Kendra Scott and ARH Foundation Give Back to Eastern Kentucky
Shop Kendra Scott to benefit Appalachian Flood Relief!
Hey y’all.
As I’m sure you all know, my hometown and many of the nearby towns and hollers were impacted by severe flooding earlier this month. I legitimately don’t know how to describe the feeling of seeing my hometown — the place where my family and friends live and work and go to church, where my grandfather taught school, and where my parents met — on The Weather Channel as being only a few miles from the epicenter of flooding activity. I’m so thankful that my family is safe and sound, but a lot of our friends back home were impacted pretty extensively. Homes and lives were lost, schools were destroyed, and people have been trapped in remote areas when their roads quite simply washed away.
It’s been devastating to see such extensive loss, but it’s also been amazing to see how communities have come together. In my home county, volunteers are providing meals and necessities to those who are in need. I’ve heard so many amazing stories of how friends and neighbors are helping one another recover and thrive. It’s going to take time, hard work, and a lot of assistance to get our tiny Appalachian towns back up and running.
My friends at Kendra Scott recently reached out to me about a very easy way to help benefit Appalachian communities, including my own home county. Through Saturday, August 27th, you can shop Kendra Scott jewelry online or in the Lexington or Louisville Kendra Scott stores and 20% of your purchase price will be donated to the ARH Foundation fund, which benefits Appalachian flood relief. Just mention ARH at checkout if you’re in one of the Kentucky stores, or use code GIVEBACK-CKNGN in the coupon box if you’re shopping online.
Any Kendra Scott purchase can count toward this fundraiser, but I particularly adore the Official ARH Collection, which is comprised of three beautiful pieces of Platinum Drusy set in silver tone. This stone is believed to be associated with peace, tranquillity, patience, intuition, and unconditional love. I’m wearing the necklace and earrings from this collection in the photos accompanying this blog post; the collection includes a bracelet as well. These pieces can be worn with nearly everything in my closet, and I love feeling a little closer to my community when I wear it!
Thanks so much to my friends at Kendra Scott for this wonderful opportunity to help Appalachian communities in need!
Ways to Help Those Impacted by the Western Kentucky Tornadoes
Donation links and supply drive information for the December 2021 tornadoes in Western Kentucky.
Hey y’all.
By now, we’ve all seen the horrible footage of the tornado damage in Western Kentucky. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, and most Kentuckians have friends, relatives, or coworkers who have been impacted in some way. We’re all looking for ways to help our Commonwealth.
FEMA’s guidelines for helping in disaster situations remind us that:
Cash is always the best donation because organizations on the ground can best assess need;
Confirm the need for in-kind donations. Used clothing is never a good donation, FEMA reminds us;
Connect to volunteer. Self-deployment is not a helpful use of resources.
I know that many people are budgeted out for the holidays and aren’t quite able to donate to disaster relief as freely as they’d like right now. Remember: the damage to these Western Kentucky communities will last far beyond a news cycle. Of course, immediate donations of money, supplies, and blood are always needed when a disaster hits, but these Kentuckians will also need help in the months to come. This post will serve as an ongoing list of resources and ways that you can help. Please let me know either in the comments of this post or via email if you know of additional ways to help.
Monetary Donations:
The most crucial need for disaster relief is money. Organizations like the Red Cross, the United Way, and local charities can do the most good with your tax-deductible monetary donations. I’ve listed a few reputable sources below and will update as I hear of more.
Community Foundation of Western Kentucky’s Disaster Relief Fund
Trace Creek Baptist Church (Mayfield, KY — one of the hardest hit communities) Tornado Relief Fund
Supply Drives:
In times of emergency, donated supplies are needed. Water, nonperishable food, feminine hygiene products, baby bottles and formula, diapers, and blankets are always immediate needs. Warm coats, hats, and gloves are needed, as are new underwear and socks. Toys provide comfort to displaced children. (And, please remember that supply drives are not a convenient way to offload old items. Your used clothing and stuffed animals are actually a hinderance to relief efforts.)
Lexington:
A semi truck will be parked at Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary Church (601 Hill N Dale Rd, Lexington, KY 40503) from Monday afternoon through early Wednesday morning 10/13-15th. Supplies may also be dropped off at Christ the King Church (299 Colony Blvd, Lexington, KY 40502). Needs include: toiletries, adult/children/infant clothing, diapers/formula, blankets, non perishable food, children's books, toys, coats and hats. Items can go directly in the back of the truck.
2 Dudes Moving will be accepting bottled water, pop-top canned food, and other items in their semi truck at The Urban Squirrel (The Urban Squirrel, 203 Lisle Industrial Ave, Lexington, KY 40511) Monday-Wednesday 12/13-15th from 10-4.
Eastern Kentucky Schools:
Northeastern Kentucky Public School Districts have created a “Stuff the Bus” Drive for Schools will be stocking buses with supplies to send a support “caravan” across the state to those in need, according to the #TeamKentucky announcement. Each district is collecting specific items. Donated items should be sent to your child’s school or the district office by Wednesday, Dec. 15. Donation requests by school system are listed below.
