The Friday Finish – May 31, 2024
Sunday Storms Knock Out Power for Days Destroying Food & Property
Deadly storms moved through Kentucky on Sunday affecting us at Red Bird Mission for the first half of the week. While tornados were wreaking havoc and causing 22 deaths (2 in Kentucky) over Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., straight line winds passed through southeastern Kentucky early Sunday afternoon bringing down trees over power lines.
Power was out at the original Beverly Campus and the roof of a garage sustained damage by the DeWall Senior Center. The north end of the Queendale Campus lost power due to widespread damage in the region to Kentucky Power lines. Refrigerated food was lost at both locations due to the timing, trees blocking roadways, and most staff were scrambling to attend to their personal household emergency needs on Sunday evening.
Power on the southern end of Queendale was a tremendous asset to continuation of services on Tuesday. With power still out at the Beverly Campus, Elderly Ministries staff pivoted to use the Red Bird Valley Kitchen to prepare home delivered meals to more than 50 people, some in locations without power.
Power restoration by Wednesday allowed the staff to return and activities resumed at the DeWall Center. Donations are still needed to pay for lost food and materials for the roof repair.
New Record Set at State Championships
Red Bird Christian School Senior Felix Onusumba and eighth-grader Skyleigh Davidson performed at a high level among the elite Class A track and field athletes competing at the Kentucky High School Athletic Association State Championships at the University of Kentucky on Thursday. Felix, school record holder in boys discus, pushed the school record a couple of feet with a throw of 123’ 5”. Skyleigh, the school record holder in the girls 800 meters, clocked her second best time in the event.
Michigan United Methodists Recall and Renew Commitment to Red Bird
Michigan United Methodists have been supporting Red Bird through its history, and dozens stopped by the Red Bird display at the Mission Festival on Thursday evening to share their Red Bird story. Tim Crawford, Red Bird Development Director, was invited to make the trip to update Michiganders attending the 2024 Annual Conference held in Acme, Michigan this week. Smiles came to faces as folks heard of the continuing advance of Red Bird programs to provide broader assistance and efforts to create infrastructure to grow local economic opportunities for families. Several showed interest in renewing support, learning more, and even leading Work Camp teams to give hands on support.
Red Bird will also be staffing information displays at the Kentucky United Methodist Annual Conference and the Tennessee Western Kentucky United Methodist Annual Conference in the month of June. If you are interested in having someone come give an update to your church or a group of churches in your area, contact Tim – tcrawford@rbmission.org - to get started with setting a date.
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