In the days, weeks and months following the tornadoes of December 10, 16 west Kentucky counties and their residents had to unfortunately shift their priorities.
The ideas of simple living, community entertainment and economic opportunity turned to housing, utility preservation, and — most importantly — hunger.
Personal and non-profit food stores in Mayfield, Princeton, Dawson Springs, Bremen and south Christian County were carelessly tossed in a debris ball at times more than 30,000 feet high, and with it came the question: where is the next meal coming from?
For residents in Caldwell and Hopkins counties, that answer many times was the Christ Tabernacle Food Ministry in Caldwell County — one of several organizations lifted by other non-profit efforts through Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland.
Missie Gill, Christ Tabernacle’s Food Ministry director, noted FAKH helped provide “security and consistency” during this uncertain time.
And because of that security, Gill said families and individuals — some from Princeton, others from Dawson Springs — were able to turn their attentions to other needs.
One such family, Claude and Donna Baird of Dawson Springs, endured a harrowing experience that December 10.
They’d been playing the role of “grandma and grandpa” with granddaughter, Lilly, when the storm arrived.
Since, they’ve been frequent visitors of the Christ Tabernacle Food Pantry.
A regional food bank serving more than 40 Kentucky counties, FAKH has invested more than $3.5 million in the last year alone, battling food insecurity — most of which was created by this violent tornado outbreak.
More than $950,000 in food and supply credits has been awarded to partner agencies through the last fiscal year, allowing food pantries like Christ Tabernacle to recover damaged or lost inventory, or to supplant those who had lost so much.
Jamie Sizemore, FAKH executive director, said her non-profit “remains in full recovery mode,” with their priorities remaining in the 15 service-area counties.
Another $500,000 investment from FAKH is expected in 2023, with other financial commitments coming in time.
As for Christ Tabernacle, its 1839 US 62 location is open every Monday from noon until 2 PM, with mass distributions planned monthly from noon until 3 PM on the Friday of the second full week — which for this month is December 16.
What was once a couple shelves of food in a small property trailer, is now the Life Center alongside the parking lot.
Information for this report came from numerous officials with FAKH. A mini-documentary titled “One Response” will debut this Saturday on FAKH’s YouTube page.
