The Friday Finish - No More Buckets - Pop Up Markets - Christmas in July... August, September, October
- Tim Crawford
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
July 31, 2026
No More Buckets, Schaeffer Roof Replaced
Red Bird Mission staff and volunteers working in the Schaeffer Building aren’t looking for empty trash cans and flood buckets when summer thunderstorms roll through the Red Bird River Valley thanks to a complete professional roof replacement finished this summer. Initially built in 1959 to serve as Red Bird Hospital, the building named in honor of the revered physician Dr. Everett Schaeffer has been plagued with leaks for many years. Patches and repairs to the flat roof worked to stop the leaks for a few years at best, but a special grant received for a complete replacement means trash cans won’t be scattered along the hallway when the rainy days come.
Mr. Todd Willis, General Counsel on property from the General Board of Global Ministries, was on campus several months ago discussing the transition of property and liability insurance costs to Red Bird Mission when he walked through the Community Outreach wing to see the trash cans and buckets catching rainwater. During that walk through, he also saw first-hand the importance that the building plays in meeting basic needs for thousands of people each year. Jamie Collett, Executive Director, and Tracy Nolan, Community Outreach Director, explained that Red Bird Mission didn’t have the financial resources to pay for replacement, but Tracy said, “Let us know of any grants that we could apply for to replace the roof.”
A few weeks later, Jamie received word from Mr. Willis that a grant would be coming to pay for the roof replacement. The usual project inspections were made when the job was complete, but heavy rainstorms experienced recently have provided the test conditions. No buckets needed.
Pop Up Market Keeps Local Products Moving
Red Bird Farmers Market vendors turned out Tuesday for one of several “Pop Up Markets” scheduled this summer. This week’s date was selected because over 200 area residents came to Red Bird Mission to pick up their monthly Commodity Supplemental Food Program box, but anybody can shop at these “Pop Up Markets”.
Last Friday’s weekly farmers market drew in 42 new shoppers. Youth ages 5-17 are taking advantage of the Family Health Bucks with 20 having received the produce incentives before today’s market. The market manager distributed incentive coupons for Kentucky Double Dollars, Family Health Bucks, WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) and Senior FMNP valued at $845. Vendor sales last Friday rose to $1,783.
Christmas in July… August, September, October
There were mentions of Christmas in July in the media last week, and you may have tuned into Hallmark Channel’s week-long showing of favorite Christmas movies and premieres that wraps up today. Salem Church in Pocomoke City, Maryland was doing their version of Christmas in July for Red Bird this past Sunday when the focus was to lift up Red Bird Mission and the Christmas Assistance program that provides gift boxes to approximately 300 children living in poverty.
In preparation, they asked Red Bird Mission to provide an Amazon Wish List to share specific items needed for the Red Bird Christmas Room. Judy Napier, Red Bird Mission Community Aid Coordinator was up to the task and created that wish list. You don’t necessarily have to buy the items through Amazon, but if you’d like to join in preparing to make Christmas special for kids here in the mountains of Kentucky over the next three months, buy and ship items to Red Bird Mission Christmas Room, 70 Queendale Ctr, Beverly, KY 40913-9607.
Planning and preparations are progressing towards the Kentucky Historical Society Marker Dedication on August 26, 2026 at 1:30 pm. Make plans to join us at the historic Beverly Campus of Red Bird Mission to celebrate the Red Bird School’s impact on student lives and our world for over 100 years!
If you'd like to receive a copy of The Friday Finish in your email inbox each week, click the Subscribe button the bottom of our webpage.
It is wonderful to see how local markets and community events can revitalize a town's spirit. These pop-up initiatives create genuine value for residents and visitors alike. If you are looking to scale such community projects, transforming data into deals can help streamline your outreach and growth efforts. Keep up the great work with these seasonal celebrations.