Between Feb. 21 and March 1, the people of Eastern Kentucky experienced multiple ice storms and floods. Residents were left without electricity, homes were damaged or lost, and roads were washed away.

On March 2, Parkview Church of the Nazarene received a call from Dwayne Mills of Appalachia Reach Out asking for help. Josh Caplinger, outreach pastor, began to call on the 18 churches which make up the Southwest Indiana District to mobilize a response.

A team worked from March 14 to 20 repairing homes, cleaning up from the flood, restoring electricity and distributing food and water. Barb and Warren Schade of TRIAD with the Brown County Sheriff’s Department heard the call and began to act. They involved Midwest Food Bank and St. Vincent de Paul. The best option was to use “Mary Jane,” the 26-foot freightliner vehicle which St. Vincent de Paul purchased through funding from the Brown County Community Foundation to maximize the amount of donations that could be transported.

On March 19, Warren and Barb drove the truck to Martin County with pallets of water, food and other materials. Other volunteers also transported donations using trailers and private vehicles.

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To help or learn more, visit applachiareachout.com.

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