A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains UPDATE - How viewers helped (2009) 

For anyone who is curious- I looked up Shawn and it appears he’s a registered CNA, has received several awards for his work, and has 3 young sons :-)

The kid sleeping in his truck but still going to school broke my heart

The mom turning her life around, all the obstacles she pushed through for her GED to do better for her kids, to see her get the dental work, wow, that's huge for self esteem and will absolutely help her in job prospects. Very generous, and totally worth every penny. It doesn't take long to fall down from addiction, but once clean and sober it takes a LONG time & seriously hard work to get back even the little necessities in life that others take for granted. Good for them. Many ppl give up and collapse under the stress, not that mom.

The college kid I wish him the best

Y'all want an update. I am from there. They didn't do a damned thing with that money in our part of the state. People claim they care and some do but for the most part, our state government only cares about the most populated parts of the state because that is where most of their votes come from.

God Bless everyone who helps this community. Bless this Dentist for making a difference

"A nation that continues year after year to spend more on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death." --- Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. King spoke out for poor white Appalachians as well as inner city people & Native Americans on reservations. It's a shame there's no one continuing his work today. Poverty like this is spreading to rural towns all across the country.

I'm glad that young man got to go to college. He worked and tried so hard.

Id love to see an update from these families now!

2:42 She drinks sometimes but I love her. What a sweet child. From the mouth of babes we could learn a lot.

Save our children in America they also need a chance!!!!!

I have so much respect for this mom. Staying off drugs. Watching 8 miles every day. Getting her GED and a home and everything else she got. It's so amazing, if she can do it my mom could, some people just refuse to do it. It's so good that she did it for her kids and herself

Take a minute and pray for them and realize how blessed you are and thank god

I really feel sorry for Erica. Too much sadness for one so young to carry.

Truly awful that these children 10 11 years old had to see their parents hooked on drugs and abusing alcohol.

I moved from Michigan to w.v. to be where my family has so much history. Everyone is suffering, but you will never find better people than in Appalachia they will give you the shirt off their back and they will smile and invite you in their home.

ABC, please give a proper update!

My mother lost her top set of teeth in the 1980s when I was a kid, not because of drugs, just poor dental care..she didn’t have money for 2 years to get them fixed, so she walked around like that..She held her head high, and put the needs of her children first before herself. Our life was hard,but I really respect her for that.

Stop taking care of people all over the world and care for our own.

UPDATE 2018!!!!

*i'm from right next to the blue ridge... it's as desperate if not more than this, thank you for shedding light*

Most Americans have a heart for giving and helping those in need. Although that touches my heart, it infuriates another part of me A big part of the problem in Kentucky, like in many other states ,is corruption ,by not only local officials ,but those at a higher level. These monies seem to get broken down and redistributed and somehow in the process ends up where it should not ! Corruption and greed is rampant !

One thing that should help, get rid of McConnell and stop voting against your own best interests.

I think it would be great if some of these companies moved call centers and warehouses to this area. Give people a decent income, get people who want to work and have pride. Give them a future

The US needs to start farming (growing) Hemp. For clothing canvas and rope. Small town manufacturing and more..... Although it is related to cannabis, one cannot get "high' on this, no THC. Most of the World grow Hemp and it is Native to the US, too !!! ------ A very good choice for poor areas !! -- Ask the Agricultural people about this one. --- There are stores that only sell Hemp products in Europe. -- Canvas for rugged clothes and shoes, lighter fabric for clothing. Small town "Made in USA" Must return!!!

Everyone stop worrying about the color of people skin, their political stsnce, or immigration status. Start worrying about about why there is so much income disparities. Why middle class and poor people are struggling so much more now. We all need to live better.. then if you must concerns yourself about race and politics. We are all concern about the state of America no matter our race or creed.

Its good that someone is getting help, but most mountain folk wants to be left alone. Including me. We don't need or want the world feeling sorry for us. Most of us may be poor but we're gonna do just fine.

I love the people of Appalachia

Good Luck Shawn. You can do it.

God bless all those who helped being from Eastern TN mountains we have have the same issues,a lot of people help those in need, the Christian thing to do, I pray i am able to help out much more! God help me to! Amen

But I do think this is funny that ABC posts an update on RU-vid that is over nine years old...

