Letcher church hands out food, cleaning supplies to flood victims

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The Hemphill Church of Christ has joined forces with the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief organization to deliver essential aid to flood victims in Letcher County. Sheila Toliver, a member of the congregation, explains that this is their third major flood response effort for the area, highlighting a consistent commitment to supporting families who have suffered devastating losses. The partnership allows local churches to coordinate with a national network that provides relief supplies, helping to alleviate the financial burden on affected households by offering assistance with cleanup, food, and other necessities. Aid distribution is tailored specifically to the unique needs of each family, determined through an initial set of questions regarding how the flood impacted their home and property. Based on these assessments, recipients receive customized boxes containing items such as food supplies capable of feeding a family of four for several days, personal hygiene kits, rakes, shovels, cleaning agents like bleach, and occasionally clothing. In cases of total loss or severe damage, the organization can even help replace items that were destroyed by the water, ensuring that families have the resources needed to begin rebuilding their lives. Beyond providing physical supplies, the Hemphill congregation emphasizes its presence as a spiritual and emotional support system for the community. Men from the church are available to offer prayers to anyone in need, while the staff and members stand ready to listen, provide a shoulder to cry on, or simply talk with those affected by the disaster. The team operates at their location on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with additional trucks prepared to arrive if supplies run out, ensuring that help is available as long as resources last. Ultimately, the church's mission extends far beyond handing out boxes; it is about standing alongside the community in a time of crisis and demonstrating that everyone is in this together. Recognizing that Letcher County has faced devastating floods over the past several years, the congregation seeks to be "boots on the ground" to serve their fellow men and women directly. Whether through practical assistance with rebuilding or spiritual comfort, the Hemphill Church aims to take some of the heavy burden off the shoulders of flood victims and remain a steadfast source of hope and help for the entire region.

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Hemphill Church of Christ has partnered with the Churches of Christ Disaster Relief to bring supplies to the Letcher County area. Sheila Toliver, a member of Hemphill congregation, tells us more. >> Um we are just trying to do everything we can to help people who have suffered such devastating loss. Um we've done this uh this is our third flood that we have worked for this area. Um Churches of Christ Disaster Relief reaches out to us and lets us know um anything that we may need and we work closely with them and then they are uh con- continually working with Churches of Christ throughout the United States and in disasters they send relief to families to help them um take a little bit of the financial burden off to help them with cleanup and food and different things. >> Families are asked a series of questions to find out their need after the flood. Each family is given different boxes which range from food to cleaning supplies based on their need. >> Um it is based on need. Um there are there is a number of questions we ask at the at the beginning. It's based on uh how they were flooded and how the flood affected them and their losses that they have. Um but um we have food boxes that will feed a family of four for several days. Uh we have personal hygiene boxes. Um these are some of the things that are available based on the need of of what they qualify for. Uh rakes, shovels, um cleaning supplies, uh bleach, um sometimes there might be a need for clothing items. We can help replenish those, food items and if uh it has been a total loss or devastating flood, we can even help them with even uh possibly putting some items back into their home that may have been lost into the flood. Uh well, we have 250 some food boxes. I hope we can serve 250 people today and um if we run out, we have another truck ready to come. Um we are here Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 11:00 to 4:00 and and while supplies last. >> The Recovery Resource Center, located inside the Polk County Health Department, offers support, [music] guidance, and resources for you and your family. Call 509-5500. That's 509-5500. Recovery [music] starts here. >> This congregation is here for the community in many ways other than just the helpful boxes. They have men here ready to pray for anyone in need. >> Um, if you've been affected by the flood in any way, we want to help. We are a congregation that wants to be here for the community and for the people. Um, all of us are in this together. Uh, this area has been touched by devastating floods for the past several years. And if there's anything we can do to be boots on the ground and and serve our our fellow men, we just want to be there for them and help do that and hopefully help just take some of the burden off people and just be there for them. If they come in wanting prayer, we're we've got men here ready to hold prayer with them. If they just want to talk or shoulder to cry on, we're here. So, if you have any needs whatsoever, just let us know. We're we're here to help. >> Reporting for Mountain Top News, I'm Jackson Lucas.