Avery West

Avery West is the Director of Community Initiatives for the True Charity Initiative. She studied philosophy, politics, and economics at Hillsdale College.


Swearing mentors, learned helplessness, and pay-day loans: what Hillbilly Elegy teaches us about charity

J.D. Vance’s bestseller Hillbilly Elegy offers an unflinching inside look at rural America. We can learn a lot about charitable work in rural areas from this book.

Food pantries and human dignity

Working and feeling needed is an essential part of being human, and organizations that acknowledge this fact meet not only the material, but also the spiritual, needs of the poor.


New USDA opioid map leverages local efforts

The USDA is using its national reach to highlight local efforts in the fight against opioid addiction.