Two years after floods, presbytery works to support neighbors impacted by hurricanes

Churches in Transylvania Presbytery gathered Sunday to fill disaster relief buckets for communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton

by Rich Copley | PC(USA) Communications

LEXINGTON, Kentucky — More than 60 members and staff of at least eight churches in Eastern and Central Kentucky’s Presbytery of Transylvania gathered in the fellowship hall of First Presbyterian Church of Lexington late Sunday afternoon to fill large buckets with a plethora of supplies needed to begin recovery from a natural disaster like a hurricane or a flood.

The effort was in response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which ravaged communities in the southeastern United States from Florida to Virginia in September and October. It was also inspired by the outpouring of support Eastern Kentucky received from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) and other organizations two summers ago following catastrophic flooding in 16 counties in Transylvania Presbytery.

The Rev. Philip Lotspeich, General Presbyter of the Presbytery of Transylvania, participated in the event and said communities in Eastern Kentucky are still working to recover from flooding two years ago. (Photo by Rich Copley)

The Rev. Philip Lotspeich, the presbytery’s general presbyter, said Sunday that two years later, people are still working to recover from the floods that came with little warning.

“I don’t know if that’s paying it forward or paying it back,” said Rev. Linda Kurtz, Associate Pastor of Christian Formation at First Presbyterian, who co-organized the bucket brigade with the Rev. Hannah McIntyre, pastor of Pisgah Presbyterian Church in neighboring Versailles, Kentucky.

The Rev. Linda Kurtz, Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Lexington, was the co-organizer of the disaster relief bucket event. (Photo by Rich Copley)

Kurtz noted that many of the churches that experienced flooding in 2022 contributed to the drive either financially or by bringing supplies. In all, the effort involved nearly 100 people and raised more than $13,000, and funds remaining after expenses for the bucket project are paid will be donated to PDA. One of the donors was a lay pastor in Eastern Kentucky who lost his car and suffered significant damage to his property in the floods.

“We know how effective cleanup buckets can be and how important they are in the initial mucking out,” Kurtz said.

The Rev. Hannah McIntyre of Pisgah Presbyterian Church in Versailles, Kentucky was co-organizer of the bucket event. She led the volunteers in prayer before the bucket filling began. (Photo by Rich Copley)

When she heard that hurricane response had put a significant dent in the supply of buckets PDA and Church World Service (CWS) had on hand, Kurtz said she and McIntyre were inspired to put together a bucket effort to help replenish supplies for continued hurricane response or “for the inevitable next disaster.” Sunday’s event resulted in 117 completed buckets.

The fellowship hall at First Presbyterian resembled the home-goods aisle at a grocery store with heavy garbage bags, dishwashing detergent, gloves, and many other items on tables arranged in a horseshoe. Participants grabbed a bucket and proceeded around the tables taking each item and stuffing them into the buckets.

The Rev. Franklyn C. Pottorff (left), Pastor and Head of Staff at First Presbyterian Church of Lexington, worked on his filled bucket along with Ruling Elder John Davis of Midway Presbyterian Church. (Photo by Rich Copley)

At the end of the line, lids were put on the buckets, they were sealed and loaded on a truck that delivered them to a CWS distribution point in Indianapolis Monday.

“We are overwhelmed with the response from this presbytery,” McIntyre said, “and not just these churches that were here today, but churches from across Transylvania Presbytery. It’s been amazing.”

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is one of the Compassion, Peace and Justice ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency. To contribute to PDA’s hurricane response, click here.