the Director of Education for the Appalachian Arts Alliance, collaborated with local artist and musician Jen Tackett to create the ArtShine Box. This initiative aimed to provide solace and hope to children who had lost everything and were profoundly affected by the flood across all impacted counties. What initially began as a goal to produce 100 boxes quickly escalated to 200, and within a week, over 500 boxes were created and distributed.

Following the immense support we received from outside our region during our time of need, ArtShine 2.0 mobilized to assist the individuals and children affected by Hurricane Helene in our neighboring states. Regrettably, our communities in Eastern Kentucky have once again faced significant challenges. In response, we are now developing ArtShine 3.0 to provide the light that ArtShine gives!