Since tornadoes ravaged western Kentucky late Friday night and early Saturday, the death toll has climbed to 74, while over a hundred people are still considered missing. Thousands are without power, and entire towns and neighborhoods were devastated.
But in the midst of it all, communities came together and help poured in from across the region. Here are a few of the ways people in and around the Bluegrass State showed resilience and generosity:
Man shows up with a grill and truckload of food to feed victims
“It just needed to be done,” said Jim Finch, who added that he drove half an hour into the heart of devastation in Mayfield with a grill and a truckload of food. With the town nearly leveled around him, he grilled grab-and-go meals for residents and rescue workers.
BIDEN TO TRAVEL TO KENTUCKY IN WAKE OF DEVASTATING TORNADOES
“I know they don’t have any electricity, so that means they don’t have any restaurants, no running water, so I just figured I would do what I could do, show up with some food and some water,” he told reporter Victor Ordonez.
Hundreds of thousands of people resonated with his act of kindness, and videos of him went viral on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/TheOrdonezTimes/status/1470258688887824387
College fraternity helps clean up
Young men from Murray State University’s Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity came together to help clean up the damage in Mayfield, roughly a 30-minute drive away, which they “don’t even recognize” after the tornado outbreak.
One said that he wanted to help friends’ families in the area, especially after the storms knocked out power at their school.
“I’m from out of state in Illinois, but we know a lot of friends and some of their families that are locals around here,” he told the Daily Wire. “So, we just wanted to help out, and we asked some of our friends if they wanted to come out and help, too. So, we figured we’d give our time. You know, we don’t have power or anything at home, so instead of just sitting at home, we wanted to come out and help the community.”
First lady launches toy drive to make sure children still have Christmas
Britainy Beshear, the first lady of Kentucky, started a toy drive for children affected by the disaster to bring some normalcy and joy to the holiday season.
“For many of us, the holidays are a time for being at home surrounded by family and friends. But this year, many in Western Kentucky have suffered a tragedy,” she said. “They’ve lost everything, including their homes and maybe even someone they love. With your help, we can make this season a little easier for those who are hurting by donating a toy, book or gift card to bring them some hope and joy during the holidays.”
There are drop-off locations across western Kentucky for anyone who wants to help.
Blood donations double
The Kentucky Blood Center found Monday that its workers were expecting double the number of donations as usual.
“Kentucky is a very strong state, and we really care a lot about one another,” said Mandy Brajuha, vice president of external relations. “So, to wake up this morning and see a full blood donation schedule really warms our hearts.”
The center thanked its frequent donors after determining enough blood was given to supply all of the needs in western Kentucky hospitals at a time of year that typically sees blood shortages.
“We were able to supply blood to Western Kentucky in the aftermath of this weekend’s tornadoes because of our loyal donors,” the center wrote on Facebook. “You can help replenish the blood supply going into the holidays by making a donation near you. It’s the blood on the shelf when disasters strike that helps victims in need.”
Truck drivers collect donations
Concerned truckers took it upon themselves to organize donation drives, using their vehicles to ferry supplies from eastern Kentucky to the western part of the state.
“The people of Kentucky, they’re hard-working people, we got to step up and be charitable,” said Daniel Koors, who drove from northern Indiana to collect supplies in Lexington.
It didn’t take long to fill the 53-foot trailer with necessities.
“The people of Wildcat country have gone above and beyond to help us here today, filling this truck,” he said, according to WKYT.
Donja Newman and her husband set up trucks to receive donations in Lexington and Stanton, saying they were hoping to make multiple trips.
“We didn’t really know what we were doing, but we started calling around and there was an overwhelming amount of people,” Newman said. “People’s generosity was just amazing.”
Food Lion donates 38,000 bottles of water
When Food Lion Feeds reached out to emergency management services to inquire what kind of help it could offer, officials said that there was a crisis of drinking water. On Monday, it shipped about 38,000 bottles of water to help with the relief efforts.
“Committed to addressing food insecurity in the cities and towns we serve, we wanted to assist our neighbors in need with this water donation,” a spokesman said, according to WBTV.
Family photo blown 130 miles away returned to owner
The devastating winds left at least one thing undamaged: a vintage family photograph that blew 130 miles from Dawson Springs, Kentucky, to New Albany, Indiana.
Katie Posten found what she said looked like a note stuck to her car. It turned out to be a portrait of a woman with a baby dated 1942 with the names Gertie Swatzell and J.D. Swatzell written on the back.
“It looks like it’s probably a picture of a picture,” Posten said, according to LEX 18. “Which means who knows if the original is still around and it might be the only one they have left.”
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She posted the picture to social media in the hope that she could find the owners. Though she feared it would be “like finding a needle in a haystack,” the owners did see it, and she was able to connect with them.
Man keeps playing music in the midst of ruined home
A man whose home was destroyed said he felt nothing but gratitude as he played his damaged piano for what might be the last time.
Jordan Baize’s sister filmed him as he played a hymn.
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“My brother, Jordan, has lost his home but thankfully he and his family made it out safely,” Whitney Brown wrote on Facebook. “I was standing in his bedroom packing anything I could salvage and I heard the most beautiful sound. Music. Jordan was sitting at his grand piano, playing the Gaither tune There’s Something About That Name. Everything around him was broken. The piano had water damage, it had missing keys, and he didn’t know I was filming, but still he used his gift to glorify his God the best way he knew how. Enjoy his God given gift.”
Baize told the local news that his main emotion was “thankfulness” for his community and his family’s safety, especially since 11 people died in their town.
“It has been special,” he said. “I’ve never been more proud of where I’m from.”
