Laurel County, Ky. - Sheriff John Root is reporting that Deputy John Inman along with Deputy Shawn Boroviak were dispatched to a complaint of 2 children allegedly begging for money from customers in the parking lot of a business along the road on West Cumberland Gap Parkway, approx. 10 miles south of London on Tuesday afternoon June 9, 2015.
When deputies arrived and conducted an investigation, they learned that a family traveling from Detroit Michigan to Florida to visit relatives had broken down on the exit ramp at exit 29 near the West Cumberland Gap Pkwy. in southern Laurel County on Monday.
A tow truck removed the vehicle off the interstate, and exhausted the family's finances. Family members were apparently at local businesses attempting to seek donations for a bus ticket for an adult to make a return trip to Detroit, to pick up another vehicle and return to pick up the rest of the family.
The family consisted of three adults and five children ages 3, 8,10 and two children 11.
Deputies learned that two Laurel County agencies were already assisting the family---Laurel County Emergency management director Abby Hale had secured assistance from Community Cooperative Care (CCC) for a hotel stay for the family.
While there investigating, deputies attempted to purchase food for the children at a McDonald's restaurant at exit 29, however, the manager at McDonald's provided a donation of food for the family.
An adult family member was expected to leave London on Wednesday with his donated bus ticket for a return trip to Detroit to bring another vehicle back to pick up his family.