Addiction Recovery Care (ARC) employees wasted no time jumping into action following devastating flooding in southeastern Kentucky.
“Kentucky is a loving state, and when we see our neighbors hurting, we want to step in to help,” said ARC’s CEO Office Coordinator Shannon Pope.
Pope joined dozens of other ARC employees and clients to assist 22 of their co-workers severely impacted by the July 27 flood.
Earl Moore, Director of IT, woke up in the middle of the night to find water rising from his basement at his Knott County home. His mother, who lives down the street from him, had water to her hip by the time Earl escaped his house with a kayak to evacuate his mom.
“I got really discouraged when the water actually breached my top step,” said Moore.
Moore would later make his way down his street to evacuate his mother and take her to safety.
The following day damage evaluation and cleanup began for the thousands affected.
ARC Marketing Director Vanessa Keeton was assigned the task of assessing the needs of employees affected and begin the process of creating a plan to help.
“It was our duty to help,” said Keeton. “We help people overcome obstacles everyday so we were capable of creating a plan to help our employees in any way that we could.”
The plan started by asking if any employees not critical to the clinical and medical needs of ARC clients would be willing to put aside their everyday tasks and spend shoveling mud and removing drywall. Dozens signed up – many of whom gave up their weekend and making the long drive to southeastern Kentucky.
“It was like having the cavalry roll in,” said Gary Lafferty, ARC’s Director of Safety and Security. “Everyone was just willing to help. It was one mission to make sure everyone was safe, protected and had what they needed. From the Corporate level all the way to the clients, they were all helping, they were all concerned. It was amazing.”
ARC also hosted American Idol winner and former ARC employee Noah Thompson during a day of service.
For Moore he says the love he received from his peers highlighted why ARC will always have a special place in his heart.
“The ARC family just comes together during disasters and crises,” said Moore. “It doesn’t matter if it is addiction or trying to get to that purpose and get people to their full potential. Be it a home being flooded or be it somebody that has relapsed and went back into addiction, awe stand by them.”
Those affected by flooding still need help. Here you can find a list of several organizations where you can donate for relief efforts. Addiction Recovery Care has also created an Amazon wish list where you can purchase items that will be distributed by our teams assisting in cleanup efforts.
