The Kentucky Dream Center and Partners will Dedicate New Home

Marshall County, KY (August 30, 2022) - The Kentucky Dream Center in partnership with Virginia-based disaster relief group God’s Pit Crew, Convoy of Hope, Community Foundation of West Kentucky, and United States Senator, Rand Paul (KY), will dedicate a new home on Tuesday, August 30th, to Marshall County tornado survivor, Shari Howard. God’s Pit Crew is a non-profit disaster response group that specializes in debris removal but also building and dedicating new homes to families who have suffered loss in disasters such as the December 2021 tornado.

God’s Pit Crew Founder/President Randy Johnson says, “We are heartbroken at the loss of life and the scale of the destruction following these terrible tornadoes. We hurt for those affected and are praying for them. We’re grateful to be able to provide a new home to Shari, and for our partners and teams of volunteers that help provide hope in times of desperate need.”

Tuesday’s ceremony will be held at 218 Husting Ln. in Benton at 2:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend and offer their support to this family. To learn more about how you can help the Kentucky Dream Center and their partners build more homes and provide support to tornado survivors, please visit www.kentuckydreamcenter.org

Kentucky Dream Center Responds to Historic Eastern Kentucky Flooding

Hazard, KY (August 1, 2022) - The Kentucky Dream Center in partnership with Relevant Church of Paducah, Virginia-based disaster relief group God’s Pit Crew, West Virginia-based global response team Heaven Sent Ministries, and Waterstep of Louisville, KY, are set to respond to flood affected communities in Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday. The combined effort of these groups will provide critical care supplies, approximately 42,000 fortified pre-packaged meals, and water purification kits.

“Our partnerships from all over Kentucky and across the nation have made it possible for us to respond this quickly”, said Joel Cauley, lead Pastor of Relevant Church. “After what we’ve experienced in Western Kentucky with the December 2021 tornado, this is our opportunity to pay it forward just as so many have graciously and selflessly done for all of us. We are incredibly blessed that so many people love our state and want to serve these communities at a time of deep hurt and loss. We’re here to let our Eastern Kentucky neighbors know they have our support and that they are loved.”

Wednesday’s deliveries will be made to Hazard, KY and are being coordinated through the efforts of United States Senator Rand Paul, Kentucky State Representative Chris Fugate, and their teams on the ground. Monetary donations are currently being accepted through the Kentucky Dream Center and can be made on their website at: www.kentuckydreamcenter.org/donate choose the option for “Eastern Kentucky Relief”. 100% of the proceeds will go to flood-affected communities.

THE KENTUCKY DREAM CENTER TO HOST MULTI-COUNTY CHRISTMAS IN JULY EVENT FOR TORNADO SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES

Benton, Mayfield, and Dawson Springs, KY (July 16, 2022) - The Kentucky Dream Center in partnership with Relevant Church of Paducah, will host a Christmas In July multi-county event on Saturday, July 16th, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Saturday’s event is centered around the emotional care and support of tornado survivors and their families, and will feature food from Texas Roadhouse and disaster relief group Mercy Chefs. There will also be toy give-a-ways, games, inflatables, and special guests.

“Our partnerships from all over Kentucky and across the nation have made this event possible”, said Christina Garrott, Executive Director of the Kentucky Dream Center. “We are incredibly blessed that so many people love our community. We want to offer these families support and let them know they are loved and not forgotten.”

Saturday’s events will be held in 3 separate Western Kentucky counties: Mayfield/Graves County-Graves County Extension Office 4200 US Hwy 45, Marshall County-Kentucky Opry 88 Chilton Ln. in Benton, and Dawson Springs/Hopkins County-downtown Dawson Springs on the court square. For more information or to find out how you can help, please visit www.kentuckydreamcenter.org

Local nonprofits partner with Marion to relieve pressure of water emergency

WKMS (June 30, 2022) - A local non-profit is partnering with a Louisville-based disaster relief organization to provide clean water to the people of Crittenden County amid an ongoing water shortage in the county seat of Marion.

Marion residents are having to deal with a lack of accessible clean water after a levee failure caused the loss of their primary water source, prompting Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear to declare the water shortage a state of emergency. The Paducah-based nonprofit Kentucky Dream Center is working with WaterStep to provide clean water for the city’s critical facilities and residents.

Kentucky Dream Center is a community outreach organization based in Paducah that coordinates with partner organizations to provide resources to communities in times of crisis. Kentucky Dream Center has most recently played a role in providing support to western Kentucky communities impacted by last year’s tornado outbreak .

Read full article HERE.

Kentucky Barkley Lakes Board of Realtors Presents Check to Kentucky Dream Center

Paducah, KY (June 30, 2022) - Kentucky Barkley Lakes Board of Realtors presented a check for $2,500.00 on Monday, June 27, 2022, to local non-profit, Kentucky Dream Center. The partnership will aid the non-profit’s tornado relief efforts in Marshall and Lyon Counties in Western Kentucky.

“We are extremely blessed by our partnership with Kentucky Barkley Lakes Board of Realtors, “ said Christina Garrott, Executive Director of the Kentucky Dream Center. “Their generosity allows us to continue relief efforts in Marshall and Lyon counties. A special thanks goes out to Andrea Higdon and Century 21 Service Realty for making this partnership possible.”

