PERRY COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) – Eastern Kentucky has seen a number of volunteers step up to help following the historic floods in 2022.

On Friday, some of the survivors received a helping hand from a group of guys who do most of their work on the basketball court.

Here in the blue sky subdivision in Perry County, the UK Men’s Basketball Team is trading basketballs for building tools.

“This isn’t a regular for me, but I’m enjoying it,” said player Trent Noah. “I’m learning a lot. Learning a lot with a good crew and teammates who are having fun with it as well.”

In a partnership with the Housing Development Alliance, players, coaching staff, and other volunteers are working on framing and finishing touches for four different homes.

“For us to come together and do something like this, it just brings us closer. We’re gonna have better chemistry here so we can build these houses for these people, and then on the court, it’s just going to take over for us,” said player Lamont Butler.

As they build upon a new foundation for flood survivors, coach Mark Pope said they’re creating a new foundation for the team, too; a foundation of gratitude.

“It’s one of the beautiful things that comes from service, is there’s an inherent gratitude that you can’t miss. You’re grateful for the opportunity to help, you’re grateful for the opportunity to know people, like great people, and it makes you grateful for the blessings you have in your life,” Pope said.

The Robertson family is one of the families that will be moving into a home the Wildcats helped build.

The family said the team helping them to embark on a new chapter, one that includes peace of mind.

“Its a sense of security that waters not going to be up here knowing that waters not going to affect us anymore,” said John Robertson.

Coach Pope said this won’t be the last service project the team plans to do this season.

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