For two long years, a Leslie County family lived without a working sewer system. When their old septic system failed, they had no choice but to return to using an old-fashioned outhouse because the cost of replacing the system was far out of their reach.. Winters were bitter, summers were sweltering, and the constant worry about sanitation weighed heavily on the family.

Help finally came when the Leslie County Extension Office's Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent learned of their situation while on a farm visit. Understanding the health and safety risks, the agent went to work, reaching out to the Leslie Soil Conservation Office and the Lexington Rotary Club. Together, they formed a partnership to secure the funding, equipment, and labor needed to install a brand-new sewer system which would have otherwise cost the family somewhere between $7,000 to $8,000. 

After just a few months of planning and coordination, the day finally came when the new system was completed. For the first time in years, the family could enjoy the comfort of indoor plumbing. The project not only restored a basic necessity—it restored hope, proving that when neighbors and organizations work together, they can bring lasting change.