Musician begins non-profit to provide aid to East Palestine community

Though it's been two years since the East Palestine train derailment, many are still grappling with its effects.

Mike Stout, a longtime activist and songwriter, says he connected with the community while performing at the 1 year commemoration event in February 2024. But that would become the first of many visits, where Stout would listen to the concerns of residents.

"I've gone to East Palestine and gone to the area probably every week for the last year and met with dozens of citizens, and they are not B.S.ing anybody," Stout said. "With the consent decree, the federal government, the EPA, [...] the local government, the state government have pretty much abandoned most of the sick people that were the victims of this derailment."

Those concerns inspired Stout to start up a non-profit, called Ohio Valley Derailment Mutual Aid, to bring some financial relief. So far, he estimates he's raised around $6,500 to help families make ends meet, and written two songs to raise awareness and support for the village of East Palestine.

"The purpose of it is to channel funds to citizens that are most in need and I'm talking daily, day-to-day stuff," he tells 21 News.

Ultimately, Stout says he hopes to expand his non-profit to be able to address larger community needs that have been left out of the spotlight.

"The only thing that's gonna solve their problems is getting the people that are sick and being forced to endure houses full of toxins is to get them the hell out of there and relocate them somewhere else," Stout said.