Congregations in Tennessee and Kentucky, which suffered severe damage from flooding in early May, need more help say the Rev. Dr. Lisa Presley, district executive of the Heartland District, and Annette Marquis, district executive of the Thomas Jefferson District.

In Kentucky, flooding put five feet of water into the UU Church of Bowling Green’s new congregational hall and religious education building. Damage was estimated to be $100,000 and was not covered by insurance. More than 70 UU families, primarily in the Bowling Green and Nashville areas, experienced everything from minor damage to total loss of their homes, with an estimated cost of $575,000.

A member of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashville has created three short video interviews with flood victims. They can be viewed on YouTube. A video of the Bowling Green damage is here.

Presley says the UUA TN/KY Flood Relief Fund, and a separate fund in the Heartland District, have received about $44,500 in contributions since the funds were set up in May. About $26,000 has been distributed.

She says, “If you have not yet asked your congregation members to make a donation to the fund, please do. This particular fund will help ensure that these congregations and their members will still be standing strong in their communities. An article about the flooding appeared on uuworld.org on May 10.

Donations can be made online here, or mailed to the UUA, 25 Beacon St., Boston MA 02108. Attn: Stewardship & Development Gift Processing. Please note “Nashville Flood Relief” somewhere on the check.

About the Author

Don Skinner

Don Skinner is editor of InterConnections and a member of the Shawnee Mission UU Church in Lenexa, Kansas.

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