Ashland: Personal hygiene items, socks
Boyd County: Water
Carter County: Coats, hats, gloves
Fairview: Shelf stable food, toiletries
Floyd County: Blankets
Greenup County: Toys
Johnson County: Water
Lawrence County: Cleaning supplies
Lewis County: Coats, hats, toys
Martin County: Stable food items, toiletries
Pike County: Toys
Paintsville: Blankets
Raceland: Water
Russell: Water
Louisville:
Bryce Applegate Motorsports and Fit4MomLouisville will be filling a trailer tomorrow, Monday the 13th, from 1-5 pm behind the Landis Lakes CVS (13900 Shelbyville Rd Louisville). Items requested include: diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, bottles, and feminine hygiene products. This trailer will be delivered to the Dawson Springs, KY area, a town highly impacted by the tornadoes.
Northeast Christian Church (9900 Brownsboro Road, Louisville 40241) is conducting a supply drive for Mayfield, KY. Supplies must be delivered by 6 PM Monday 12/13. Only new, unopened items will be accepted. Only bring the items requested by pastors in Mayfield: Non-perishable food, healthy snacks, pet food, food & gas gift cards (Kroger), paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, toiletries, baby wipes, new pillows, sleeping bags, blankets. Drop off items at ether Brownsboro Campus in the bins by the main entrance.
Donation-based Items for Purchase:
Shop Local Kentucky’s Kentucky Strong 270 Tee is available in three colors. 100% of net proceeds will be donated directly to the state’s tornado relief fund.
I’ll add to this post over the next few days as more donation opportunities arise. Please feel free to let me know of any donation drives or fundraising opportunities I may have missed.
Draper James Shopping Event Benefiting The Well Lexington
Shopping event with Draper James benefits victims of sex trafficking in Lexington KY.
Hey y’all! I’d love to see you tomorrow night, Thursday May 13th, from 5-7 p.m. at the Draper James Lexington store for a shopping event benefiting The Well of Lexington, which provides a holistic program of safe housing for women as well as recovery support, education and healing for women and families exploited by sex trafficking in order to empower them to reach economic independence and live productive lives. The Well does amazing work, and, as always, I am so grateful to Draper James for partnering with community agencies like The Well.
I’m also so excited to shop with y’all tomorrow — the new Draper James x Lands’ End swim pieces are absolutely amazing! I wore DJ x Lands’ End swimsuits all last summer and loved them! They’re so flattering and hold up wonderfully!
The gingham tote bag is a favorite, and I love it in raspberry as well!
I also love the Ditsy Floral print; this dress has been a spring favorite and I’m glad to see the swim collection in the same print!
The Lexington Draper James store is taking every precaution to ensure that the event will be safe. The distanced, masked shopping event will include one hour (6-7 p.m.) after the close of store hours so that shoppers can feel safer! If you’d prefer to order via phone and have your purchased shipped for free, call the Lexington store at 859-618-6785 during the event hours and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to The Well. I hope to see y’all there!
Silks Bash 2021
A fun #partyinabubble supports children with incarcerated mothers.
Hey y’all. It’s hard to believe that Derby is almost here!
With Kentucky Derby tickets severely limited, most of us are sticking pretty close to home over the next week. Fortunately, there are still fun ways to observe some of Louisville’s best parties. This year’s Sliks Bash has transitioned to a #partyinabubble format — you can stream the festivities, enjoy delicious drinks and snacks, and, most importantly, support Operation Open Arms!
Operation Open Arms is an incredible local charity that provides clothing, housing, transportation, and food as well as a safe and loving environment to children whose mothers are incarcerated. Operation Open Arms serves as a state-licensed private child-placement agency and seeks to offset the difficulties that often arise from parental incarceration, including financial difficulties, instability in relationships, school behavior, performance difficulties, low self-esteem, and feelings of shame. The statistics are staggering, y’all. Seventy-five percent of incarcerated women are mothers. The average age of children with an incarcerated parent is 8 years old; 22% of the children are under the age of five. The likelihood of parental reunification for children of incarcerated mothers is 21%; the average for other children in foster care is 40%. This charity is doing amazing work to give children a stable and loving foundation, and some tickets to Silks Bash are as affordable as $50!
(My dogs have been fascinated by this horse balloon for days!)
The folks at Operation Open Arms were kind enough to share a Party in a Bubble kit with me, and it is so fun! There’s everything you need to throw your own little gala at home, from a 2021 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Commemorative bottle to snacks from Wiltshire Pantry to julep cups!
The virtual Silks Bash includes a cocktail lesson from Woodford Reserve Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall (one of my very favorite people in the bourbon industry) and music by celebrity DJ James Kennedy (I’m told by people who are less out-of-touch than me that he’s on a Bravo show…). The event will be held Oaks Night, Friday April 30, from 8 - 10:30 pm. Tickets are available here. Today, April 23rd, is the last day to order the party kit for shipping; you have until the 27th to order for local pickup!
