KENTUCKY, USA — Two of Kentucky's largest school districts are donating furniture to help a Knott County school that was ruined after devastating flooding last month.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) and Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) sent dozens of pieces of surplus school furniture to Hindman Elementary School to help get the school ready to welcome students back to class.
“They needed furniture so they could start school. They have not started school yet," JCPS communications manager Mark Hebert said. “I think everybody thinks the teachers and kids are ready to go back to school, but these buildings are not ready for school.”
On Tuesday, crews at a JCPS warehouse in Louisville loaded cafeteria tables, small plastic chairs, desks, bookcases and other pieces of furniture onto a truck donated by Mister P Express.
The company has already helped other local organizations transport supplies and donations to eastern Kentucky, according to employee Ken Biggs.
“Really when they say there’s no words, there's no words," Biggs said, "Basically I’ve seen houses moved off foundations, cars turned upside down.”
After those other trips, Biggs said he was happy to help with this mission.
“In the world when everything is going kind of rough, there is a lot of positive, that we work together as a team and we pull through when times do get tough," he said.
The trucking company will be delivering the supplies to Lexington, which will then be added to a similar donation from FCPS. According to a press release, the furniture will reach Knott County on Wednesday.
Hindman Elementary Principal Brandi Sims said everything in the school was destroyed by the flood waters, which reached four feet high inside the building.
She said floors have been torn up and replaced, the walls repainted. A new gym and recently remodeled kitchen also sustained significant damage.
"Words cannot begin to express the appreciation we have for Jefferson, Fayette and the other school districts who are donating this furniture," Sims said. "There's no way we would be able to get out students back in school without the desks, tables and other furniture that make our classrooms, library, offices and cafeteria feel like a school."
Knott County is hoping to reopen its schools on Sept. 19.
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