As Joyce Rose scrolled through Facebook posts after the Dec. 10 tornadoes, she knew she wanted to help storm victims access donations and find the help they needed.

Rose, owner of the Stella Country Market, joined Facebook groups that formed after the tornado, including one that searched for survivors and another to help those impacted who needed supplies.

On the evening of Dec. 10, the lives of western Kentuckians changed. An EF4 tornado devastated several towns along its path, causing approximately $3.9 billion in damage. President Joe Biden declared Mayfield a federal disaster area, which allowed federal aid from agencies, such as the Red Cross and FEMA. Beyond the federal assistance, volunteers from across the country poured into far western Kentucky to help tornado victims.

“If somebody starts talking to me…about how people aren’t as good as they used to be, as kindhearted, I will walk away because that is not what we have seen here,” said Mayfield Mayor Kathy O’Nan.

Kindness spread throughout western Kentucky as the region recovered. Rose, who has owned the Stella Country Market for three years, moved to Calloway County, Kentucky from New York. In New York, she gained experience working for Lucy’s House, a domestic violence house.

“I’ll make sure that kids had Easter baskets, food, good turkey dinner or ham dinner for Christmas and Thanksgiving,” she said.

The start of her tornado relief efforts was already daunting as it was the busier season of her harvest and donations began piling into the Stella Market. She had only two options: find a facility so she could move donations from the store or give up tornado relief altogether. She chose to press forward and didn’t allow the overflow of donations and the stagnation of her business get the best of her. She received two trailers from a business partner and moved donations over so she could continue to adequately supply the communities and those in need.

Rose worked closely with tornado survivors, which allowed her to communicate the needs of the people directly with donors. This overflow of generosity led her to create the Stella Country Market Blessing Barn.

Retired trucker and Stella Market regular Donnie Walker says he was astonished by Rose’s efforts to network and to connect with people across state lines to help people in western Kentucky.

“Joyce’s generosity goes beyond heartwarming,” Walker said. “She spends her time day in and day out dedicated to bringing hope to the hopeless and supplies to those who need them. Just her authenticity and kindness allowed God to open doors for her that drew in big people from high places to donate to her cause.”

Rose has a personal relationship with everyone who comes inside her store, so they feel more comfortable giving items to her because they trust Rose gives it to those in need.

“Most of the local items that come in are clothing, toys, used dishes or pots and pans,” Rose said.

Rose has one donor that comes every month from Indiana, and they specifically cater towards the Hispanic community. Many of the items received at other donation sites are not necessarily what they get at home or what they eat at home.

Rose’s authenticity and sincerity is why donations come in from all over the country.

“People should help people, and they shouldn’t feel ashamed or afraid to ask for help when they need it,” Rose said. “There shouldn’t be any judgment behind it. If you are helping someone, you’re helping them out of the kindness of your heart, you’re not judging them for their past. When that person receives that blessing, they should then, in turn and in time, turn it around and pass it on to someone else.”

Even though she has slowed her donations, she still makes sure the blessing barn is accessible to anyone who needs a blessing.

“They shouldn’t feel afraid to ask for help [or] seek out help from any source,” Rose said. “If you feel that you’re forgotten, or that you’re not being heard, ask again, ask another person, keep being persistent. If you feel that you are due more help, you should seek out another source. Everyone has different resources, so the more people you communicate with, the more help you’re going to receive and don’t give up.”

On the evening of Dec. 10, the lives of western Kentuckians were changed. The tornado demolished many cities along its path, but it didn’t destroy the community that lives within the people of Kentucky and Rose exemplifies that.