Appalachian residents reaching out to help Katrina victims

Hammered by devastating floods over the past two years, they have had to depend on the generosity of others. Now they’re gladly reaching out a helping hand, said the Rev. John Rausch, executive director of the Catholic Committee of Appalachia.

“These people have been moved by those pictures on TV,” Rausch said. “They can certainly remember the devastating floods that hit eastern Kentucky last year. They know what it means to suffer the despair of losing homes and memories.”

Tractor-trailers loaded with supplies have been pulling out of mountain communities throughout eastern Kentucky en route to the Gulf Coast. Many of the donors live in communities that haven’t fully recovered from widespread flooding last year that killed six people and damaged or destroyed hundreds of homes.

Residents in Hazard, heeding the call from a local radio station, donated enough bottled water in 36 hours to fill three tractor-trailers and a box truck. The water was delivered to New Orleans. Trish Adams, an on-air personality at WSGS-FM, said local residents plan to make another trip down this week with baby food, baby formula, batteries, flashlights and candles.

June Rice, an 80-year-old retired school teacher in Paintsville, donated $100 through the Southern Baptist Church, which has an army of volunteers throughout the impacted region providing meals for the victims and rescue crews.

Flooding in eastern Kentucky last year spared Rice’s home but devastated her church. Volunteers donated labor and money to help with repairs. She said she would not miss out on an opportunity to give back.

“We in eastern Kentucky understand a little bit about what those people down there are going through,” she said.

Rausch said he has received numerous calls from people who want to open their homes to hurricane victims. Hospitals in the region have sent medical professionals, ambulances and truckloads of medical supplies to the region.

“There’s a sense of family in the mountains,” Rausch said. “People continually open their arms to those in need.”

At the Christian Appalachian Project headquarters in Hagerhill, a steady stream of people have been arriving with canned food, bottled water and clothing to be donated to hurricane victims. The group, which usually funnels relief into mountain communities, is trucking the donated items to the Gulf Coast.

“It makes people feel good to be able to give back,” said Jennifer Lavender, project spokeswoman. “Our hearts go out to these people. We realize that, at any time, it could be any of us.”