I hope that the college boy gives 100%!!!

The government was humiliated after thus aired that why they pretend to care but they dont

I wish I knew of a way to help. My husband and I grew up in rural Montana, very similar to Appalachia. Very poor, drugs,uneducated...but good people who need some help...I feel for them I really do .

Why why why do we support the rest of the world? We need to take care of our own citizens. We need to stop supporting illegals who get Everying- Food, housing, education, etc. God bless and take care of Americans.

Meanwhile Mitch McConnell is living large.

My ex-husband moved me and my children up there in that area far away from any of my family's support told me to never call them ever my family and his in South Georgia at the time my children 5 and 7 years old moved us up there with only the clothes on our back he moved us because my parents told him he needs to get help from drinking and hitting on me and my children he was a truck driver he dumped us off in a house no phone no car no power no phone no money no food he didn't come back until three weeks later we where hungry and cold I would have gotten help but there was no one around for miles and I didn't know the area he would leave us with 20 dollars for food until he would get back I had gotten cancer and had to have surgery I was very sick I had my surgery and before he left he gave me a long list of things to do including cutting the five acre lot with a push mower I knew I would get it if I didn't do it I'm crying right now sorry but I would go out and push and it hurt where I had my surgery and I didn't get but just a little so when I layed down I thought maybe if I made myself more comfortable like just trimming just a little of my long hair it would help my hair went past my butt oh god this is hard but when he drove up he jumped out and layed into me so hard and dragged me inside got his pistol and told my children to stand up together told them to look at me then tells me I have a friend right now in prison from murdering his girlfriends children is that what you want he said you know your not aloud to cut your hair and I said I'm sick it was in the way then he ask me why the yard was not finished I told him I tried he called his grandma and he tells her what happened and she told him to get my ring off my finger and take the children to Florida because his family is there and Florida has a law that protects parents who flee in that state for protection of the other parent giving them full parental rights he tells my children to get in the truck and be left alone there with nothing I walked all the way to south Georgia it took a month to get there truckers would pick me up mostly asking me for sex but I told them no and they let me out. It was so hard I was so sick and ran out of meds. But long story short his family worked for the Madison county sheriff's department knew the judges and people that worked for the city I had went to the sheriff's office and told them about what had happened and the sheriff told me they are at school right now when you see them take them and run and I knew he was trying to get me arrested and I never seen my children again until they both found me on Facebook in 2012 and asked to come back to me they told me some horrible things horrible I just think I may write a book about it my daughter is saying it's a great idea.

“We’re not like other people we can’t afford food after food after food.” Damn most of y’all have no idea bout that life, the sad thing is stuff like this is so common it’s not even looked at strange.

This has been my frustration for years. We invest so much in others but people in our own back yard are suffering! I've got people in my family like this..

God bless all the folks that helped theses familys

The poor will never see that money. If they are lucky some jobs will be created!

I have thought of these kids so many times..... you can make it out of Appalachia and then go back and make it better...❤❤❤❤

My friend grew up in this area and she had dirt floors growing up...really crazy.

We let the rich get richer especially in Kentucky so yes we need change!

Isn't Mitch McConnell the senator for Kentucky?Doesn't he know what's going on in his home state?

I love my roots and the people in Appalachia - these are some of the kindest and caring people. Although many have none, they will help others out. I miss Barbourville. Union is a great college! Proud of you kid.

Im so happy shawn went to another college, i saw the earlier report and it was so depressing, where he went back home.- And that lady got her teeth fixed+

Shawn is soo cute. I wonder where he is right now

I attended WVU for a Masters Degree in social work. I would love to go back to Appalachia to work helping others. In 2013 I was in a serious accident I live on disability insurance. If I could relocate from Arkansas I would in a heart beat.

So good to see the smile on Shawn's face and I pray he used this gift to improve his own life and get out of poverty so proud of him and the other kids. I pray these angels change their lives for the better. These gifts shouldn't go wasted and unappreciated.

I would love to have the opportunity to help one of these families. "To whom much is given, much will be required " I'm waiting upon you my God, my trust I fully put unto you, please comfort and keep these families protected.

