Christian County Public Schools has announced a total of $3,750 in gift cards have been collected for flood victims in eastern Kentucky.
In conjunction with the schools’ Family Resource and Youth Service Center, the district collected these gift cards for 10 days, in response to the torrential storms in Appalachia.
CCPS Superintendent Chris Bentzel said they asked schools to step up and offer support, and that they “came through,” as several businesses, churches and community members contributed to the effort.
Officials plan to send the gift cards to EKY through the Western Kentucky Education Cooperative later this week. Bentzel said a number of eastern Kentucky schools and communities sent support to Christian County and other west Kentucky communities following December’s bout with severe storms and tornadoes.
Cindy May Johnson, at the helm for Pikeville’s Mountain Top Media, said there are really two things still needed in east Kentucky: organized volunteers to help people clean out and rebuild, and of course, money.
Johnson said they have thrown their local support behind the East Kentucky Dream Center, which is a local 501 C-3 charity with boots on the ground serving all of the storm’s affected counties. She said they are still serving up to 1,400 meals a day, while delivering cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, non-perishables and more.
Gift cards can certainly go a long way. Johnson said it’s worth noting that donations of used clothing have been “overwhelming,” and to continue withholding such actions until further notice.
But east Kentucky, much like west Kentucky, will need help for a long time in its rebuilding efforts. And CCPS has taken a needed and positive step.
