LONDON, Ky. (WKYT) - After a deadly tornado cut the school year short in May, Laurel County students are gearing up for classes.
It’s the third annual back to school bash in front of Faith Assembly of God church in London.
But this year, kids are heading back to the classroom with the help of a familiar face.
Reed Sheppard, NBA Guard for the Houston Rockets and former UK basketball player returned to his hometown to help provide kids with free food, backpacks, and shoes for the upcoming school year.
“You never know really how much a family needs, but you can tell how excited some of these kids are...you know…they’re getting shoes and backpacks and they’re jumping all around, they’re just really excited,” Sheppard says.
The Sheppard Family has started a foundation to support communities in need. Reed’s sister, Madison Sheppard Wigginton, is the Sheppard Family Foundation Executive Director.
She says they weren’t going to launch the foundation until the back to school event, but, “when the tornado hit in May, we couldn’t sit back and not respond and so disaster relief was not an area that we saw ourselves jumping into, but the need was so great that we decided it fit our mission; which is to love, serve, strengthen and equip families,” Sheppard Wigginton says.
The Sheppard Family Foundation, alongside Convoy of Hope has partnered with Mercy Chefs to provide 2,500 free hot meals.
They’re also giving away 1,000 free backpacks with easy to prepare meals and snacks inside.
It’s not the first time the Virginia based organization has helped Kentucky.
Mercy Chefs Spokesperson, Raymond LeBlanc says Mercy Chefs served 26,000 meals after the tornado came through.
“We’re honored to be able to serve this community. To be able to come back to a place that has suffered and being able to bless people where they need it most still,” LeBlanc says.
With help from the Sheppard Family Foundation, Mercy Chefs and Convoy of Hope, kids are ready to start the school year strong.
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