Kentucky Barkley Lakes Board of Realtors was founded in 1962 with offices located in Benton, KY (Marshall County). The board is a member of the Western Kentucky Regional LLS and are proud to call West Kentucky home. The Kentucky Dream Center has been on the ground assisting in tornado recovery and relief efforts since December 10, 2021. Through their strong partnerships, they’ve been able to build homes, give away vehicles, as well as supply furniture and appliances for tornado survivors. You can help the Kentucky Dream Center in their relief efforts by visiting www.kentuckydreamcenter.org 

GROUPS ANNOUNCE LONG TERM RECOVERY PLANS IN MARSHALL COUNTY KENTUCKY

Benton, KY (May 16, 2022) - On Friday in a joint press conference with Marshall County Judge Executive Kevin Neal and Living Lands and Waters, God’s Pit Crew a Virginia-based disaster response group announced new home builds for Marshall County and Dawson Springs, KY area tornado survivors. The announcement was made by Judge Executive Kevin Neal and Community Foundation of West Kentucky CEO, Tony Watkins.

God's Pit Crew, Chris Chiles, stressed the importance of local efforts by saying, "Our big thing is moving hope forward. We couldn't do that without folks here. You love your community and we can see it. We fell in love with this community when we came but the hard work you are doing to the lay the foundation makes it easy for us to get here. Makes it easy for us to move the equipment, to get the volunteers together. It is a lot of work but you all have made it possible and it is a beautiful thing to be a part of."

The organization will partner with the Kentucky Dream Center (Relevant Church of Paducah), Community Foundation of West Kentucky, and disaster relief group, Convoy of Hope, to facilitate and fund the home builds. Each home will be built and fully furnished at no cost to the recipient. 

Long-term recovery efforts in full force for tornado survivors in west Kentucky

Holly Brantley Apr 15, 2022 Updated Apr 18, 2022

WEST KENTUCKY — Most of the debris is gone, but the mess left by the December tornado outbreak is still very real for hundreds of west Kentucky families. 

That's why networks of long-term recovery groups throughout local communities want you to know they're still here to help. 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency tapped resources within west Kentucky communities — including nonprofits, churches and emergency management teams — to organize a big network.

People can still get help fulfilling multiple needs, including everything from housing to mental health care.

For those who want to step up and help, the groups welcome the assistance.

"We are actually heading into the rebuild phase," Kentucky Dream Center Executive Director Christina Garrott said. The Kentucky Dream Center is an outreach partner of Relevant Church. Her team is part of the vast long-term recovery network.

She attends long-term recovery group meetings, where members figure out who needs help and where they can turn. 

"We can help fund the gaps and organized projects," said Garrott. She said right now she has a list of families in need that’s five pages long. 

 "The main thing right now that we need is going to be relief teams and making sure we have those relief teams coming in to help rebuild those homes," she said. 

Read the full article at WPSD.

Pianos at the Pointe Event Raises Funds for Tornado Relief

April 9, 2022

On Friday, April 9, 2022 the Birmingham Pointe Event Center hosted Pianos at the Pointe featuring the Music City Dualing Pianos. The event benefitted disaster relief and recovery efforts through the Kentucky Dream Center. Almost $15,000 in funds were raised.

Grammy award winning singer teams with Paducah church for 'Christmas in July' event

March 7, 2022

Grammy award winning singer teams with Paducah church for 'Christmas in July' event

PADUCAH, Ky. (WSIL) -- The warehouse adjacent to Relevant Church in Paducah once used to be an olympic-sized swimming pool.

But these days the only thing olympic-sized about it is the donations that flood the building.

It's all in anticipation of an event this summer aimed at helping victims of the Mayfield tornadoes, says pastor Joel Cauley.

"We're planning an event called 'Christmas in July'," Cauley said.

On Monday, volunteers with the crisis response group God's Pit Crew delivered two semi-trucks full of donations, including food, toys and other items, Cauley says.

"[The donation] was just an incredible response for the need and now hundreds and hundreds of kids are going to get a second Christmas here in just a couple of months," Cauley said.

Read the full coverage by WSIL at wsiltv.com

Mercy Chefs Opens Beacon of Hope in Paducah

February 9, 2022

Recognizing a need for long-term disaster recovery assistance, Mercy Chefs, an organization that provides hot meals to those affected by natural disasters, has set up shop in the old Lone Oak Middle School building in Paducah. On Tuesday, Mercy Chefs’ Beacon of Hope held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and thanked those who helped the group establish a more permanent location to feed those in need for the months to come.

Gary LeBlanc, founder and CEO of Mercy Chefs, said the folks of western Kentucky have become like a family to the staff and volunteers with Mercy Chefs.

“Mercy Chefs is dedicated to you, we’ve fallen in love with you, and we’re gonna stay as long as you need us and as long as want us,” LeBlanc said.

Mercy Chefs has been preparing hundreds of hot meals each day to provide to some shelters and hotels that are housing people and families who were displaced from the Dec. 10 tornado, as well as volunteers and first responders on-site. Mercy Chefs is also working with local groups like the Washington Street Baptist Church Warming Center and The Restoration Center to provide meals to those groups. The organization offers hot meals for lunch and dinner.

Read the full coverage from the Paducah Sun at paducahsun.com