On December 10, 2021, a catastrophic EF4 tornado ripped across Western Kentucky. The devastation was felt nationwide as pictures of the damage filled the media. Response teams, church groups, government officials, and volunteers traveled into small Kentucky towns to offer support. Strangers across the country put their lives on hold to come to the aid of those in need. Joel Crider, a Mayfield native, has been moved by the generosity and selflessness he has witnessed in his community over the past few weeks. Living in Graves County his entire life, he never could have imagined anything like this happening to this area. In a town of just 10,000 people, neighbors are akin to family. Joel watched his former students grow up, celebrated with friends when they purchased houses, and witnessed new businesses bloom, exciting memories that could be lost in a matter of moments. Joel knew the weather reports leading up to that night; he could hear the sound of the storm as it tore through the town, but nothing could have prepared him for the tragedy he would face in the morning. The sights, the smells, the destruction, it was all so familiar. Except, now it was his home.
Joel is no stranger to natural disasters. He serves on the board of a non-profit titled Bread of Life. Since 2005, Bread of Life has served over 14 states, providing relief to major disaster areas. Joel has witnessed the damage of hurricanes, tornados, ice storms, floods, and fires, but nothing prepares you for seeing it in your own community. Joel says, “watching people come into Mayfield from across the country was amazing, but then I realized that’s what we have been doing. I never knew the impact we have been making until I saw it here.”
Bread of Life was established after a group of individuals joined together to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. These volunteers never dreamed of starting a non-profit; they simply saw the destruction on their TVs and felt called to do something. Once there, the group noticed several organized relief teams. It became clear to them that they were meant to create a group of their own. After arriving back home, the group put out a plea to the Church of Christ congregations in the area. They were met with so much support. Roy M Lowe Funeral Home donated their building in Lowes, KY, to use as a headquarters. This made it possible for the group to begin building relief kits and organizing their efforts. They had space to hold supplies and put together emergency packs to pass out as soon as they arrived at an impacted area. The building also allowed for the organization to grow. They began a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2005. They are entirely funded by the generosity of churches, businesses, and individuals. They are also a 100% volunteer organization, meaning every donation goes towards their mission.
Joel first got involved with the organization after a flood devastated Louisiana. He says, “I consider myself a man of few talents, but being able to use the things I am able to do for others shows me my purpose.” Joel describes how the message in Esther, of being put in a place for a reason, helps guide their mission every day.
The Bread of Life headquarters is lined with photos from the places they have been. Pictures of them rescuing people from their homes on the Florida gulf coast after a hurricane, tarping roofs after the tornado in Joplin, Missouri, feeding victims after ice storms, clearing debris after the hurricane hit Houston; they are constantly reminded of why they do the work that they do. Now Bread of Life gets to minister to and serve their own community. They have crews working across the area, despite many of their volunteers being victims themselves. Joel describes how moving it is to see individuals that have lost their homes waking up to serve others.
While they normally have to travel to reach victims, they were able to immediately spring into action in Mayfield. Joel says that their work began at 4:00 AM, the morning after the tornado. Within hours, they had received a semi-truck full of supplies, and they were distributing supplies by that afternoon. The churches were opened up as shelters, and the Bread of Life warehouse became a supply storage space. Bread of Life and their supporting churches could not fulfill their mission without help from other organizations. They have partnered with Disaster Relief out of Nashville and Disaster Response Team out of Ohio to help serve their local community.
As the need changes every day, they adapt and shift their focus. The community will be healing for a long time, and Bread of Life is prepared to meet those needs. Joel says, “it is hard for us to predict the next thing people need, but the biggest thing we can do is be a good neighbor.”
Bread of Life is always accepting items such as; clear plastic storage boxes, first aid products, baby products, cleaning supplies, personal care products, toiletries, and other items to help individuals rebuild their lives. As people around western Kentucky begin to move back into their homes, they will need support more than ever. Volunteering, giving, and offering kindness during this time will have a greater impact than you will ever know.
Visit the Bread of Life website, kybreadoflife.com, to get involved.
Joel reminds everyone, “when you see a disaster that has struck somewhere else, remember that people left their lives to come help us.”
