Eastern KY – Sept. 11-17, 2022

We were blessed with a full cadre of 10 volunteers this week, coming from Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Erma Wenger from Kentucky came to serve as assistant cook this week and next. A family from Ohio joined us on Friday and Saturday. Additional visitors were Cletus Yoder, the Area Project Coordinator, from Ohio, and Larry Stoner, the Regional Operations Coordinator for Region 1, from Pennsylvania, seconded to Region 2 for this project. They met with the MDS leadership volunteers and local partners as they made a decision regarding the long-term location for the eastern Kentucky project. (Beginning October 1, the project will relocate from Knott County to Breathitt County.)

Volunteers were able to complete the drywall and painting work at the Hindman United Methodist Church, where we anticipate hosting a group from Storm Aid, arriving on Monday Sept 19. Volunteers also completed the painting projects they had begun at Danny and Sandy’s house.

We began repair jobs at two homes this week. At Sylvia’s house, volunteers laid laminate flooring in two bedrooms and replaced several feet of damaged drywall with bead board. They cleaned and painted some salvaged trim and began replacing trim. They also installed a bathroom vanity and sink and kitchen cabinets and sink. Sylvia’s husband is dying from black lung disease and it meant a lot to her to have her house back in order.

At Tim and Carol’s split-level home, volunteers insulated and replaced drywall on approximately 4 feet of the walls on the main level and in the lower level. They taped, mudded and sanded the drywall in preparation for painting. Tim was in the hospital much of the week with pneumonia, so again, the work for this family was deeply appreciated. Carol provided lunch for the volunteers on several days.

The Early Response Team, Hindman, KY