Mine safety expert Daven Hoskins, with Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance, along with his colleagues, presented a check of $10,000 to Harlan County Community Action Agency Executive Director Donna Pace and Harlan County Judge-Executive Dan Mosley at the Cumberland library on Thursday for miners and their families impacted by Blackjewel’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Hoskins first began his work in the coal industry in 1979 as a continuous mine helper at Harlan-Cumberland Coal Company. Hoskins was certified as a Kentucky mine inspector in 1993, is a member of the state accident investigation team and member/trainer of the Harlan mine rescue team and is a certified emergency medical technician and mine emergency technician.

Hoskins joined KEMI in 2005 as a client services field representative and he works primarily with coal-related businesses.

“KEMI’s involved in workers’ compensation. We provide workers’ compensation for a number of coal mines in the state of Kentucky,” Hoskins said. “I’ve worked for KEMI the last 14 years taking care of the coal mines safety and I know a lot of these folks here.”

Hoskins said the donation was “just a thing that KEMI wanted to do to step up and help these coal miners and their families in a time of need.”

“We are, as far as the company goes, a family-oriented company. If a family’s in need and we can step up and help, then we will. As a coal miner myself, any time you have a tough situation and somebody steps up to help, we’re very appreciative. That’s just who we are and what we are,” Hoskins said.

Chris Rowe, one of the miners experiencing financial stresses from the recent layoffs, said, “It’s a bad situation that we’re trying to make the best out of, and we’ve had a lot of support from the county and judge-executive (Mosley) and from everybody. Without them, we wouldn’t be anywhere close to what we are.”

Rowe added he is very thankful for the donations he and his fellow miners and family have received throughout Harlan, including the check the miners were presented for $10,000 from KEMI.

“That’s why I say we have so much support from the community,” Rowe said. “It’s amazing how much our county has come together and supported us. I don’t have the words. We’re pleased that we got it.”

Rowe also had the opportunity to speak with Kentucky Sports Radio about his thoughts of the check and the situation at hand.

The check will be disbursed to miners in need to help with paying their bills and to purchase basic necessities.

“If the shoes were on the other feet, these boys would be the first ones to step up and say they can help,” Hoskins said.