Cargo Trailer Full Of Donations Makes It To Madisonville, Kentucky

As reported in the December 15, 2021 edition of the Sullivan Independent News a local effort to help those devastated by tornadoes in Kentucky was made last week and delivered to residents of Madisonville, Kentucky, Saturday morning, December 18.

The local effort was led by Eddie and Denise Franklin and Jeanie and Jason Braun, who had family severely affected by the December 10-11 tornadoes that leveled several towns in Kentucky, including Princeton, Dawson Springs and Madisonville.

The two families, along with Sullivan Independent News and Missouri Possum Radio, collected donations from the public from clothing to appliances to monetary donations, all to be delivered in a 16ft. Cargo trailer.

“We left out on Saturday morning at 3:30 a.m. with the 16ft. trailer full from top to bottom,” said Denise Franklin.

“I don’t think we could have gotten another item in it, my father Eddie Franklin, packed that trailer so tight nothing moved all the way to Kentucky,” said Jeanie Franklin Braun.

The family effort and Sullivan community made it possible for the donation of small appliances, a washer and dryer, clothing, hygiene items and $750 in monetary donations to be distributed to those in need in Kentucky.

The Franklins and Brauns were also able to personally deliver a $1,000 donation from the Sullivan Fraternal Order of Eagles #3987 to the Mayfield Eagles Hall.

The 16ft. trailer was unloaded at Covenant Community Church in MadisonVille, Kentucky along with the donation.

“The church was very impressed at how well all the boxes and items being donated were organized and labeled in the boxes and bags people donated,” said Franklin.

“We heard several times that a lot of Missouri people had provided donations and came to help those in need in Kentucky,” said Braun.

The group reported that the devastation was horrible to witness in person and much more severe than  even television and the internet could provide.

“It was really unreal to see the paths the tornado took striking parts of one town and skipping other parts of it,” said Braun. “You would see tree’s just completely striped and nothing from them around anywhere. Cars up in trees, subdivisions just leveled, it is awful.”

Dawson Springs was hit especially hard, according to the group, who reported that the town was being supported by the National Guard.

The entire event evovled by the Franklin’s and Braun’s after Eddie Franklin decided to sell his excess hay and take the funds to help his family would lost everything in the tornado’s.

“I’m glad we did this, it’s the first time I’ve ever physically got involved and done something like this,” said Franklin.

“We took our children out of school on Friday to help load everything for the trip and then took them with us and I’m glad they were able to help and go see people helping people as well as be a part of helping,” said Braun.

“We can’t thank everyone enough for their donations and support for this effort and we truly appreciate it,” concluded Franklin. “There are so many that helped you can’t even begin to list them.”