Multiple relief initiatives have been organized across the University of Kentucky’s campus to support those impacted by the recent flooding in Eastern Kentucky.
These initiatives, including donation drives and fundraising, have helped different on-campus groups, like 606 Strong and UK’s Student Government Association (UKSGA) provide essentials like water, hygiene products and cleaning supplies to affected counties.
The 606 Strong donation drive has four drop-off locations across campus, as well as options for monetary donations to buy additional supplies, according to Haley Simpkins, a co-organizer of the drive and communications officer at UK’s College of Design.
Simpkins said besides the physical supplies donated, the drive has raised more than $12,000 in strictly monetary donations.
According to Simpkins, College of Design students supported her in these efforts, with some becoming invested in the issue after working on a design project memorializing the victims of the floods that hit Hazard, Kentucky in 2022.
Before the recent flooding began, Simpkins said these students had visited Hazard to learn more about the 2022 flooding and how the community recovered from it. After seeing the effects of the recent flooding, Simpkins said these students were eager to help.
“It is absolutely unreal to me to just have students that I’ve never met be willing to help out simply because it’s more than a class project to them,” Simpkins said.
After seeing how the flooding affected their hometowns in Eastern Kentucky, Simpkins said she and co-organizer Kassidy Stumbo felt compelled to organize the drive.
“It’s been hard being three hours away and feeling kind of helpless,” Simpkins said. “Being able to help here by getting the supplies that they don’t have access to and bringing it there, that’s been an impactful way for me to be able to help.”
UKSGA President Maddie Duff, an Eastern Kentuckian, said she shared similar feelings as Simpkins’, as her hometown of Prestonsburg, Kentucky was also hit with flooding.
Duff said her mom had made plans before the flood to visit her, but that she could not make the trip, telling Duff the water was still rising.
“I’d been sent photos of homes that were already underwater, and so I started reaching out to my contacts at UK,” Duff said. “I was like, ‘Hey, we’ve got to do something.’”
UKSGA’s flood relief efforts include a donation drive with drop-off locations in UKSGA’s office and the Albert B. Chandler Hospital, according to Duff.
Throughout the donation drive, Duff said there had been a great turnout and that she appreciated the generosity the community has shown.
“That is one of the reasons that makes Big Blue Nation, ‘Big Blue Nation,’” Duff said. “When one of us is hurt, we’re all hurt, and we all want to come together to help.”
UK Spokesperson Jay Blanton also said community support was crucial during this time, saying “Once again, our community has rallied behind those in need.”
According to Blanton, there were many initiatives at the university level to help those affected by the flooding in Eastern Kentucky, like university mental health services and donations through UK Philanthropy.
On Feb. 19, a donation drive was held at Rupp Arena during the UK men’s basketball game against No. 8 Vanderbilt, where hundreds of essentials were received, according to Blanton.
Blanton said further donations could be coordinated through UK’s Emergency Operation Center.
Another initiative of UK’s, according to Blanton, included water and vaccine deliveries to Pike, Perry and Clay Counties.
Hepatitis A and tetanus vaccines were distributed to help “promote public health and prevent the spread of disease,” Blanton said.
“We exist really, frankly, for Kentucky. That’s our name and that’s why we’re here,” Blanton said. “Our goal is to try to do what we can with the resources we have on behalf of a really compassionate community, to reach out and try and help people in their time of need.”
