
Feeding the Community
Clip: Season 2 Episode 126 | 4m 24sVideo has Closed Captions
Kate Clemons has been one neighbor helping thousands. She's been serving ready-to-eat ...
Kate Clemons has been one neighbor helping thousands. She's been serving ready-to-eat meals in Knott County since last year when flooding devastated Eastern Kentucky.
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Kentucky Edition is a local public television program presented by KET

Feeding the Community
Clip: Season 2 Episode 126 | 4m 24sVideo has Closed Captions
Kate Clemons has been one neighbor helping thousands. She's been serving ready-to-eat meals in Knott County since last year when flooding devastated Eastern Kentucky.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipOn this day of giving thanks, we are bringing you stories of those who are giving back and making their community and Kentucky a better place.
Their neighbors helping neighbors.
In the case of Kate Clemons, it's been one neighbor helping thousands.
She's been serving ready to eat meals and not county since last year when flooding devastated eastern Kentucky.
And now with her newly formed nonprofit, she is finding other ways to meet the needs of the community.
So every day is like Tetris to make everything fit.
I think that it was truly Eastern Kentucky's darkest hour just to have something in effect so, so strongly in such a short amount of time that many people it's just unthinkable.
When I found out just how severe it was, I just knew I had to try to get my hands on whatever resources I could.
Was three days after the flood.
I was driving by and I just saw this group, Operation Barbecue.
I would pick up the meals from Operation Barbecue and then I would first drop off at the Sportsplex and then I would go and drop off at the various school, drop off points.
Sometimes I would take to churches just wherever I'd set up.
But by the end of the day, I saved a thousand meals They were left over.
So that's how I set up in downtown Hammond.
So I just parked my car and put up the pop up tent and served start three meals out of my car.
Hi, how are you?
I had no idea how long it can continue.
I just knew I had to keep going until the people were okay.
I would probably serve a thousand meals in under an hour.
That's how quick.
And some days I would even do 2000 if I could get my hand on the resources.
Just the need for food was insane.
I knew I wanted to do more than meals.
I wanted to help get them on their feet.
So in August, I created a needs assessment for it was anywhere, anything from housing, repairs, trying to obtain safe housing, medical appliances, just whatever the need convey.
I tell them I can't promise you anything, but I'll try my best to do what I can.
At the six month mark at Christmas.
I thought it was done.
I remember going to bed the week before Christmas and I just pray to God, really just begged him to help me find a local church or any church to help.
I woke up that morning to a message from Greg Dotson.
His group runs a charity raffle.
I got the call from him saying that they had chosen made her save $31,500 and then 5 minutes later, I got a message from a church in the surrounding county saying that they would like to purchase a motorcycle, a trailer for me to put in the parking lot.
So I used that opportunity to create the nonprofit.
I named Roscoe's daughter after my dad, and I'm just so excited for what I can do with it.
I appreciate you all.
We are at the one year mark now and it is the greatest honor to be launching a food pantry to serve all not county.
Yes, it will be based on food insecurity, but I was very articulate, including language, to allow the program to respond to any disaster when disaster strikes.
Help can't wait.
You have to be on the ground and you have to stay in the game as it progresses.
You can't simply just you now hear the items needed.
You have to stay with the people because as time moves forward, the needs change.
When I talk to people, they're like, What will you be up to next?
I don't know.
Whatever God stands in our way.
I'm just so humbled because I never dreamed that He would have allowed me to create a nonprofit to still be here with people I love so much.
Your welfare.
Thank goodness for Kate's good work.
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