Spirit News Disaster Relief steps up to help frontline workers with equipment Disaster Relief has found a variety of ways to help the community during the coronavirus crisis, including the Grateful Bread Food Pantry by donating rubber gloves, masks, and bleach. But staff also found ways to help the community at large. “I knew we had extra personal protective equipment so I contacted the Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center,” said Robyn Renner, manager of Disaster Relief and chair of the Kentucky Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters. After contacting the hospital, Renner learned that N95 masks was what they needed most. “I knew we had masks in our inventory and how important it was to get them in the hands of our healthcare workers. I couldn’t stand the thought of them running out and being exposed to this virus. I knew they were risking their lives to help save others and how important it was to keep them protected as well as their families.” CAP was able to donate 1,718 N95 masks to the hospital.
CAP partners with Toys for Tots and Good360 to help children The pandemic has shuttered countless businesses, forced families to remain isolated in their homes, and resulted in millions of parents being unemployed, without income, and in dire need of support. While Toys for Tots is the nation’s flagship children’s Christmastime charity, the organization didn’t wait until the holidays to provide support. Toys for Tots partnered with Good360 and CAP to facilitate the distribution of toys, games, and books to families in need in Appalachia.
Operation Sharing turns 35 This year CAP’s Operation Sharing celebrates 35 years of service. Since its beginning, the program has received and redistributed gifts-in-kind at a value of almost $2 billion to nonprofits, churches, schools, and community-based agencies across the 13 Appalachian states, Arkansas, and Missouri. Jeff Burchett, director, said the program received nearly $106 million in gifts-in-kind donations this fiscal year. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Operation Sharing has seen a 21.5 percent increase in donations it has received.
4 The Mountain SPIRIT
