Several local churches and groups are organizing tornado relief efforts to help victims recover from the devastating storms.

One of the hardest hit was the eastern Kentucky town of West Liberty, where much of the downtown, including the courthouse, city building and businesses, was wiped out.

Campbell Chapel Free Will Baptist, Tri State Worship Center and the Plum Grove Baptist Church are among those accepting donations to provide aid to the victims.

“When you see disaster in your area, moms are carrying little children, they have no where to go and nothing to eat. We have disaster everywhere but this hits close to home,” said Bob Bradley, pastor at Campbell Chapel Free Will Baptist. “God has blessed us, so we want to bless others.”

Campbell Chapel, located at 1709 Campbell Drive in Ironton, will take donations beginning Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. The church will also take donations Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

“People in the area will have a place to take items to help the victims,” Anna McCormick, church secretary, said.

Campbell Chapel will take any non-perishable items.

“Water is a priority,” McCormick said. “We will take can goods, toilet paper, paper towels, anything like that.”

Campbell Chapel will take a truckload of items to the devastated areas, with West Liberty receiving the majority of the supplies. The church will donate the items the week of March 18.

“We will do two or three trips if need be,” McCormick said.

There are 160 registered members at Campbell Chapel; they received $750 from donations during service on Sunday, Bradley said.

The Plum Grove Baptist Church will also focus their efforts in West Liberty.

“We feel the need to help with cleanup and distribution of items,” Glenn Robinson, pastor at Plum Grove Baptist Church, said in an email.

Plum Grove Baptist, located on 812 Plum Grove Road in Greenup Ky., will be accepting donations at Dawson-Bryant High School from 3 to 3:30 p. m., or at the church on Sundays after noon. and before 6 p.m. The church will also accept donations on Wednesdays before 7 p.m. and after 8:30 p.m.

“We are planning on going several times in the next month,” Robinson said. “We are in the process of trying to contact churches and other agencies in the West Liberty area that we can coordinate with.”

Plum Grove is accepting cleaning supplies, personal items, baby items, individually wrapped snacks and food, as well as water, totes and tarps.

Tri State Worship Center is collecting items to aid Morgan County, Menifee County and Magoffin County in Kentucky. Items being collected include shampoo, soap, baby items, clothing, children’s clothing, cleaning supplies, non-perishable food items and drinks.

“Our focus is to fulfill the needs of the victims,” said Deb Mullins, Tri State Worship Center Church member. “I ask people to imagine if they woke up today and had nothing, what would they need the most. I’m trying to get people to think outside the box and help provide comfort items.

Tri State Worship Center, located at 901 Solida Road in South Point, is accepting donations Tuesday March 6, with delivery being scheduled March 7.

If you would like to donate money to Campbell Chapel Free Will Baptist, make checks payable to Campbell Chapel. If you would like to donate money to Tri State Worship Center, make checks payable to the church.

“We will make sure the money will get where it needs to go,” Mullins said. “If we need specific items, we will use the money to purchase those items for the victims.”

Both churches are counting on the support of the community.

“I am looking for a tremendous response from the people of Ironton,” Bradley said. “They are caring people and they want to help people in the community,”

Also Boyd County Public Library’s three branches are drop-off points for items needed by the victims of Friday’s tornado in West Liberty. BCPL is working with the American Red Cross to collect items most needed in the Morgan County community. Donations can be dropped off at any branch — Main, Catlettsburg or Kyova — during regular hours all week. The Red Cross will collect the items from the library branches on Saturday morning and deliver them to West Liberty. Items most needed are non-perishable food items, cleaning supplies, toiletries, bottled water, bedding, new undergarments (all sizes. For more information, call Amanda Gilmore at (606) 329-0518, ext. 1130.

 

Follow Chris Slone on Twitter @Slone_Tribune.