Erinn Finely
Contributing Writer
[email protected]
One woman decided to start a community group to help combat the pandemic and it has become a force for good in the county.
On March 16, 2020, Mary Scott Buck created a Facebook Group called Calloway County Collective to help meet community needs caused by the pandemic.
“You know, there were all these specific things being depleted at the store and running out on the shelves,” Buck said. “And everybody was kind of going through the same thing.”
Buck said she noticed a lot of people asking the same questions, but not getting timely responses at the start of the pandemic. She said she thought it would be easier if everyone could get together to share information faster and the group grew from there.
Buck said the goal of the group is just to be kind. She said kindness can mean many different things, which is good because the group does a lot of different things to support people in and neighboring Calloway county. The group has helped a lot of members of the community in a multitude of ways.
The group recently provided a prom dress for a girl, baby clothes, beds and air conditioners for families in need. The group informs people of community issues such as boil water warnings or a warning about road work. The group also provides food to those in need.
The group has put blessing boxes all around the community. Blessing boxes are enclosed boxes where people can leave hygiene products or nonperishable food for those in need.
The group also started work on a community garden. Buck said hundreds of plants have already been planted this year.
“I think we’ve helped people develop some compassion for situations that they didn’t even know about,” Buck said. “They weren’t even aware of some of these things, specifically people in poverty, people who are struggling with food insecurity, things like that.”
Kathy Skelton, a volunteer for the group, has helped Buck since the group started. Skelton said some of her first jobs included mixing hand sanitizer and creating homemade masks.
“It’s amazing how, never knew these people before, but now, we are, we’re family,” Skelton said.
Buck said the group has officially been made a 501c3 nonprofit organization under the United Way umbrella. The group already functioned like a nonprofit organization, however becoming an official nonprofit allows financial donations to be tax deductible. Buck said this changes things because some people may want to make large donations and this makes it easier for them. Buck said being an official nonprofit organization also means the group will become more organized with a board and regular meetings.
Buck was also presented with awards for her volunteer work in the community. She received the COVID-19 Hero award from Murray State’s College of Education and Human Services. Gov. Andy Beshear also bestowed her with the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel. According to the Kentucky Colonelcy website, this is one of the highest awards a resident of Kentucky can achieve.
In a Facebook post, Buck said she cried upon receiving the Kentucky Colonel award. She said she felt honored. Both her grandfathers were Kentucky Colonels as well. Buck thanked Peggy Higginson who nominated her, as well as the people who donate to the Collective.
The group operates out of a house on Ash Street where people send donations. The house holds an assortment of donated items including shoes, hygiene products, food, pet food, cat litter and many other household items.
The group has received large donations on occasion. Skelton said once someone donated 26 cases of coffee creamer.
Skelton said crockpots, pans, and air fryers are good items to donate. There is also an Amazon wish list that potential donors can use.
The group accepts most donated goods at the house during operating hours. They also welcome people stopping by to pick up items they need.
Skelton said the Calloway County Collective does not need clothes donations. Those with gently used clothes to donate can give them to the Wagon Flea Market.
Anyone can volunteer at Calloway County Collective. Buck said they have at least ten regular volunteers. She said that some people will volunteer for a couple hours one week and then the group will not see them for a couple of weeks. Buck said she thinks there are at least forty five volunteers helping with the blessing boxes.
The group requests information and expresses community needs through their Facebook page. Anyone in the group can make a request or respond to one.
The Calloway County Collective is located at 203 Ash St., The group operates there on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The nonprofit’s Amazon wish list can be found here.
