08/19/2026
This post is from Brenda. This is an update to a need we had a couple of weeks ago. On August 2nd, I put out a post about a family that needed help from our community. If you would like to read the whole story, please scroll back to that date.
I met with “Dad” a few days before I put out the original post. At that time, we were completely focused on solving the problem immediately in front of him... a disconnect notice on his electric. I made some calls connecting him to the resources he needed and that problem was taken care of and was no longer an issue... at least for a few more weeks.
I knew that his recovery was going to be long and his needs were going to continue for many more months. I spent several days problem solving in my head just trying to come up with any “out of the box” ideas to keep the help coming after all of the “normal” resources were exhausted. By the weekend, I was beginning to despair on how we were going to keep him and his children from losing everything.... including a place to live. By Sunday, my heart was heavy with not having any great long-term solutions to share with him. That’s when I decided to ask our community to step up and help someone who normally didn’t ask for help.
I rarely share any posts asking for help for a specific family. There are so many in our community who struggle that it’s hard to single one family out to focus on... but this family’s situation just wouldn’t let go of my heart.... and so, I told his story.
I am not sure what I was expecting. I certainly could not have predicted what happened. I guess I was hoping to give this family a couple of months of relief... maybe a little more. Within an hour of going public with the story, the post took on a life of its own. Before it was even 24 hours old, it had been shared more than 1,000 times. The gifts started coming... in all amounts. There were envelopes with $5, $25 and $50 or more. People were giving what they could. So many walked through my door saying the same thing... “But for the grace of God, this could be my family!”
I literally spent the entire first week of August in the midst of a hurricane of blessings. The hope started out small and grew quickly. I thought that, just maybe, we might be able to keep this family going for 6 months... but God had other ideas! He let me know that He was bigger than that! Over the course of the past 2 weeks, we have been gifted with (or promised) enough funds to cover this family for an ENTIRE year!
That’s a year of rent and water and electricity and trash and car insurance and home internet and phone. In addition, there has been enough given that we can add $100 per week for the next year to Dad’s account to help with toiletries, cleaning supplies, pet supplies and other household items. That is the kind of relief that allows a father to sleep at night knowing his family is safe and secure and cared for. That is the kind of gift that literally feels like the community hugging you. That’s the kind of love that creates a lump in your throat making it hard to even find the words to say how much it means. That’s the love of Jesus poured out abundantly through the actions of others.
I spoke with Dad a couple of days ago. He said he understands the feeling of being overwhelmed but it’s always been because life has thrown him too many bad things to deal with all at one time. In that moment, he said that this is the first time in his life that he remembers being so overwhelmed by kindness. He said that this accident was the best bad thing that has ever happened to him. He is already feeling the weight of wanting to repay the kindness in any way he can. Dad truly has a servant’s heart. Accepting help from others has been a humbling experience for him. This time of quiet in his life will be a test of patience, but I am certain God will use it to make beauty out of ashes.
Because of your generosity, there was $20,000+ gifted to this family. I have spoken with Dad about what happens if more donations come in and he has agreed that any further donations given can be used to assist other families in crisis through our Somerset Pulaski County Crisis Response Fund. It’s another way for him to share his blessings with others. Another way to make good come from a bad situation.
If you are interested in helping other families who find themselves in an unexpected crisis (accident, death in family, dire medical diagnosis, house fire, etc) situation, please send donations to:
SPC Crisis Response Fund, PO Box 259, Somerset, KY 42502
Or drop them by God’s Food Pantry, 119 S. Central Ave, Somerset, KY
Or online through Paypal.com to [email protected]
Or by phone at 606-679-8560
Thank you again for all of your kindness. I am so glad I live in such an amazing community. I am honored by the trust you placed in me to help this family. I pray that each of you finds the same grace and love somewhere along your journey.
You are welcome to share this post.
Sending hugs to everyone!
Brenda
PS... I am leaving "commenting" on for this post. Any comments that are mean or not helpful or don't pertain to the post will be deleted. If it continues, I won't hesitate to block the person posting.
