Boxes of food were unloaded Monday in Leslie County as the organization Coal for Kids donated items to needy students. (photo by Cordis Bishop)
Coal For Kids, a nonprofit group formed last year following a Shop with a Coal Miner event that purchased Christmas gifts for students from low income families, presented school resource directors in Leslie County with food and clothes for a backpack program to 60 school aged children.
The group formed late last year after many of the miners who accompanied students at the Shop with a Coal Miner event at the Hazard Walmart noticed that some of the students led them to purchase food or basic necessities instead of toys for Christmas.
Theresa H. Johnson volunteers her time as Vice President of Coal for Kids and helped deliver the items to Leslie County Monday. She explained how the group is able to collect funds to help local children.
“Every month we collect money from [coal] miners,” she said, noting that all contributions are voluntary and the miners and coal company employees can donate however much money they want. In the case of Pine Branch Coal, the donation is doubled by David and Susie Duff who match whatever funds are contributed by their miners.
The organization receives a list from resource directors in Hazard and Perry County, as well as Leslie County and from Cordia in Knott County, detailing what may be needed each month, explained Johnson, which could include the basic necessities.
“It’s things you and I take for granted that they don’t have,” she said.
The group has also been helping to support the local economy, Johnson continued, by shopping exclusively in local businesses for items to be donated.
“We shop around here in coal supporting areas instead of going to Lexington or Louisville,” she said. “We’re shopping here and keeping money where the companies support coal.”
Private individuals can also get involved with the group by volunteering time or contributing donations to help fund the monthly giveaways. According to Haven King with Coal Mining Our Future, every penny donated goes to purchase items needed by local students, and in turn goes into the local economy.
“All the money goes to help kids. There’s no expenses for anything,” he said.
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