Pike County Relief Services continues to help families affected by disasters
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Pike County Relief Services remains dedicated to supporting families impacted by regional disasters, with a specific focus on the aftermath of the severe floods in 2022 and 2025. Since the devastating events of 2025, the organization has shifted from immediate emergency response to long-term recovery efforts, including housing relocation and extensive home repairs. President Sandy Penn highlights how volunteers from across the country have played a crucial role, staying for weeks to assist with critical tasks such as gutting damaged homes and restoring living spaces. These efforts often involve partnerships with major groups like Samaritan's Purse, which handles initial cleanup, while local community organizations step in to complete the necessary repairs and stabilize properties.
The scope of their work includes addressing unique challenges faced by residents, such as a recent project where a trailer was found sitting precariously on a creek bank. By collaborating with contractors, the relief team successfully shored up the structure to ensure safety and habitability. This hands-on approach demonstrates the organization's commitment to getting affected families back on their feet through practical solutions tailored to individual needs. The success of these projects relies heavily on the dedication of local volunteers who possess specific skills that allow them to guide larger teams and execute complex repair jobs effectively.
Beyond direct disaster relief, Pike County Relief Services is actively seeking new volunteers, particularly those with carpentry or construction experience. The organization clarifies that they do not require individuals to build entire homes from scratch but rather need skilled hands to assist with specific tasks like installing disabled ramps or guiding other volunteers on-site. For those unable to volunteer their time, the group offers multiple avenues for financial support, including mailing checks or donating online via PayPal through their website. These resources ensure that families can receive the assistance they need regardless of how they choose to contribute to the cause.
Ultimately, the continued presence of Pike County Relief Services underscores a community-wide effort to rebuild and strengthen homes in Eastern Kentucky following catastrophic flooding events. By combining professional contractor support with the energy of local volunteers and financial contributions from the public, the organization creates a sustainable model for disaster recovery. As they move forward into 2026, their focus remains on maintaining momentum in ongoing cases and ensuring that no family is left without support during the difficult process of rebuilding their lives after natural disasters.
Read the full video transcript
In 2026, Pike County Relief Services
continues to work with ongoing cases and
families in between regional disasters.
From service projects to housing
relocation, they remain dedicated to
those who were struck by the 2022 and
2025 floods to help get them back on
their feet. President Sandy Penn tells
us more. since the 25 flood. Of course,
you know, during the 25 uh 2025, most of
our needs were responding to, you know,
urgent things that had to be taken care
of. And uh and so we were able to do a
lot of that. We had volunteers
throughout the country, many people
don't even realize, that have come in,
stayed a week or two, and gone back and
and did a lot of great work with
repairing homes. Uh we had you know
first of all we had Samaritan's Purse
here that did a lot of the gutting of
the houses which was important to do and
then we have groups like ours and others
in the in the community that helped with
doing some of the repairs. We had a
recent one that we just completed. So
they reached out to us and her trailer
was literally sitting on the creek bank
and uh so we were able to work with a
contractor to get up there and shore
that up. So, that's just one of the
projects we've done.
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>> The organization is always looking for
volunteers, especially handymen with
carpentry experience. To find out more
or make a donation, visit
pikecountyreiefservices.org.
We have ways to give now on our website.
You can go to pike county
reliefservices.org
and there is a donate button there and
uh recently we've added PayPal to that
offering. Um so you can go on there and
do that. Um but or you can mail a check.
Our address is listed there. But we are
always looking for volunteers. Um, one
of the big needs is someone that might
have some uh construction or carpentry
skills. Um, and we're not talking about,
you know, that they have to completely
build a new home, but just to help guide
and maybe doing a disabled ramp or
something uh from someone that's had
some some issues there and maybe guide
the volunteers that are working.
Reporting for Mountaintop News, I'm Nick
Colum.