This is part of our story series, EKY Flood Relief: Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
“I have never felt so defeated in my entire life!,” Kara Tackett declared on her Facebook page after her third denial for FEMA assistance following the historic flooding in eastern Kentucky in late July.
The Tacketts, a family of eight, found themselves homeless after flood waters caused catastrophic damage to their home in Pike County. As a result, the family was separated, living with other family members, wherever there was room. They would be denied FEMA assistance two more times before hope came in the form of a local church delivering a camper that, as luck would have it, slept eight.
Their first FEMA denial stated that because they had homeowners’ insurance, they weren’t eligible. But because their policy did not cover flooding the insurance company suggested an application for FEMA assistance.
“The FEMA people have been very nice in trying to help us,” Tackett stated in a news story on WYMT. “But we’ve been denied four times now.”
Multiple documentation submissions later, the Tacketts were going to have to appeal the FEMA rejection and were told that process could take up to 90 days.
“My baby will be here in three months,” Kara, expecting her seventh child, lamented on social media. “What are we supposed to do?”
The Tackett family longed to be together under one roof as soon as possible, enjoying mom’s cooking.
Enter Bek Smallwood, a member of New Beginnings Fellowship Church in downtown Pikeville. Immediately after the flooding, Bek and her husband, Tim, felt compelled to help lead flood relief efforts facilitated by the church. They made several trips alongside other church members to Elkhorn City, as well as to Whitesburg and Letcher County, delivering supplies and helping in cleanup efforts. However, it was the WYMT news story and a public Facebook post written by Kara Tackett that grabbed Bek’s attention.
“I read her story. I didn’t know her, but I told Tim, ‘This bothers me’,” she said.
As a mother herself, Bek Smallwood couldn’t imagine being separated from her children following such a horrific, life-changing event.Meanwhile, New Beginnings Fellowship Church ramped up their flood relief efforts, setting up a specific flood relief fund for monetary donations, serving as a hub for supply donations, and housing several volunteer teams from out of towne. Jared Arnett, New Beginnings lead pastor, was contacted by Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) about a family who had requested assistance in getting tents and outdoor restrooms so they could live together while they were waiting on repairs to their flood-damaged house. CAP does not serve Pike County, but knew Arnett and hoped the church could go check on the family to see what their needs were and if they could help.Jared called Bek Smallwood, “So we thought, what if we could get this family a camper to stay in, together, while their house was being worked on?”
Though the church flood relief fund had raised a few thousand dollars, it would be difficult to spend several thousands of dollars on a camper for one family. “Bethany Pastor Arnett’s wife) said, ‘Tonight, I’m going to pray for God to bring us a camper!’ I said, ‘Alright, Beth, you do that,’” Smallwood laughed. Bek started calling some contacts she knew at RV dealerships, and Arnett took the need to Facebook, again utilizing social media in search of help.
“We hoped to find something used, maybe in the $2,000 range,” Jared Arnett reported. Then, the next day, someone rang the doorbell at the church. It was a man who had seen Arnett’s post on Facebook. He said “I have a camper.”
He offered it to them for $500. The camper was in relatively good shape and slept eight, the exact number of members of the Tackett family.
Church members cleaned the camper, did some basic repairs, and provided some necessities – linens, supplies, even a little décor, and delivered the camper to the Tackett family’s front yard.
“I received a message from Bek, just out of the blue,” Kara Tackett reported. “I had never met her, and she didn’t know me from Adam, but I called her, and I’m so thankful that I did! At this point, I was in tears, because we had been praying for this! Without [New Beginnings Fellowship Church], we wouldn’t have been able to be together again by now, or be near our home that we are working to rebuild!”
Through efforts coordinated by the church, the Tackett family has also had several mission teams working on repairs to their home, and these teams have lodged at New Beginnings Fellowship Church, with some food provided by FaithLife Market, a division of the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, FaithLife Ministries. Most mission teams are from Lifeline Christian Mission, and one from Together For the Mountains, an initiative led by New Beginnings Pastor Jared Arnett in conjunction with Southland Christian Church in Lexington.
“Our main goal is to have them back in their house before she has that baby, and I believe it’s going to happen!” Bek Smallwood proclaimed in mid-October.
Kara Tackett’s baby is due in late November.
“We’ve become great friends,” Bek said about Kara and herself. “I call her up all the time and ask how things are going, how’s the baby? And she’s been telling me that with the help of the mission teams, areas of their house are starting to look and feel like home again. It’s amazing.”
Helpful Tip 1: Get Help Appealing a FEMA Denial: A free legal help hotline is now available for flooding survivors in Eastern Kentucky needing assistance with FEMA appeals, unemployment insurance claims, etc. Call (844)478-0099 Monday–Friday from 8:00 to 4:30PM or learn more on the Governor’s Resource Page here.
Helpful Tip 2: Apply for “Do for One” Assistance. A previously established New Beginnings Fellowship Church outreach program, “Do For One,” serves as a way for church members and the community at large to bring attention to individuals and families affected by the flooding with specific, tangible needs that the church can help fill, in addition to spiritual needs such as prayer, counseling, etc. While not specifically established as a flood relief program, “Do For One,” inspired by Luke 10:36-37 in the Bible, encourages church members and the public to “Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.” The program is funded by both the Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund established by the church and by the designated funds established by the church in which 10 percent of all tithes and offerings are set aside for community outreach. Assistance usually ranges from service opportunities to projects with a cost of $50-$500. Apply for yourself or others affected by the flood here: Do for One — New Beginnings Fellowship Church (nbfc.church)
Donate: Give to New Beginnings Church Flood Relief Fund via paypal.com
About this story series:
Mountain Association is partnering with What’s Next EKY?! and Vision Granted to host a series of stories showcasing the incredible flood relief efforts across the region in response to the flood on July 28, 2022. With a goal to share hope and spark new ideas about ways you can help in your own community, these stories will showcase the creativity and hard work of local people, provide helpful flood recovery tips, and feature stories of neighbors helping neighbors. If you have a story or helpful tip to share, please contact visiongrantedconsulting@gmail.com. Please learn more about this series here.
