Food City collects more than $380,000 for Eastern Ky. flood victims

WHITESBURG, Ky. (WYMT) - Food City partnered with WYMT and other television stations in the Tri-Cities for a 10-day fundraising campaign at 60 Food City stores. Customers could round their orders up or make a small donation.

”Certainly it was well documented about the tragedy, with the horrible loss of life, and loss of property and people just stepped up,” said Food City President and CEO Steve Smith.

A check totaling more than $388,000 was given to foundation staff members. They said100%of that money will stay in Eastern Kentucky, going directly into the hands of flood victims.

”I was absolutely shocked and I don’t know why I was shocked,” said Gerry Roll with the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. “This was our local people in their local communities helping out their neighbors.”

The foundation has given out more than $2 million in relief aid so far.

”We are also now starting to buy building materials and other things that are needed for muck outs and disinfectant,” she said.

”We do these fundraisers at the front and you ask someone to give money for that,” said Whitesburg Food City Store Manager Scott Huff. “Sometimes you don’t get to see that big picture of what happens with that money, today you get to see that big picture.”

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