FOREST HILL W.Va. (WVDN) – Helping others is something that comes naturally to Kendra Lusk Ratliff. From helping plan the Water Festival for many years to starting Bumblebee’s Mountain Outreach in 2021, Lusk has never shied away from anything. Having been in a classroom for many years set the stage for her already outgoing personality to continue assisting others.
Lusk explained that Bumblebee’s Mountain Outreach began after she lost her brother, Rex Lusk, and she knew she had to find a way to continue his ministry. Lusk went on to say she also wanted something good to come from his passing.
Lusk and her brother were both raised in Talcott, and she has continued to live in Talcott most of her life. Lusk said it’s home and where she wants to make a difference.
Two weeks before the 2021 Talcott Fire Department Christmas Parade, Lusk made the decision to gather handmade hats to give out during the parade. A total of 75 hats were gathered and thrown during the parade. At the end of the event, KK and her family had a discussion and decided that was the way they wanted to continue to do good in Rex’s Memory.
Thus, Bumblebee’s Mountain Outreach was created with an emphasis on kindness, mental health awareness, and serving the community where they grew up. Over the course of four years, over 3,300 items from the world have been donated and handed out in Summers, Mercer, and Monroe counties, with Greenbrier being added this year.
With already having experience in event planning and fundraising, Lusk felt the next natural step was to take all that knowledge and use it to hold a fundraising event. A craft fair seemed like the perfect choice.
With Lusk’s husband being a long-time member of the Forest Hill Fire Department, it was the ideal location for a fall craft fair. KK opened the event up to outside vendors for a nominal fee of a $10 donation to Bumblebee’s Mountain Outreach.
The event will have outside, as well as inside vendors, plenty of parking, and easy access from the main road. Proceeds from the event will be used to purchase Thanksgiving food boxes for local families.
Also set up at the event will be a monetary donation box and a non-perishable food donation box. Lusk wanted to especially thank Loaves and Fishes in Hinton for partnering with Bumblebee’s Mountain Outreach to provide food for the Thanksgiving endeavor.
At the craft fair, in addition to handmade craft vendors, there will be free face painting, a free fall photo backdrop, and trick-or-treating throughout the vendors. The Ballard Fire Department will join in on the fun by bringing their bounce house, which is free for kids.
The event will also feature Jr. Gills’ toy drive, selling hot dogs to help fund their annual toy drive.
The Lusk Family and Bumblebee’s Mountain Outreach are looking forward to seeing everyone at the Harvest and Handmade Craft Fair on October 4 at Forest Hill Fire Department, Forest Hill. Hours are 11-4.