I remembet watching this - prayer definitely changes things. I am so proud of everyone for holding on. The young mother that got her GED who literally walked 8 miles going and 8 miles coming. I am so proud of her. I wish every person well that was represented in this documentary. May G-D bless them ALL.

The poverty in America is absolutely disgusting. Billions of dollars are wasted on a stupid wall while the American people are struggling to feed themselves. Shame, shame, shame.

Where is Ashley Judd? Why isnt she helping the kids where she came from instead of driving around Nashville trying to help prostitutes who don't want her help. I would think that kids need it the most.

They remind me of the Scots. Hard, tough people. Wary, poor and so, so kind-hearted.

Stop sending money to other countries and spend it on helping your own.

STOP BRINGING CHILDREN INTO THE WORLD IF YOU CAN NOT TAKE CARE OF THEM DAMN IT.

I remember watching the original story on this in my sociology class in 2009. Totally broke my heart. I would still think about it here and there, especially the boy who had that football scholarship. I'm glad to hear he got another chance. Such a relief. I hope they're all doing well. I feel for the kids growing up this way. They grow to see that as normal and often perpetuate the cycle of poverty for generations. I hope the best for them.

Not that it "should never occur in America," but it should occur much less. There are SO many areas in this country with the Need for help (homeless, medical care [hospitals denying MRI's to patients without big bucks insurance, for one], prejudices towards the disabled, peoples looks and size, the elderly and "older" people in employment, and more) but the rich keep getting more arrogant and overly proud, and the poor keep getting poorer. The more these unfortunate people are helped, yes, even "handouts," the brighter the horizon for this country will be.

ABC, do a 2019 update on this story.

This is what makes me want to be a journalist. The fact that I can actually make a change.

I don't know where that 3 billion went, because if Eastern KY got any help from it, I haven't seen or heard of it. The sad part is that the plight of these children is not uncommon still today.........there are no free clinics, no food banks....(well, I know of one little place in our town that gives away free items when they have them, but that's not often.....maybe that counts,) and I have never heard of anything like section 8 in this part of the country, but I'm fortunate that I've never had to ask about it, so maybe I'm wrong about that. The poverty in Eastern KY is suffocating. You have to live here to know the effects. And don't say that they need to get a job. There has to be available jobs in order to get one, and keep in mind there is absolutely no public transportation in most counties.....no buses, no Ubers, no trams, no trains, nothing but individually owned vehicles. Therefore if you can't buy (or already own) a vehicle, you can't get to work, when you live 20 or 30 miles from a workplace. Keep in mind that there is very real isolation in the mountains. Please don't talk about the work ethic of the mountain people, as they usually exhibit a monumental work ethic just to get by in their daily environment. I could go on and on, but hopefully the reader can understand that it's not a problem with a cut and dried solution.

As usual lots if nasty comments from selfish people with no compassion.

THIS WARMED MY HEART ❤️ thank you ABC

What would help is ousting the current governor and senators! I have heaps of family in Kentucky and they’d agree! This is old, is that clinic still there? Many rural clinics are having to close. 😢

Any updates 2019?

Our country shouldn’t give tax cuts when our poor are struggling to put food on the table. I’m happy to see so many people helping these families, but there are so many more across the country.

Thank you Diane Sawyer and ABC for bringing attention...it's hard to believe that the Governor of this state doesn't realize just what goes on in EACH pocket of his state...sad really that in today's world places like these exist in America...what ever happened to JOHNNY Noble from the original story?

Does anyone not see the propaganda here? There are a bunch of people who live in Appalachia who other people might consider "poor" but they are happy. They are not all neglecting their children and on drugs. They just used the ones who were for their story line. Some of those coal miners make bank and are happy doing it.

May the families that live in the mountains find recovery soon. Amen

Lack of philanthropy is the problem? How about govt funded health care and programs. Politics are the problem.

Green jobs is not the answer for these people. Realistic jobs, and ingenuity is the answer.

There are families living this way all over America, not just in the hills. The real underlying problem is that times have changed and you can no longer make a decent living in the hills and rural areas unless you own a farm, therefore, many turn to drugs. They sell drugs or do drugs to escape from poverty. This is generational poverty. 40 years ago, they're great grandparents didn't know they were poor. They lived off the land raising their own chickens, etc. for food. Indoor plumbing was a luxury, not a necessity. Times have changed. This drug epidemic is everywhere now. The children always suffer. There are more grandparents and great grandparents taking care of children now than ever before. And this is everywhere, even in cities. Wherever there is poverty, there is a drug epidemic.

