It’s hard to argue with the notion that our community has a lot to offer: amazing dining and entertainment, great heritage and character, and a strong business economy.
Here at VUE Magazine, we like to celebrate what is at the heart of those advantages, and we think that’s our people. The people who work tirelessly to help those in need and the people who band together to make our community be the best it can be—we believe they are our biggest asset.
Beginning in April, we used our pages to check in on how our United Way partner organizations were thriving in the wake of a life-changing year. We knew that they had gritted their teeth and continued to do their important work even within increasingly challenging environments.
We asked how they were doing and how we could help them continue to thrive.
Even during this, we knew that they were only the tip of the proverbial iceberg in our community—that they were a few of literally dozens of organizations just like them. And those organizations are made up of the most determined, most compassionate, and most caring people we know.
As we continue to share these stories, we hope that you will be inspired to be a part of their success in our community. We hope that you will share their stories with others who may not know what essential service they provide.
We also hope that you will find comfort in knowing that even when life shifts suddenly and when all the cards are stacked against them, these people and these organizations simply will not give up. They will be there to help you and our community survive and heal.
They will do this because they are the best of what we have to offer as a community. They are good—and good, will not stop.
We want to continue featuring charitable organizations that are continuing to do good for our community. If your charity has not been contacted about this feature, please reach out to Maggie Armon at 270-534-5265 or marmon@vuecommedia.com.
What is the mission of your organization?
Bags of Love is a faith-based non-profit organization dedicated to providing for the displaced children of our county with the help of our community. We provide service to children regardless of gender, race, national origin, age, disability, or religion.
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
Like so many other groups or organizations, we have suspended group meetings which means our many supporters have not been able to volunteer to assist in gathering donations, hosting fundraisers, stocking shelves, packaging items, and packing bags. However, our loyal seamstress and quilters have continued to work at home, and our inventory has not suffered.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefits your organization?
We look forward to seeing various youth groups, homemakers, and other groups who do an excellent job of keeping our shelves stocked and bags ready when we receive calls. We will again meet with our friends at Stilley House for their monthly Community Service Day and our quilters and youth groups.
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
We are blessed with wonderful support from our community and beyond.
“God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” 2 Corinthians 9:8
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
Facebook, Email, phone number. Monetary donations may be sent to Bags of Love, % Margret Henley, 2714 Oak Level Road, Benton, KY 42025
What is the mission of your organization?
Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope. We are a non-profit Christian housing ministry that works to eliminate poverty housing in Paducah-McCracken County. Habitat offers a “hand up, not a handout.” Habitat builds houses and offers homeownership opportunities to low-income families who are unable to obtain conventional house financing. Habitat selects homeowners based on their need for adequate housing, ability to pay a no-interest mortgage, and willingness to work in partnership with Habitat. Habitat helps build strength, stability, self-reliance, and shelter. Habitat houses are life-changing for families and future generations. Habitat offers concrete ways for people of all faiths to love and serve their neighbors.
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
Entry to the Habitat office was closed to the public, but the office has remained open to conduct business, answer phone calls, meet homeowner needs, and coordinate construction activities. Family Selection had started in February 2020 but was suspended until July and August 2020 due to the pandemic. Habitat was building House #73 on River Oaks Boulevard when the pandemic hit. Thankfully, construction activities could continue, but progress slowed down considerably, and the use of volunteers came to a halt. Our build supervisor and construction committee kept the build moving forward, and the homeowner painted a lot of doors and trim. We were thrilled when the governor eased restrictions to allow gatherings of 50 persons or less right before the House Dedication Ceremony in July 2020, so family and friends could participate in blessing the house and family. Construction on house #74 was pushed until spring 2021 due to various constraints. We are currently building a house at 2901 Virginia Street.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefits your organization?
Habitat is participating in the Fred Paxton Challenge for Charities held June 1 – August 31, 2021. Your gift can have double the impact as the Community Foundation of West Kentucky will match gifts raised for Habitat up to $10,000, helping to build Habitat’s endowment funds. Gifts can be made on the Foundation’s website at www.cfwestky.org and identify Paducah-McCracken County Habitat for Humanity as the gift recipient.
Our first “Fill the House Bank” campaign will run in October 2021. We will provide house-shaped banks to individuals, churches, and businesses and ask people to fill the house with change or a check. This campaign gives everyone an opportunity to make a difference and to help provide simple, decent, and affordable homes for low-income families in our community.
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
Pray: Ask God to use Habitat in a mighty way so we can build more houses and help more families. Volunteer: You or a group can help at the build site when we have volunteer opportunities. Donate: Monetary donations are always needed to build the next house. Host: Host a fundraising activity to benefit Habitat. Sponsor: Help sponsor a home build: provide money, discount or donate materials, or provide labor to build a house. Participate: Get involved with Habitat activities. We need you!
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
Office: 270-444-2060
brenda@paducahhabitat.org
Send donations to Paducah-McCracken Co. Habitat for Humanity, P.O. Box 7343, Paducah, KY 42002
www.paducahhabitat.org
Amazon Smile
What is the mission of your organization?
To feed those in need.
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
The dining room had to be closed, but meals continued going to those who needed them. Home delivery to home-bound residents continued, and those who can drive came to Marcella’s to pick up their meals each day.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefits your organization?
We hope to have a Marcella’s Kitchen Yard Sale in the fall.
