16 Families who survived Mayfield tornado will recieve newly constructed homes from Samaritan's Purse this Friday.

Franklin Graham to dedicate homes in New Hope Acres subdivision built for families who lost everything in Dec. 2021 tornado

Boone, N.C., Sept. 25, 2023—The keys to the first 16 houses in a 60-home subdivision called New Hope Acres will be presented to families whose homes were destroyed by the deadly tornado. Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse, will meet the families, dedicate each house to God, and welcome these families home on Friday, Sept. 29.

Samaritan's Purse, an international Christian relief organization, has been working in Mayfield, Kentucky, since the storm hit. Initially, Samaritan's Purse deployed disaster response teams after the EF4 tornado leveled homes in the area and killed 80 people. After assisting more than 700 families with clean-up efforts, Samaritan's Purse remained in Mayfield to help the hurting community rebuild.

"I was in Mayfield shortly after the storm hit, and the damage was indescribable. So many people were in shock and suffering—everything they had was gone in an instant, said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse. "I thank God that Samaritan's Purse was able to respond immediately with thousands of volunteers and that we're now able to complete these new homes to help families get back on their feet. We are providing these homes in New Hope Acres for free. We want the people of Mayfield to know that God loves them."

Each of these homes will be fully furnished, and the neighborhood will be comprised of two-, three-, and four-bedroom floorplans. Latasha Hayes and her husband Dennis are receiving one of the completed homes on Friday. They survived the storm by huddling with eight other friends and family members—and when they stood up—it was the only room in the house still standing. "We shouldn't have made it out, so we were blessed to walk out of something so devastating," she said. Latasha is overjoyed to be receiving a new home and for the fresh start it brings for her family.

What:

16 Homes Dedicated in New Hope Acres Subdivision

When:

Friday, Sept. 29 at 1:30pm CT

Media opportunities immediately following the dedication.

Where:

New Hope Acres in Mayfield, KY

Please RSVP for exact location

On-site Media Contact:

Mark Barber, 828-386-5803, mbarber@samaritan.org

In addition to the 60 homes in New Hope Acres, Samaritan's Purse is building 21 additional homes in the greater Mayfield area—14 of these homes have already been completed. Samaritan's Purse has also provided furniture replacement for 100 families and installed 174 storm shelters capable of withstanding an EF-5 tornado.

For more information about how to help or to volunteer with Samaritan's Purse, go to SamaritansPurse.org.

Based in Boone, North Carolina, Samaritan's Purse responds to the physical and spiritual needs of individuals in crisis situations—especially in locations where few others are working. Led by President and CEO Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse works in more than 100 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine and persecution. For more information, visit SamaritansPurse.org.