
Feeding The Needs Of A Community
Clip: Season 2 Episode 42 | 4m 22sVideo has Closed Captions
A nonprofit is opening a food pantry in Knott county.
A nonprofit is opening a food pantry in Knott county.
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Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Feeding The Needs Of A Community
Clip: Season 2 Episode 42 | 4m 22sVideo has Closed Captions
A nonprofit is opening a food pantry in Knott county.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipIt's been neighbor helping neighbor in eastern Kentucky in the years since the flood and the case of Tate Clemens.
It's been one neighbor helping thousands.
She's been serving ready to eat meals in downtown Heiman since the flood.
And now with her newly formed nonprofit, she's 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 saving meals out of my car.
Hi.
How are you?
I 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 nature of 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 form that was anywhere, anything from housing, repairs, trying to obtain safe housing, medical appliances, just whatever the need convey.
I always tell them, I can't promise you anything, but I will 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 a 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.
I'm not counting.
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.
What a hero.
She is indeed.
And April Clemmons received an award from the East Kentucky Leadership Conference for her work with Kate's food tents.
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2 Ep42 | 4m 1s | Brother and sister recount losing their homes in the Eastern Kentucky flooding. (4m 1s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S2 Ep42 | 4m 32s | Declining population in Eastern Kentucky after last year's flooding is causing concern. (4m 32s)
Heat Advisory Across The State
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Clip: S2 Ep42 | 1m 51s | John Gordon of the National Weather Service - Louisville talks about the heat wave. (1m 51s)
Inside Kentucky Politics (July 28, 2023)
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Clip: S2 Ep42 | 6m | Morgan Eaves and Tres Watson provide commentary on the latest Kentucky political news. (6m)
Sen. McConnell Will Continue To Serve
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Clip: S2 Ep42 | 22s | US Senator Mitch McConnell will continue to serve for the rest of the current session. (22s)
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