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
We would like to hear from anyone who would like to volunteer either for kitchen duty or to be a driver to deliver meals to the home-bound residents. Of course, donations are always appreciated, and please keep Marcella’s Kitchen in your prayers.
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
marcellaskitchenserves@gmail.com
P.O Box 272, Benton, KY. 42025
Physical Address: 868 Guy Mathis Drive, Benton, KY. 42025
What is the mission of your organization?
Low-Cost Spay/Neuter
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
Donations are way down. We opened Bella’s Pet Boutique and Missing Bella’s Pet Zone as a way to raise money. Thankfully we were able to have our Woof & Waggle Open Golf Scramble last September. I asked a lot of the regular players if they still wanted us to have it with the pandemic and all said yes.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefits your organization?
We will host a spay/neuter voucher day where people can come, fill out an application, and we will hand them a voucher right then. The place and date are still TBD. The last time we did this, we handed out 30 vouchers. With the pandemic, having dogs/cats fixed isn’t a priority, and so there are lots of unwanted litters. We will host our 7th Annual Woof & Waggle Open Golf Scramble on Monday, September 13th, at Rolling Hills CC.
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
Need donations as the applications keep coming in, and we don’t want to turn anyone away.
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
missingbellarescue@yahoo.com
www.missingbella.org.
www.facebook.com/MissingBella
The Moses Basket
What is the mission of your organization?
The Moses Basket is tailored to assist foster and relative care families in Western Kentucky. Our primary goal is to make the transition for these children and families a bit easier by meeting material and financial needs during the immediate placement period. We deliver clothing and supplies to the receiving family, as well as a basket personalized to each child with comfort items and toys to help ease the transition into a new home.
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
As many other organizations in the area have pointed out, a national pandemic only served to amplify the already present stressors many families were facing, resulting in an increased number of removals during certain months. We felt it was crucial to continue our services but protect our volunteers to the greatest extent possible. Through the spring of 2020, we assisted families with online gift cards to places such as Amazon, Wal-Mart, and Old Navy to cover the cost of needed items for new placements. This allowed our volunteers to remain safe, prevented families’ unnecessary trips out, and still allowed us to support the children. As the school year drew closer, we saw a substantial increase in requests and felt comfortable allowing volunteers to resume our normal method of delivery. Due to our generous supply of donations from the community, in December, we were able to help provide Christmas gifts to numerous foster and relative care children across the region.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefits your organization?
As life slowly begins to return to normal, we are coordinating multiple volunteer days specifically for children/young adults in middle and high school to personally connect with our ministry. In the fall, we plan to assist with the annual DCBS foster family appreciation celebration as we have in past years.
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
The community support our organization has received over the past four years has been phenomenal. For the most part, we stay stocked on physical donations. Our needs change weekly, and we update our Facebook page as soon as these requests arrive. It could be anything from size 5T pajamas we are low on, to transporting a delivery across county lines. The Moses Basket is 100% volunteer ran with all donations received going directly to benefit the families we serve in some way. In addition, most of our county representatives and volunteers have full-time jobs ranging from nurses, social workers, stay-at-home moms, accountants, and business owners. They all lead different lives yet somehow work together to make each order a success.
A crucial aspect of The Moses Basket is staying in communication with our area social workers. They are the link between our organization and the families we serve, providing feedback on how to best direct our efforts. At present, there is an overwhelming need for more foster families and individuals willing to provide respite care (short-term childcare). The pandemic created an additional level of stress by isolating foster and relative caregivers. Many of these providers are approaching 15 months of essentially round-the-clock care. Families who have opened their doors to fostering are becoming burdened, overwhelmed, and are in need of assistance. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent or providing respite care, please contact the Recruitment and Certification office at 270-247-2979. You can also find them on Facebook at Fostering West of the Lakes.
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
www.themosesbasket.com
Paypal
936 Old Calvert City Road Calvert City, KY 42029.
What is the mission of your organization?
Scholar House of Paducah’s emphasis on its future citizens is not to receive a handout but an amazing opportunity to succeed. Our mission at Scholar House of Paducah is to provide support, motivation, and a place of refuge. Scholar House is geared towards single parents who struggle to provide a safe home for their children and try to better their future by attending college. Scholar House of Paducah has a sense of community for those who feel alone. Living at Scholar House teaches one how to be “on your own, but not alone.” Scholar House provides skills on effective parenting, a clean environment for yourself and your children, how to succeed in your pursuit of higher education, and most importantly, how to be an outstanding citizen.
How has your organization shifted during the pandemic?
The pandemic has brought several changes for all families who are part of the scholar house community, but most residents have worked to help each other get through it together in ways such as helping with college courses, studying together, watching each other’s children, and many other ways. In a sense, it has brought the residents closer together and allowed them to know that they aren’t in it alone.
What events can the community look forward to in the next year that benefits your organization?
Scholar House of Paducah is hopeful to host a 5k marathon for the community that will benefit our organization.
What can the community do RIGHT NOW to help your organization?
The first step would be educating the community on what the Scholar House of Paducah is all about. We want to get the word out about our organization so that we can help more families get the tools they need in order to have a successful future. Secondly, we would truly appreciate any donations that can be given to our organization because we currently have a strong need for an updated play area and camera system to ensure the safety of our families at the Scholar House of Paducah.
List any and all ways our readers can connect with your organization.
Scholar House of Paducah
1035 Old North Friendship Road
P. 270-450-4217
F. 270-554-3838
scholarhousepaducah@homelandinc
