PRINCETON, Ky. — Christian Action, a group of Christians from various churches and denominations, has organized the Proxy Christmas House project. The group is constructing Caldwell County local Corey Burke’s porch on his newly placed modular home, after his former house was destroyed during the May 2024 tornado.
Bill Carr oversees the group, which has built and repaired houses for those in need for 20 years — usually those stricken by disaster. It is funded by various Catholic charities, FEMA grants, insurance money, as well as personal contributions. In 2024, group members completed a total of three projects.
“That’s how we are serving the Lord, is by going and helping other people,” Carr said.
Carr was inspired to start the group when visiting Mobile, Alabama, 20 years ago after it was hit with a devastating hurricane. He said that he felt he had a calling to start Christian Action and has followed that calling since. As far as the Proxy Christmas Project goes, Christian Action gets together during the week of Christmas and either builds a house or assists with other construction projects as needed.
Bill Carr, founder of Christian Action.
“That’s how we are serving the Lord, is by going and helping other people,” Carr said. “So, everyone here is from different churches around Paducah and Benton. There are Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians and Catholics. Here, it is not about just my church or your church. It is about Christians that want to do the Lord’s work.”
Stacey Menser of the Catholic Charities of Diocese of Owensboro said that Carr called a month ago to ask if anything in the area needed to be done or if anyone needed their assistance. Menser then connected Christian Action with Corey Burke and his family, still recovering from the disaster.
In Caldwell County, Menser provides case management services to disaster survivors, assisting them with navigating and finding the resources they need to rebuild. Caldwell County Long Term Recovery Group and various Catholic charities also helped provide funding for the initiative.
“I meet with them, walk along beside them and help them through their recovery until they get settled,” Menser said. “We work with FEMA, the State of Kentucky Emergency Management and volunteer organizations. Piece by piece, we help families get settled. Our case management is specific to disaster recovery.”
Homeowner Corey Burke is beyond thankful for the aid. He recounted the devastating impact of the tornado that demolished his home, describing it as a terrifying experience that destroyed everything that his family had.
Corey Burke recounts the devastating impact of the tornado that demolished his home, describing it as a terrifying experience that destroyed everything that his family had.
Burke said that he was sitting in the kitchen when the tornado struck. He looked out of the window and saw it hurling across the field, the path of it heading toward he and his wife’s house. He said that his dog, Denzel, was also almost sucked out of the house by the tornado and that his daughter had sustained injuries to her foot from the glass thrown around. It had moved their home into a nearby wooded area.
Burke’s dog Denzel, who he says was nearly pulled out of the house when the tornado struck.
Burke is thankful, not only to God for keeping his family safe, but for the outpouring from the community they have received since the harrowing day.
”By the time I got back in, she had already had the kids down in the floor and by the time I got to them, it was over,” Burke said. “God was with us. He was really with us. I am glad all of us got out safe. And I want to thank God for everybody that helped us. We had a lot of people come in donate and did a lot for us. I want to say thank you,” Burke told reporters.
Alexa Black is a reporter for the Times Leader.
