It was a beautiful day in Dawson Springs Thursday, as Kentucky Sports Radio and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce presented nearly $1 million to the Kentucky Habitat for Humanity, to help get more houses built for those impacted by the deadly December 10 tornado.
Homes are going up across the town, and $951,620 from the original $1.7 million that was raised through the KSR Tornado Relief Fund, is going straight into building more houses and putting people back in homes in Dawson Springs. Part of the land once belonged to Ernie Aiken, and his daughter Sandra Aiken says he would be happy to see it going back to the community he loved.
Mary Shearer with the Kentucky Habitat for Humanity says it’s thanks to the generosity of Kentuckians and others that Dawson Springs continue to recover from that night.
Matt Jones told the story of how a classroom of children donated $42—of mostly one-dollar bills—to the cause, and he says that’s truly an example of how people came together to help those in need.
Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts says they’re standing with western Kentucky every step of the way.
Former Governor Steve Beshear was on hand, saying this effort along with many others, shows what Kentuckians are capable of when they set aside politics and party and do what is right by their fellow many.
The funds will be used to build 30 new homes that are safe, healthy, energy-efficient and affordable in the communities that were impacted, and continue to recover, from a night that will stay in people’s memories for a long time to come.