The Friday Finish - Boxes Arrive! - Giving Tuesday Strong Start - James Collett Executive Director - Cardinal Proud - "On the Road Again"
- Tim Crawford
- Nov 21
- 5 min read
November 21, 2025
CSFP Boxes Arrive!
It was an unfortunate error at the food bank, but the pallets for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program weren’t loaded for Red Bird Mission on Monday. It was unfortunate because our low income elderly citizens have already been tense about the governmental funding delays for food. Thankfully, the food bank truck delivered on Wednesday so that Red Bird Mission staff and Red Bird Christian School students could pack the 204 boxes for distribution on Thursday morning. Vehicles were backed up past the Red Bird Volunteer Fire Department building when Candace, Kevin and Ken rolled the carts out at 9 a.m. There was relief and joy on the faces of drivers and occupants as the boxes were loaded knowing there will be food in their cabinets for several days.
Giving Tuesday Starts Strong
Red Bird Mission supporters are responding to the 2025 Giving Tuesday Challenge to “Stop Hunger. Give Hope.” Most giving thus far has focused on the urgent issue of funding Elderly Meal Delivery because $10,000 in matching funds is doubling each gift for that cause. By noon today, $6,428 had been received and matched leaving just $3,572 of match remaining. Once the match is fulfilled, Giving Tuesday donations to “Stop Hunger” will go to Food Pantry because of the very high demand that continues.
While hunger is an immediate need, we still want to encourage supporters to also consider giving to “Give Hope” for Student Tuition Support. Red Bird Christian School still needs $33,000 in gifts to fund the student tuition gap for the first semester. Tuition support enables our students the opportunity to receive an education that prepares them for careers of leadership and service. History proves that an overwhelming number of our Red Bird School graduates are able to be self-sufficient and also give back to Red Bird as a demonstration of gratitude.
You can give online today using the link below, or mail your gift to Red Bird Mission, Inc., 70 Queendale Ctr, Beverly, KY 40913-9607.
James Collett Named Executive Director
Last Thursday, the Board of Directors for Red Bird Mission, Inc., Red Bird Clinic, Inc., and Red Bird Housing, Inc., voted after a months-long application period to name James “Jamie” Collett as Executive Director. Jamie had stepped in last year as Interim Executive Director when Kari Collins announced her retirement, but the Board determined among all of the applicants that he is the right person to lead Red Bird on a permanent basis.
Jamie is a life-long resident of eastern Kentucky having worked in administration in the coal industry and for the KY Cabinet for Families and Children. He came to work at Red Bird Mission 11 years ago serving most of that time as IT and HR Director.
Responding to the board vote of confidence, Jamie said,
"I am deeply honored to serve as executive director of this incredible mission. I'm extremely thankful for our dedicated staff and our supporters. Together, we will strengthen our mission and deepen our impact on the community we serve."
Cardinal Pride Displayed
As a Red Bird kid in the early 2000’s, I still remember the rush of pep rallies. The drums echoing off the rafters, classmates yelling themselves hoarse, that feeling that our little gym could hold the whole world. Meet the Cardinals last Friday brought that feeling back. We needed that. The stands were packed and loud in the best way. We lined up our student athletes from the tiniest Pee Wees to our Varsity squads and let them take a proud stand in front of their people. Cross Country. Basketball. Cheer. Archery. Band. Civil Air Patrol (CAP). All the parts that make Red Bird more than a schedule and a scoreboard showed up together on one floor on this one night.
The CAP Color Guard presented the colors with poise. The band carried the anthem, then swung straight into the school song while cheerleaders lifted the room. Cardinal Cuties had the whole place grinning. Pee Wees took a turn on the court and reminded us why we build from the ground up. Varsity and Middle School basketball played an unforgettable scrimmage, then the skills and 3‑point shows gave something for everyone to cheer about.
Coaches gave quick but heartfelt shout-outs, parents clapped, and folks who haven’t been back in a while stayed long enough to find their seat and stay for the whole night. Every team got their moment, and every moment felt earned. Beyond the highlights, Meet the Cardinals was proof of what we built here: a community that shows up. Turnout was strong, cheers were loud, and the concession stand did some serious business—all of it meaning parents, grandparents, and neighbors chose to be part of this night. That matters.
Thank you to the coaches, staff, volunteers, and the families who made the evening run smooth. Thanks to every young athlete who walked the floor with a smile and a backbone. Nights like this remind us why we keep investing in kids and why small schools can have big hearts. We needed that spark, and Meet the Cardinals gave it back to us. Go Cardinals! -Kayla Smith (RBM Development)
“On the Road Again”
The Red Bird Mission DeWall Senior Citizens Center participants probably have that popular Willie Nelson song, “On the Road Again” running through their heads today. They had two trips back-to-back this week for special events.
Ten (10) represented the DeWall Center at the Clay County Senior Celebration Day held at the Eastern Kentucky University Manchester Campus on Wednesday. Several Clay County governmental and non-governmental organizations, businesses, and churches sponsored a meal, games and informational booths to celebrate those 60 years old and older in an effort to let that generation they are not forgotten!
Yesterday, 14 DeWall participants that had been in attendance 20 or more days this year were eligible to take in Dolly Parton’s Pirates Voyage dinner theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The group loaded up for fun times together and, for some, a first-time experience at this type of show. This trip and other trips are made possible through the sale of crafts that are made at the DeWall Center and sold at The Cardinal Café and Crafts Center on Red Bird Mission’s Queendale Campus.