Operation UNITE and PRIDE staff members are accepting donations to assist Pike County residents victimized by flash flooding Saturday, July 17. You can also donate on-line at helppikecounty.org.
“Everything is needed right now – from baby wipes to furniture,” said Karen Engle, UNITE director. “Several rural communities have been devastated and hundreds of families affected. Many people have lost everything they own.”
Anyone wishing to provide donations for the relief efforts may bring them to any of UNITE’s regional offices in Prestonsburg (606-889-0422), Hazard (606-487-3700), London (606-330-1400) and Somerset (606-677-6179 or 1-866-678-6483).
Through a partnership with RAM Kentucky and the UNITE Foundation, the Pike County Flood Relief Committee of the Pike County Department of Social Services has created a web page to accept on-line donations – helppikecounty.org.
A fund-raising telethon will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 25, at the Pikeville Medical Center.
As of Wednesday the flooding had taken the lives of four people and damaged or destroyed more than 400 homes and businesses.
Several loads of items have been transported to Pike County so far. Items included bottled water and toiletry items from UNITE and PRIDE, 80 cases of sports drinks from the London-Laurel County Tourism Commission, clothing and five pallets of dry food goods from the Christian Shelter for the Homeless in London, and a truck-load of items from churches in Manchester.
“We know from last year’s flooding relief that people want to help, but don’t have a way to get their items to those in need,” Engle noted. “We will make sure everything is delivered to Pike County’s emergency services providers for distribution.”
In addition, approximately a dozen UNITE staff members have been in Pike County all week to help answer calls for assistance and to unload, sort and deliver items.
“There’s no words to describe it,” said UNITE Coalition Coordinator Tom Vicini, who had been in the Harless Creek and Raccoon Creek communities. “The destruction left me sick and heartbroken. It’s devastating.”
Follow us
