FLORENCE, Ky. — “Absolutely devastating. It’s heartbreaking. I can’t even fathom it,” said Heather Mitilien, owner of Heather’s Nails and Boutique, located off of Mall Road in Florence, on the flooding in Eastern Kentucky. 

What You Need To Know

  • Inches of rain flooded communities in Eastern Kentucky on Thursday

  • Federal aid is available, but local communities in the commonwealth are also pitching in to help collect items

  • Heather’s Nails and Boutique collected items through the weekend to send to those affected

  • Doggie Paddles has decided to collect items to take to Hazard

Mitilien said she’s got a friend who planned to take items down to those impacted by the flooding, and that inspired her to help collect items at her business.

“Non-perishable food items, toiletries, cleaning supplies, clothes, shoes, jackets, blankets, you name it. They need it all,” she said. 

Over the weekend, her business became a site for folks to drop off items to help those affected. She’s not the only business in Florence stepping up to help those in need. Doggie Paddles, another local business, is also collecting items.

“Bags of dog food and cat food, bottled water, floor cleaning supplies like squeegees,” said Assistant Manager Brianna Faught.

She said ownership at this business has personal ties to Hazard. They will be collecting items at the business, located at 10248 Dixie Highway in Florence, through Wednesday and will then personally head out Thursday morning to deliver the items to those in Hazard. Faught said it’s not the first time the business has stepped up to help others, and it’s one of the great parts to working at this business.

“Personally, it feels really good to help out when it is needed. I feel like, as a community, it should be done — not just by us but by everyone too,” she said.

“I hope that other people see other people being kind and wanting to be helpful and it’ll encourage them to do the same,” Mitilien said. 

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