By MARK MAYNARD, Kentucky Today
IRVINE, Ky. (KT) – Whether he is filling a washer with soap powder or tearing out sheetrock, Glenn McNeely’s motivation never changes.
“I’m just a servant and do the best I can,” said the 63-year-old Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief worker who is manning laundry duty this week. Three washing machines and six dryers are churning as those affected by the flood bring in bags of clothes soaked by floodwaters.
Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, regarded as one of the country’s finest organizations of its kind, is known for its chainsaw cutting, tarping and feeding. But they do more, including bringing a laundry unit to flood sites like what eastern Kentucky is experiencing.
McNeely, who lives in Calvert City, is trained in chainsaw, tarping, water purification, first aid, CPR and communication. This is his first experience as the Blue Hat for the laundry unit which requires organizational skills to keep the bags of clothes together and return them to the family who dropped them off.
“Legally they call me disabled for 13 years,” he said. “I didn’t know anything about the Disaster Relief until I went to my association in Marshall County. I saw a fellow walking around in yellow DR shirt. I legally cannot earn wages. Somebody asked me if I could get in trouble with this. I said they’re not going to stop me from serving my heavenly Father. I do anything I can.”
He said most people will bring in 3-4 bags of sopping wet clothes with the bags almost breaking. One gentleman, he said, brought in 26 bags. He said with the first bag of wet clothes that went into the washer, he pulled out some big chunks of ice.
The Liberty Association had the laundry unit that includes the three small machines and six dryers. The appliances were donated by Lowe’s in Glasgow, according to a promotion on the side of the trailer, he said. There were four washing machines, but one isn’t working, he said, which makes the task that much tougher.
“You have to be careful not to overload them or you’ll be doing the same cycle again,” he said.
Most people who come drop off the bags and leave because of all they are trying to do, McNeely explained. He said they do try to pray with them and share the gospel whenever possible. But nobody waits for the clothes to be finished.
“What I’m trying to do is wash one person’s clothes at a time” to keep them together, he said.
McNeely said they do have the chance to talk with individuals as they are filling out information forms. Most of them have been through a harrowing flood experience. However, they are appreciative of having someone available to give them clean clothes.
McNeely, who attends Holly Hills Baptist Church, said while he’s happy to clean their clothes, he’d like for them to leave with clean hearts, too. “We talk to them as much as we can,” he said.
North Carolina also has a laundry unit in town and the two Disaster Relief groups are working together. The Kentucky unit is stationed at the Wiseman Town United Methodist Church and he said, “The folks here want to adopt me.” McNeely just shakes his head and laughs, saying his Baptist roots run too deep.
Even before taking the assignment as Blue Hat for the laundry unit, McNeely said he was no stranger to washing clothes since he’s a bachelor. However, he said his mother washes his clothes now because she wants to “help him” pay for her cell phone since she is on his plan. “I only have ever wash clothes about every three weeks,” he said.
After washing and folding dozens of loads this week, McNeely may be glad his mother is willing to do his laundry.
March 10, 2021 at 06:03AM
https://kentuckytoday.com/stories/laundry-detail-suits-kentucky-dr-worker-just-fine,31003
Laundry detail suits Kentucky DR worker just fine - Kentucky Today
https://news.google.com/search?q=Laundry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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