I think the Appalachian mountains are so close to being in heaven out in the woods in his creation.... Hell on earth trying to make it... My kin folk are the poor hillbillies just taking care if each other and living

The mom Angel is amazing. She has tried so hard and has done soooo much to change her life for the better for her kids, staying sober. I really amend her. I’m so happy she got her teeth and the little girl got her boots. Everyone in this video deserved their gifts so much. 😊 I hope it continues to get better for all those people. Lotsa love here from Arizona. ❤️ 🌵

I ll pray those kids and family get better and health,education,lov,jobs.school and education is so important to your kids.god bless

3:13 ... She is a sweet little girl. I hope things get better for these people.

Poverty impacts all races in America

Lots of ppl in minority communities are living like this too though 🤷🏽‍♀️

I wonder what a more current update would be. I hope to see a good update soon!

Congratulations on your GED !!! Angel , yay!!!!

pineville.. that is where my grandma and great came from before they moved to Detroit in the 1930s. I still have cousins there :)

yea an what really happened TO THAT MONEY????? How about an update !!!!!!!!

Good, solid, proud people!

The fact that the mum stuck by her kids and did her best despite her addiction is amazing. A lot of other mothers would've left them for CPS to take care of. Also she walked 2 hours a day to complete her GED to hopefully get a better job, that shows she has heart. Well done to her and I hope they are all happy and healthy now 💜

Get rid of McConnell and Bevin. Vote for your best interest instead of republicans , Kentucky.

I feel horrible for any family that goes hungry. The conservatives have shown they don’t help the poor though. Also hoping coal will continue is wishful thinking when it’s harming the atmosphere. Carbon emissions from coal go into our atmosphere and create a blanket that warms the planet. We are vastly speeding up a warming of the earth which will cause flooding, wild fires etc. and will in turn create many displaced populations around the globe and create chaos. We should stop the process from moving more rapidly to give time for a resolution. This is the planet we are talking about. Nothing else matters

" Go Shawn"..

The fond memories of the Obama years! No jobs, no future, Thanks Barry!!

Amazing video. Thank you to all who saw the need in our own back yard. God bless each of you.

Sadly that's the life of almost everyone stuck in these Mountains, and because of the poverty and stereotyping that has far exceeded any individual, we're to afraid of all the heckling to leave, or when we try to leave, those of us that do usually return. These mountains are like prison walls, at first you hate them, then you get used to them, then after most of your life you come to depend on them, not only do they isolate the world from us but it isolates us from the world. This region has always been poverty stricken it got better for about twenty years or so during the 70's and 80's but Bill Clinton's clean air act mixed with NAFTA during the 1990's and Obama's war on coal and the opiate epidemic, which unless you live here and have worked in the dark on your stomach or knee's for 10 to 12 hours a day often times 6 days a week in 30 inch coal seams or have bounced around in heavy equipment for 12 hours a day and the effect that takes on a person's back you wouldn't understand why the opiates were so rampant here, today we're in as bad or worse shape than the region was in the 1960's when they started helping us with the so called war on poverty

At least she’s trying, and god bless the dentist for doing this for her. It’s hard to survive when you don’t have a diploma. Now she can get a job. This is sad. I really hope for her daughters sake she stays off drugs. Bless them.

If 400,000 people sent 25¢ to this family they would have 100,000 dollars

It's nice to see America care for Americans! It needs to happen more.

It’s amazing how poor this area is, yet people still keep voting for rich people who don’t give a flying frig about them at all. As long as they are “Christian “

We as a country can do better, we spend way to much money being the police force of the world. My wife and I do well and would totally support the US helping areas of the country that need better schools and healthcare. I too was raised in a home of drug addiction and being poor, I found a way out and so should these children.

Some ppl have so much money they don't know what to do with it and some suffer in poverty like this ...

So this is mitch mcconnell and rand paul's kentucky???

The amount spent on the MIC and globalization is disgusting. Bring the jobs back to these places...it's tragic.

Poor as Hell , yet vote Republiklans.