Old J.C. Penney’s building in Hazard opens doors as donation and distribution site for flood victims

HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - The donation and distribution site in the old J.C. Penney’s building in Hazard opened its doors to those in need on Monday.

“We had to do a lot of cleaning and stuff like that so they did that on Friday, we organized Saturday and Sunday and we’re open today,” said one of the site’s coordinators, Bailey Richards. “It came together so fast and I’ve kind of been calling this the flood relief free store.”

Thanks to ARH, Save The Children and other community organizations and volunteers, the new donation and distribution site is covering a variety of needs for the public like offering relief supplies and even medical care.

“We have been told over and over and over again by the people we’re working with that have worked in major disasters like this is that this isn’t a sprint, this is a marathon,” said Richards. “So, if we have too much in the beginning, we’ll need it to last us.”

Site coordinators said they are pleased with how many donations and volunteers they’ve received, even receiving help from volunteers like Judy Keen, who lost her home in the flood but is still helping others in need.

“Its very upsetting for us, but to go out and see people that are in the same situation you are or maybe worse, it really helps you to keep carrying on, to go on,” said Keen.

Paying kindness forward was a common theme for the site’s volunteers.

“There has been so much devastation and I figured that I’ve done a few things in life I wasn’t proud of, so I’m trying to give back to the community,” said Glenn Cox from Hickory Hills Recovery Center. “I’m just out here trying to give back and help some people and just trying to show some love to some people who might of never had love before.”

For others impacted by the flood, like Perry County native Latishia Couch, receiving community support like this means everything.

“If you are a victim of the flood, I just really beg you to come and get what you need and get your help because you can’t do it alone and that’s a big thing that we stick together and we’ll get through this. I know we will,” said Couch.

Coordinators behind this effort said this site is not limited to the people of Perry County.

”This is regional. We want this to be a place where churches and organizations come and get stuff for Knott County, Letcher County, all of the other communities and take back to them,” said Bailey Richards, one of the site’s coordinators. “We want to be that one stop shop for individuals and individuals coming from other counties. If you can get here, we’ll take care of you too.”

The donation and distribution site at the old J.C. Penney’s is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day and is needing volunteers.

If you are interested in volunteering at this site, you can fill out a form here.

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