Author: J Miles

The Senior Companion Program is in full swing during its busiest time of the year! We have submitted a total of three grants, completed several major reports, and are planning for the annual volunteer recognition.  SCP submitted a grant application requesting donations to United Way of Central Kentucky during the month of March. SCP, CSBG and CCC all applied for funding. An interview with United Way’s Community Investment Team was held on May 1. Notice of allocations will be announced some time during the month.  The Senior Companion Program also submitted its federal grant to the Corporation for National and Community Service in April. If awarded, the program will be operating in its second year of a three-year cycle grant. Notice of grant awards will be announced by the end of the month.  

Client updates, volunteer evaluations, and income reviews are all being conducted at this time. Everyone is doing an awesome job in fulfilling
the program’s mission and is currently income eligible to serve. Of the client surveys completed, each have stated they and their families were extremely satisfied with our services and the vitality of the program. This is certainly reassuring to know that the Senior Companion Program is definitely making positive impacts within the communities it serves. 

The Annual Volunteer Recognition will take place at My Old Kentucky Home in Bardstown next month. The recognition is designed to
show appreciation to the volunteers for the services they provide to clients on behalf of the program. The event has been held here the past couple of years and has been a huge success! Details and pictures from the event will be reported in the next bulletin.

Bingocize continues to be a big hit. Right now Nelson, Hardin, Breckinridge, Grayson, Washington and Marion all offer bingocize classes at the Senior Center. We will be training staff from Larue and Radcliff very soon. Bingocize strategically integrates exercise and health education into a fun game of bingo. 

We recently had three clients from our Lebanon Senior Center express to us that the center has changed their lives. They said it keeps them active and they enjoy having a nice place to go, as well as meeting and congregating with people. I love hearing stories like these – it is why we do what we do!

All Senior Centers continue to get excellent monitoring reports from the Health Departments and the dietitian. We are blessed to have such remarkable participants and staff. Between July 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019, we served 519 unduplicated participants 26,166 meals.
We have also provided 1,497 Bingocize sessions to 171 unduplicated participants and 4,341 nutrition education sessions to 394 unduplicated participants.

CKCATS processed and delivered the 5310, 5311 and 5339 grants to the Office of Transportation Delivery in Frankfort on March 29. All grants were due on April 1 for the 2019/2020 FY. These grants provide operating funds for our day-to-day operations and capital funds to purchase vehicles. 

Our Central Office renovation began in March. Our new office space will house five new offices and two ADA-compliant bathrooms. There will also be a conference room and storage area on the second floor. Additionally, the current office will be renovated to house four offices, new bathrooms and a large work and break area for our drivers. We are very excited about this large project. It’s estimated to take about four months to finish. The project is possible with the 5339b grant funding.

CKCATS has just applied for a new Lo No Grant (5339c) that promotes vehicles with low or no emissions along with hybrid vehicles. CKCATS is requesting a portion of the $85 million grant to purchase hybrid vehicles for each county. CKCATS has received a letter of support from the New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future group in Springfield for the grant. We are also asking our County Judges for letters of support.

The Fulton County Transit Authority conducted a safety simulator training session on March 30 at the Nelson County CATS Office. Utilizing funds from RTAP, thirty drivers received this additional safety training and the remaining 35 employees will receive the training in the fall. It’s a great opportunity for our drivers to be more safety conscious.

Spring View Hospital, in Lebanon, recently placed a bus wrap promoting the hospital’s ER on one of our buses. There has been a lot of attention on the bus and other businesses have inquired about promoting their own businesses. This is a new venture that CKCATS has undertaken with the help of our Executive Director, Hal B. Goode.

We would like to extend a “WARM” welcome to our newest RSVP station, Warm Blessings in Elizabethtown. Warm Blessings, Inc. (WB) is a non-profit (501c3) organization dedicated to ministering to the whole person. The corporation is organized for the purpose of providing meals to hungry people with the vision to offer emergency shelter to people in crisis. Their goal is to serve patrons with dignity and compassion. Through the assistance of many volunteers, supporters, contributions from the community, and operating space donated by the congregation at College Heights UMC, Warm Blessings opened on July 17, 2006. They served only two people on opening night. By their first anniversary, the Soup Kitchen served 87 individuals. During their first six months they served 1,542 meals, but today it is not unusual to serve over 1,500 meals a month. The program is operated exclusively by volunteers. Volunteers serve between 550 to 725 hours monthly. 

Congratulations to the Central KY Community Action Council RSVP Program! The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) recently announced that Hardin and Nelson County will receive funding for the continuation of our Senior Corps RSVP volunteers for 2019-2021. The grant, awarded to Central KY Community Action Council, Inc. will help strengthen the presence of Senior Corps programming in the area.

For over 33 years, Central Kentucky Community Actions’ 100+ RSVP partners have been the lifeline to Hardin and Nelson County nonprofit organizations and faith-based groups who depend on volunteers to help meet the increased demand for services. As community needs are identified, they respond quickly. Perhaps it’s providing food to hungry neighbors, offering support to veterans and military families, providing educational and cultural opportunities, supporting our local medical center or simply helping a child with homework. 

April was a whirlwind.  Thanks to the team at Central KY Community Action Head Start & the Community Collaboration for Children who hosted our Community Child Abuse Awareness Walk recently in Lebanon.  There was a record number of attendees and information booths.  It was an awesome way to show our support for taking care of our kiddos.   This type of outreach is essential for our clients to bring awareness of child abuse to our community.   Thanks again to all of those who supported and volunteered.

May is already ramping up.  May is Community Action Month and Central Kentucky Community Action Council (CKCAC) continues to recognize the success of the national Community Action Network. Community Action Month is a wonderful time to honor and celebrate the impact Community Action has in the lives of families and communities across the Lincoln Trail Area, Kentucky and the country.  Community Action offers insight to leaders looking to understand what is working on the ground to help families thrive—creating smarter solutions that can be put to work within our communities.   America’s Community Action Agencies connect millions of children and families to greater opportunity, transforming their lives and making our communities — and our nation— stronger.  This month, Central Kentucky Community Action Council will be engaging in programs and events that showcase our innovative work.  Follow us on Facebook or attend one of many events honoring this organization.  Helping people help themselves, that’s what we do daily.

May is also Older Americans Month and CKCAC will partner with the Lincoln Trail Area Development District for the Senior Celebration on May 16 from 9 am – 2 pm EST at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown.   The event will feature speakers, workshops, food, raffles and vendor supporters.  For over 30 years the Senior Celebration has been a fun and exciting day to honor our Senior Americans.   CKCAC is honored to be a part, see you there. 

As always, please reach out if we can assist.    More to come……much more.