The Corbin Rotary Club met on Sept. 25 at David’s Steakhouse for their regular meeting, welcoming new member Kimberly Lovegrow and guest speaker Tracie Byers from Isaiah 58:10 Ministries.
Club president Todd Peeler recognized Lovegrow, a mortgage lender with Whitaker Bank, presenting her with a membership packet and a badge during the meeting.
“We unofficially welcomed you, but today we wanted to make it official. Congratulations,” said Peeler when welcoming Lovegrow.
The guest speaker was Tracie Byers with Isaiah 58:10 Ministries, who shared updates on the organization’s outreach and a new ministry location.
“We’re getting ready to kick off a White Flag ministry in London,” Byers said. “Yesterday, I signed a lease for our own building space.”
The new location is the former CB Pallets building on Tobacco Road in London.
“I’ve got stuff in different areas, so having it all in one space is going to be huge,” Byers said.
According to their website, is5810.com, White Flag is a program that aims to provide shelter for homeless individuals during extreme winter conditions.
Byers spoke about setting up new “hubs”, which are essentially different locations throughout Kentucky that offer sack lunches to the homeless and hungry, according to their website.
“In July, our ministry as a whole put out 3,330 sack lunches, and in August, we put out around 2500 sack lunches,” said Byers.
Sack lunches include peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chips and crackers, and a sweet and drink. Since around 400 sandwiches take some time, they’re starting to offer alternatives like ramen noodles or tuna packets, among others.
“We do the best we can with what comes in,” Byers said.
Byers mentioned they deliver them to the community.
Isaiah 58:10 currently serves 14 different areas in Kentucky.
“We’re serving as many people as we can from where we’re at with the donations that come in and with the volunteer availability,” Byers said.
On every sack lunch, there is a sticker with a QR code that directs them to the resource list on the website.
The typical drop point for Corbin is Corbin Inn, because, as Byers mentioned, there are a few encampments around there.
Byers explained she is awaiting approval to operate as a full warming shelter, which will allow cots. In the meantime, the ministry has started an emergency sleeping bag drive to help people survive cold nights until they can be placed in a motel or shelter.
For more information or to donate, you can visit their website at is5810.com
The Rotary Club asked Byers to sign a children’s book, which will be donated to Bush Elementary School.
In other business, the Southeast Kentucky Empty Stocking Fund is taking applications on Nov. 14 and 24 for this year’s gift giveaway at Old Corbin City Hall, the District Courtroom, next to Corbin Fire Department, 805 S. Main St., from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day.
The program provides Christmas gifts and essentials to children from Whitley, Knox, and Laurel counties. Parents will need to bring their proper IDs, proof of income, and other assistance, including their food stamp award letter and the children’s Social Security cards.
The 38th annual Empty Stocking Fund party will take place on Dec. 20 at Immanuel Baptist Church. With questions, call 606-524-6475, according to the Corbin Rotary Club’s Facebook post.
Upcoming speakers include representatives from Bluegrass Foster Services on Oct. 2.
