Campus News

RESCHEDULED: Service trip to Perry County to aid in flood relief to now take place Oct. 29

photo of UK Appalachian Center flood relief volunteers
Volunteers at a recent service trip to Eastern Kentucky to aid in floor relief efforts. The UK community is invited to join the UK Appalachian Center for another service trip to Perry County on Oct. 15.

UPDATE Oct. 11, 2022: The service trip scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 15 has been rescheduled for Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. More details available here

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 6, 2022) — The University of Kentucky Appalachian Center, in collaboration with the Housing Development Alliance, is seeking volunteers for a service trip to Perry County, Kentucky, on Saturday, Oct. 15, to aid in flood relief 

The trip will involve mucking and gutting homes so that the homeowners have a cleaner slate to start again, after the devastating floods. Participants can expect to be removing mud/debris from homes and crawl spaces, removing damaged materials and treating the homes with fungicide to reduce the risks of unwanted moisture and mold in the homes. 

This trip is open to all UK students, faculty and staff, and volunteers are expected to be signed up by Thursday, Oct. 13. Transportation will be provided by the Appalachian Center. Participants should meet at the Appalachian Center at 624 Maxwelton Court at 7:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, and will return around 7 p.m. that same day. 

Volunteers are recommended to wear long pants, boots and long sleeves. The Appalachian Center will provide transportation, snacks and water, but participants are expected to pack their own breakfast, lunch and water bottle. Volunteers should plan to take a COVID-19 test ahead of the trip (at-home antigen tests are permitted) and are asked to not participate if they are feeling ill or experiencing COVID-like symptoms.

For more information, and to sign up for this service opportunity, visit https://appalachiancenter.as.uky.edu/flood-relief-service-trip-1.

This will be third service trip to the region arranged by the UK Appalachian Center, with the previous two taking place Aug. 27 and Sept. 17. The center also held a flood relief drive in August in partnership with the Appalachian Law Caucus. For more information about how to get involved with the center and flood relief efforts, visit https://appalachiancenter.as.uky.edu/node/520848.

The University of Kentucky Appalachian Center contributes to the land-grant mission of the university by fostering community-university partnerships in research, learning and engagement in Appalachia, a region faced with unique opportunities and challenges toward sustainable development in a globalized context.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.