Outreach

After the December 10, 2021 tornado, there were many services in town that were no longer available. In response to the laundromat on 9th Street being heavily damaged and Pryor Street remaining closed, Tide stepped in to offer a year of laundry services at Walmart. They installed five washers and dryers inside the store, providing a much-needed solution for residents. However, with no laundry hookups available in FEMA trailers, many people found themselves driving to Murray and Paducah to wash their clothes, incurring additional expenses.

When the tornado hit, First Christian Church was very blessed and received a great deal of donations from all over the country with the intent from the donors to help the community as we saw fit. We wanted to honor those donations by doing something for our community to give back and show our survivors that we love them. A year after the tornado, Speed Wash on Pryor Street reopened and quickly became a vital resource for the community, offering a place for residents to do their laundry amidst the chaos.

First Christian Church established a Community Engagement and Tornado Relief Fund Committee that played a crucial role in channeling donations to various entities within the community. This committee was instrumental in identifying the needs of the community and ensuring that the funds were used effectively. The seed money for the Laundry ministry, which aimed to alleviate the burden of laundry costs for tornado survivors, was provided from these funds. This initiative not only offered practical support but also fostered a sense of community and solidarity among residents.

Every last Tuesday of the month, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., church members gather at the Speed Wash on Pryor Street to distribute laundry cards, detergent, and dryer sheets to those in need. This initiative ensures that residents can wash as many loads as necessary without any restrictions, providing a vital service to those still recovering from the tornado's impact.