In the hills of central Appalachia, up winding, mountain roads, is a place where children and families face unthinkable conditions, living without what most Americans take for granted. Isolated pockets in central Appalachia have three times the national poverty rate, an epidemic of prescription drug abuse, the shortest life spans in the nation, toothlessness, cancer and chronic depression.
Photo: Diane Sawyer reports on the struggles of Appalachia.
Diane Sawyer reports on the struggles of Appalachia.
(ABC)
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The organizations below are working to pearl jewelry  help children and families in Appalachia.

These organizations' Web sites are experiencing unusually high traffic due to the ABC News special. If you are unable to connect, we hope you'll check back again or contact them via the phone numbers below.

Christian Appalachian Project: Based in Kentucky and founded in 1964, the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is an interdenominational, nonprofit organization "committed to serving people in need in Appalachia by providing physical, spiritual and emotional support through a wide variety of programs and services."

CLICK HERE TO HELP CAP HELP SHAWN, COURTNEY, ERICA AND JEREMY, OR CALL 1-877-919-9901 OR 1-866-270-4227.

Organizations Featured in "A Hidden America:"

Kids First Dental: Dr. Edwin Smith's dental van currently provides school-based dental services to children in 16 eastern Kentucky counties.
Phone: 606-546-7410

The UNITE Foundation: Founded in 2003, Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education) is a law enforcement and education initiative that works to combat substance abuse in Eastern Kentucky, including in Appalachia. The biwa pearl UNITE Foundation accepts individual and corporate donations to sustain its various programs and services, including assistance to children and families dealing with substance abuse.
CLICK HERE TO HELP UNITE HELP ERICA AND KIDS LIKE HER, OR CALL 1-866-678-6483.

The Homecoming Church: The Homecoming Church is run by Pastor Elmer Harris. Ten miles outside of Inez, the church is home to a congregation of families of Calf Creek Hollow.
Phone: 606-298-7778

Mud Creek Clinic: Part of Big Sandy Health Care, Inc. Community Care Fund and based in Floyd County, Ky., donations to the clinic help support important programs, such as cancer screenings, childhood dental health projects, childhood immunizations, diabetes treatment and prenatal care. The organization's Eula Hall Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for area students pursuing careers in health care or social services, and the akoya pearl Eula Hall Patient Assistance Fund covers health care costs for uninsured or indigent patients.