The holidays are a blur as 90+ hour work weeks take over my life. Yes, I had Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off. Yes, I’ll get New Year’s Day off. The end isn’t in sight though. And, oh, did I mention I’m a volunteer?
Forget exam week. Forget waiting tables. Never in my life have I kept up such a pace for so many days on end. Straight up? I didn’t think I was capable of it. There is something incredibly powerful about discovering you can do something hard, and huge that has a profound impact on people around you. Almost as profound as the impact they have on you.
This is the life, the holidays, for many in our tornado-ravaged community in West Kentucky. First responders, law enforcement officers, paramedics, civic leaders, teachers, students, retirees, and many others continue to log grueling hours day after day.
Everyone exceeds expectations.
On the final stretch of the third week since our hometown of Mayfield Kentucky became a rubble-strewn wasteland in the path of what might be the longest constant-ground-contact tornado in recorded history, we get to see the beauty of humankind as we’ve never experienced it. There are still folks driving in with personally collected donations from communities over 16 hours away. This week I met and volunteered with people from Wisconsin, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Montana, Louisiana, the Carolinas, the Philippines, and both Dakotas.
“This donation is from Jordan,” one conversation went.
“Jordan? Jordan what? Ohio?”
“Jordan,” the response came, “in the Middle East.”
As a child, I read about the Wonders of the World and wanted to travel. As an Army spouse, I’ve traversed many countries, seen fabulous sights, experienced different cultures and met interesting people. Right now, though, the hometown so many were anxious to escape after high school has become a living wonder that I am blessed to experience every day. I wish I could meet every person who made this happen and give you a hug.
Tidal waves of compassion keep rolling over our small corner of the world. The undertow drags away hopelessness.
So I just want to say, thank you.
I am grateful to God for each one of you and pray to meet you in the sweet by and by.
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–Kristin King is the Treasurer of the Mayfield Graves County Parks Board which oversees the local fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds Tornado Relief Center is the biggest point of distribution of supplies in the area and the only location still taking in-kind donations on a large scale. Learn more on Facebook by making a virtual visit to the Mayfield Graves County Fairgrounds. #MayfieldStrong
Kristin King Author 