Father Jim Sichko brought cash and Amazon gift cards to IGA employees in Isom Tuesday. (Twitter Photo)
Father Jim Sichko readily admits he does not know a lot about sports and made sure I knew that before he joined us on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk this week.
However, he knows something a lot better than sports — he knows how to help people.
He is a preacher, evangelist and motivational speaker with the Diocese of Lexington and in 2016 Pope Francis commissioned him as one of only 1,000 Papal Missionaries of Mercy, including just one of 100 in the United States.
He’s helped with plenty of disaster relief and is doing it again with eastern Kentucky flood relief now — his seventh disaster relief effort. He put an Amazon wish list on his social media and in less than 24 hours had three Amazon trucks full of packages at his house.
He needed 100-plus University of Kentucky football players Friday to help him load trucks with packages sent to his home. He got packages from every state and numerous countries from people want to help. Even comedian/TV host Ellen DeGeneres sent him 5,000 pounds of dog food to distribute.
Father Sichko went to Isom in eastern Kentucky himself Monday to deliver more help. He took $1,000 cash and $1,000 in Amazon gift cards along with cleaning supplies and a free cleaning with SERVPRO of the family of DELTA employee James Griffie. He also had a new car for Griffie’s sister.
Remember the IGA in Isom that was severely damaged by the flood waters? He took $20,000 cash and $10,000 in Amazon gift cards to them.
“It is a wonderful thing. It’s sad to have this happen and have to do this to help but it is wonderful that everyone participates together to help,” Father Sichko said.
He does know some sports. His father was recruited by UK coach Bear Bryant in 1948 as a running back. That was the same year UK recruited quarterback Babe Parilli. The two had played against each other in high school in Pennsylvania and took their recruiting visit to UK together. Sichko’s father went to Pittsburgh and roomed with future Detroit Lions linebacker Joe Schmidt. Parilli became a two-time All-American one of the best quarterbacks ever at UK.
However, Sichko can thank his sister for having special seats for the highly anticipated Georgia game at Kroger Field in November. Sichko was eating at a restaurant recently when Stoops came up to him to thank him for all he does for others and offered him the use of his suite for any home game this year.
“I said, ‘When do you start playing?’” Father Sichko said. “I was eating with my sister and she is head of high school athletics in Texas. She whispered, ‘Tell him you want the Georgia game.’ He just looked at me, looked at my sister and then said yes. So I am going to the Georgia game.”
He also shared another terrific story on Sunday Morning Sports. He was preaching in New Orleans the same day Saints quarterback Drew Brees announced his retirement in 2021.
“He happened to be at my talk. He came up to me and in front of everyone presented me with a game ball signed by him,” Father Sichko said. “The ball was used. I said, ‘Couldn’t you find a new one?’ My sister was like, ‘Shut up. That is what you want. It’s a real game ball.’”