Thanks so much to Operation Open Arms and Lemonade PR for the Silks Bash kit and for inviting me to spread the word about this amazing event!
Ways to Help Eastern Kentuckians Impacted by the Winter Storm
Hey y’all. This week’s winter storm certainly is pretty, but it’s hit the mountains of Eastern Kentucky so hard. So many folks back home in the hills are still without power and water in these awful temperatures. A couple of my friends / favorite Louisville-area bloggers (Danielle of LouWhatWear and Lindsay of Bourbon & Lipstick) asked about how to help the 606 on social media this morning, and I went to the source, asking my friends back home whom they’d donate to or recommend for help. Please feel free to share away and let me know if there are more donation sources to add! I’ll update as we hear of more ways to help!
If you’d like to donate:
Across EKY:
Appalachian Community Fund. Says organizer Misty Skaggs, “Anything that goes into our community fund right now is going right back out to community support.” Donate at: tinyurl.com/ekycommunityfund
Hickman Holler Appalachian Relief Fund: Yet another reason to love Tyler Childers and Senora May. The fund was established by these amazing Appalachian musicians last year to bring financial support and awareness for the Appalachian Region. Donate here: https://www.cfmt.org/giving-and-investing/become-a-donor/give-to-a-fund/hickman-holler-appalachia-relief-fund/
Floyd County:
Heaven’s Harvest Food Pantry is a faith-led Emergency Food Pantry located in Printer, KY.. Donate at: https://heavensharvestfood.wixsite.com/website
Johnson County:
Big Sandy Area Community Action Program provides emergency food and shelter. Donate here.
Pastor Amy Chapman of the Mayo Memorial Methodist Church notes that Paintsville area churches are partnering to provide assistance to residents of the shelter at the Recreation Center. Says Pastor Chapman, “Immediate needs are drinks and some personal hygiene items and towels/shower items. I would say to pour any resources into a local church who can assist in managing those donations.” Contact the Mayo UMC on Facebook.
Pike County:
East KY Dream Center is a dining hall in Pikeville offering hot meals to those in need. Donate here.
Grace Community Kitchen is a faith-based mission that offers hot meals and haircuts to those in need. Donate here.
If you need access to Warming Centers:
Boyd County
Boyd County Convention and Arts Center 15605 KY-180 Catlettsburg
The center is open 24 hours a day. It has chairs and cots; social distancing guidelines will be enforced. National Guard Crews are on-site to assist in operations and transportation to the center. Anyone who needs assistance should call Boyd County Emergency Operations Center at 606-393-1801 or 606-393-1842.
Breathitt County
First Church of God (1772 Hwy 30 W, Jackson) is open as a warming center. Contact Breathitt County Emergency Services for more details 606-666-3815.
Carter County
First Baptist Church of Grayson (162 North Court Street, Grayson) is open as a warming center. The church is open 24 hours a day.
Floyd County
The Martin Community Center (7199 Ky Route 80 Langley, KY 41645) is now open as a warming center. Contact the Floyd County Judge Executive’s office for information.
Johnson County
The Warming Center has transitioned to an Emergency shelter at the Paintsville Recreation Center (232 Preston St, Paintsville, KY 41240) and is being managed by the staff at the Rec Center, area volunteers and County Employees. There are 11 persons there currently. Local churches are partnering to provide supplies and meals.
Knott County
The following location are open as warming stations:
· Hindman Volunteer Fire Department, 89 Cowtown Road, Hindman
· Human Services Center, 40 Center Street, Hindman
· Fisty Volunteer Fire Department, 1736 Trace Branch Road, Fisty s
· Kite Topmost Volunteer Fire Department, 10018 S Highway 7, Kite
· Lotts Creek Volunteer Fire Department, 6894 Lotts Creek Road, Lotts Creek
· Vicco Sassafras Volunteer Fire and Rescue, 357 Main Street, Vicco
If you need additional assistance, contact Knott County Emergency Management 606-785-9386 or 606-276-7178 or Jeff Dobson, County Judge Executive 606-785-5592.
Letcher County
Letcher Co Recreation Center (1505 Jenkins Rd, Whitesburg) is open as a warming center. Contact Letcher County Emergency Management for more information 606-633-0429.
Magoffin County
Lloyd M. Hall Community Center (88 Church House Road, Salyersville) is open as a warming center. Contact Magoffin County Emergency Management for more details 606-349-2313.
Perry County
Perry Co Courthouse is serving as a warming center. (481 Main St, Hazard). Contact Perry County Emergency Management for more information 606-439-1816.
Lotts Creek Community School Hazard Director Alice Whitaker says “we have a well stocked food pantry and the school building which can be a warming station in the event of power outage.”
Rowan County
A warming center at the Laughlin Building (Morehead University Campus) is open for citizens who need to stay warm during the outage. There is a lot of space at this facility, and social distancing guidelines will still be able to be enforced, and masks are available. The doors are unlocked Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call 606-207-5028 if you require entry after these hours.