City of Lexington sets up donation center to help victims of Western Kentucky tornadoes
People who want to donate supplies to those affected by the tornadoes that struck Western Kentucky last weekend can bring items to Consolidated Baptist Church this week.
The city of Lexington announced Tuesday that it is opening a donation center at the church, at 1625 Russell Cave Road, from noon to 6 p.m., Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday.
The only items that will be accepted are: large plastic storage containers with lids; large trash bags; flashlights with new batteries; LED lanterns; new, empty gas cans; pull-up training pants for toddlers; new space heaters; new kerosene heaters, and horse feed.
No other items will be accepted “because storage facilities are extremely limited in the tornado-ravaged communities,” the city said in a news release.
“Thank you to Consolidated and Pastor Richard Gaines,” Mayor Linda Gorton said in the release. “It’s a convenient, easy place to drop off supplies for people who are in need.”
Consolidated Baptist Church will also serve as a collection point for the Western Kentucky Toy Drive organized by First Lady Britainy Beshear, which is collecting gifts that will make the holiday season a little better for children affected by the tornadoes.
New unwrapped toys, books, electronics and $25 VISA or Mastercard gift cards are being collected. Gifts are needed for infants through teen-agers.
Donations for the toy drive can also be dropped off at the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at 150 N. Limestone St. in Lexington through Saturday. The sheriff’s office will have staff stationed on Main Street adjacent to the Fayette County Circuit Courthouse for curbside drop-off from 1 to 4 p.m. daily. Outside those hours, people can call the sheriff’s office at (859)252-1771 to have someone come out to collect donations.
Pieratt’s is also collecting donations for the toy drive at its stores at 110 Mount Tabor Rd. and 125 E. Reynolds Rd. Suite 150 in Lexington and in Richmond at 2031 Lantern Ridge Dr. Donations may be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. through Saturday.
Lexington city officials are staying in touch with contacts in Western Kentucky to continue to help, and a tornado relief page has been set up to share information about the effort, the city’s news release stated.
