Kristin Overstreet, MCC Appalachia program coordinator, applied for and received 550 gallons of hand sanitizer and 270,000 cloth face masks through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in June and July of 2020. Overstreet quickly realized that this was a great opportunity to provide much-needed resources to the vulnerable communities where MCC’s Sharing With Appalachia People (SWAP) program does home repair work.
When Kristin Overstreet completed an application in May for free hand sanitizer and cloth face masks through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), she couldn’t imagine that 550 gallons of sanitizer and 270,000 masks would show up several weeks later.
Overstreet, MCC Appalachia program coordinator, quickly realized that this was a great opportunity to provide much-needed resources to the vulnerable communities where MCC’s Sharing With Appalachia People (SWAP) program does home repair work.
“With an already collapsing economy, COVID-19 has forced more businesses and organizations to shut their doors in Appalachia,” explains Overstreet. “Finding sanitizer and masks has helped provide relief to the area so businesses and organizations can keep their doors open and provide services to the people of Appalachia.”
Elkhorn Community Church, Overstreet’s home congregation in Elkhorn City, Kentucky, provided funding to purchase gallon jugs to make the distribution of the sanitizer easier, as the shipment came in 10 large 55-gallon drums. These gallon jugs of sanitizer were then distributed to small business and hundreds of non-profits including churches, shelters, food banks and schools.
Masks are also being distributed to nonprofit organizations throughout Pike, Floyd, Letcher and Harlan counties in Kentucky and in Kimball, West Virginia, where SWAP has a site. The 100% cotton masks are reusable, washable and contain silver and copper to help inhibit bacteria growth.
Church members and SWAP staff worked together to make phone calls throughout Appalachia to contact non-profits and small businesses to connect the donated resources with organizations who need them. Items were delivered by church members or Overstreet herself, while others were picked up during a socially distanced drive through distribution at the church.
On July 17, the largest distribution took place when over 25,000 masks and 50 gallons of hand sanitizer were delivered to the Pike County Kentucky school system, which includes 22 public schools and two private schools. “Leaders of the schools were very grateful for this contribution to keep students safe,” said Overstreet.
And the distribution doesn’t end there. With the clear need for these items, SWAP has been approved for another shipment from FEMA of 10 additional 55-gallon drums of sanitizer and 125,000 more masks.
“The plan is to make contact with as many school districts as possible in Appalachia as they will be high risk and need the most protection when returning to school,” said Overstreet.
