ARH Foundation Awards $5,000 to Pine Mountain Search and Rescue Team

The ARH Foundation for Healthier Communities awarded a $5,000 community grant to Pine Mountain Search & Rescue, an all-volunteer organization serving more than 21,000 residents across Letcher County and surrounding communities in some of the most remote terrain in Eastern Kentucky.

The grant, announced March 16 from Whitesburg, will serve as the sole source of funding for equipment upgrades the team needs ahead of severe weather season. Pine Mountain Search & Rescue aims to reach full operational readiness within three months, with a broader deployment window of three to six months for all purchases.

Formed by local woodsmen, law enforcement officers, and first responders, Pine Mountain Search & Rescue specializes in locating individuals who become lost, injured, or stranded in wilderness areas. The organization's work extends beyond searches: during natural disasters, the team has assisted with debris removal, supply distribution, shelter support, and emergency transportation when traditional response resources are limited or delayed.

That geographic reality framed how Whitesburg ARH CEO Jamie Easterling described the grant's significance. "In a region where geography can slow traditional response times, Pine Mountain Search & Rescue is an essential partner. Providing them with reliable equipment strengthens our entire emergency response network and ultimately improves safety outcomes for the people we serve," Easterling said.

The ARH Foundation for Healthier Communities is the philanthropic arm of Appalachian Regional Healthcare. The $5,000 award represents the entirety of available support for this round of upgrades, making the three-month readiness target particularly critical as the region moves into its most demanding season for emergency response.