This Giving Tuesday, we want to focus our attention — and fundraising efforts — on those who are still continuing to recover from this year’s severe flooding in Eastern Kentucky.

Imagine if you will, a daily routine without the availability of your everyday home appliances like a refrigerator, a washer or dryer, a mattress, an oven, etc. It’s those things that many of us take for granted.

Not having the availability of one of these basic appliances is only one of the many difficulties flood victims have to face on a daily basis. Some are living in temporary housing, in campers, with friends or family, etc. 

It’s the new normal for thousands across our region.

That is why we are partnering with Kentucky Primary Care Association (KPCA), the Kentucky Rural Healthcare Collaborative’s 606 Strong Flood Relief Fund, and Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky to raise funds for our Student Support Fund for this year’s 2023 Giving Tuesday. 

What is Giving Tuesday? 

Giving Tuesday is the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This year, it lands on November 29, 2022.

It’s a great way to support non-profits and worthwhile causes. Donate here.

While we are raising funds this Giving Tuesday. The recovery efforts for those impacted will take many months, if not years. 

Shortly after the floods, our team worked on the ground to support relief efforts. This included:

• Working alongside organizations like the Kentucky Small Business Development Center, the Mountain Association, Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation, Community Ventures, and the Foundation for Appalachia Kentucky to reach businesses impacted by the flood with information and assistance to emergency loans and grants.
• Helped coordinate placement of SBA Business Recovery Centers in impacted communities. 
• Hosted Associate Administrator for SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance Fransisco Sanchez Jr. for a community roundtable and your of impacted areas.  
• Created the Student Support Fund, which has deployed more than $140,000 in funding to impacted schools and families. Funds were disbursed within hours of it being received. 

Why we need your support

On July 26th, much of Eastern Kentucky experienced devastating floods. Thirteen counties were declared federal disaster areas. And 43 people died as a result of the flooding. 

By the time this summer’s historic floods subsided, tens of thousands of eastern Kentucky households had lost power. It is estimated that more than 8,000 homes were impacted. 

Many of KPCA’s member health clinics were impacted. This was the start of a response effort that is still going strong today. KPCA and its members responded by delivering supplies and medications that were in immediate need.

The total value of supplies delivered in the Phase 1 response was in excess of $231,000. 

After a month, the basic needs of those impacted began to change as some of those impacted were receiving federal assistance. That led to the formal creation of the Kentucky Rural Healthcare Collaborative, a 501c3, and its 606 Strong Flood Relief Fund. This fund has worked to support requests, many for basic needs such as appliances. 

Since the formation of the 606 Strong Fund, more than 150 families have been served with $579,000 in funds. 

But that is a small impact. The 606 Strong Flood Relief Fund has an additional 300 grant applications vetted and approved. 

That’s where you come in. We need funding to meet the basic needs of those additional 300 applications.

That cost is approximately $1.2 million.

Your contributions are as important as ever

Thousands of our neighbors are dealing with various degrees of new normals. This will continue for some time. 

As the weeks and months pass, there will remain the need for necessities, and we are committed to long-term recovery. 

We know you are, too. 

The holidays are a time of reflection. We think about the blessings we have. We also think about those that are in need. 

Please consider giving to support our Student Support Fund. All proceeds will be used to help fulfill the more than 300 approved applications from the Kentucky Rural Healthcare Collaborative’s 606 Strong Flood Relief Fund.