Author: Kathy Mills

The middle of November we started cooking for all 11 sites in the Elizabethtown kitchen. We are still working out techniques to make the new kitchen run as smoothly as possible. Every day is better than the day before, we are getting there.

Starting in December we now only do grab-n-go on Monday. Tuesday-Friday is dine-in only.

January 2026 we will have only dine-in every day, grab-n–go will no longer be available.

In November we served a little over 4,700 meals to our seniors.

 

Breckinridge-222  Grayson-418  Meade-726  Radcliff-345

Griffin Manor-406  Larue-331  Bradfordville-24  Lebanon-731

Nelson-1072  New Haven-28  Washington-443

Do you know of a Kentucky Child Care Home or Center that recently opened or that has been in business for a while and is not currently taking advantage of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)? If so, please have them contact our Child and Adult Care Food Program Director Kathy Hagan at kathy.hagan@ckcac.org or by calling 270-402-1977 for more information.

Let our Child Care Nutrition Program help your Day Care Home or Child Care Center by:

·        Helping you determine your CACFP eligibility, complete the necessary paperwork, and submitting your application to the State Agency on your behalf as your Sponsor.

·        Providing nutritional education on what food components are necessary for a well-rounded, healthy meal.

·        Reviewing your monthly reports for accuracy prior to submitting them to the State Agency.

·        Providing monthly food cost reimbursements based on how many meals are served and the eligibility of the children being served.

·        Being your primary source for any nutritional questions and/or food-related issues for children in your care.

With rising food costs, now’s the time for all eligible Kentucky Child Care Homes and Centers to participate in the CACFP. Let Central Kentucky Community Action help you apply for the CACFP as your sponsor today!

Community Collaboration for Children (CCC) has been busy collecting Toys for Tots for Nelson County. CCC In-Home services is working extremely hard to keep the waiting list down. We are working with community partners to ensure families will have Christmas for their children. We also are linking families to resources they need.

Parent Engagement Meeting Program for Elizabethtown Independent Elementary and Hardin County schools is off to a great start for the year 2025-2026. We have completed 100 PEM meetings since August.

Wow!! Cakes 4 Kids volunteers have been busy the past several months. CCC has delivered 13 cakes to our families.

Trail of Hope Regional Networks Build A Bed program has been extremely busy making sure 31 children have a bed. We are working on sponsorships to purchase bed frames, mattresses, bedding, and pillows. Trail of Hope Regional Network will meet in person at Hardin County Community Action Office in Elizabethtown at 10 AM on January 20, 2026. If you are interested in being a network member please reach out to Ronda Bertrand, CCC Network Coordinator at 270-692-7553.

December is a month of celebration and reflection. We get the chance to spend time with loved ones, reflect on the year that 2025 was, and rest in preparation for 2026.

I want to take a moment to send a special “thank you” to Central Kentucky Community Action Council’s Board of Directors. You have all given of your time and resources to help lead this agency through a very challenging year. Thank you for your incredible leadership and support for this agency.

As a reminder, LIHEAP’s Fall subsidy period ended on December 12^th. We have supported nearly 2,500 households in Central Kentucky to afford their utility bills during the Fall Subsidy period.

The LIHEAP Winter Crisis component is slated to begin on January 6^th, 2026. Households who are in a home heating crisis and are at risk of having their utilities cut off due to unpaid balances may be eligible for Winter Crisis. Please send anybody in this unfortunate situation to their local CSBG office.

While this time of year is a joyous season for many, it is important for us to remember that it is not for all. Some of our folks will be dealing with loss of loved ones or struggling with the financial strain of the holiday season. Some will not have a family to spend time with or the means to do so.

While it is my sincere hope that your holiday season is filled with love and joy! Please check in on your neighbors. Check in on your co-workers. Check in on those who are less fortunate. We are in this together.

As always, thank you for all you do.

The Senior Companion Program (SCP) is actively looking for volunteers and our numbers are growing!

Congregate Meals served over 1,600 seniors the month of October. Tuesday’s are now dine-in only this started in November. Congregate Meals now has dine-in and grab and go on Monday and Friday. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are dine-in only.

The seniors have been busy at the centers with activities. They have enjoyed making projects, cards, and playing bingo while being with their friends.

CKCATS provides non-emergency transportation for the following services: Medicaid, Medicare, General Public, Senior, Veteran, and Intercity. Services vary depending on the county.

Medicaid services are provided in Washington, Breckinridge, Grayson, LaRue, Marion and Nelson counties. Medicaid hours are from 6am-8pm Monday-Friday and 8am-1pm on Saturdays. Exceptions may be made for urgent care trips only.

Medicare services are provided in Washington, Breckinridge, Grayson, LaRue, Marion, Nelson, Hardin, Bullitt, Adair, Boyle, Taylor and Green counties. Medicare hours are from 6am-8pm Monday-Friday and 8am-1pm on Saturdays. Exceptions may be made for urgent care trips only.

General Public transportation is provided in Breckinridge, Grayson, LaRue, Marion and Nelson counties. Hours of service are Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm only.

Senior transportation is provided in Washington, Breckinridge, Grayson, LaRue, Marion, Nelson, Hardin, and Meade counties. Hours of service are from 8:30am-2pm only.

Veteran transportation is provided in Edmonson, Hart, Breckinridge, Grayson, LaRue, Marion and Nelson counties. Hours of service are 6am-8pm Monday-Friday and 8am-1pm.

Intercity transportation is provided in the counties of Breckinridge, Grayson, LaRue, Marion and Nelson counties.

CKCATS had a virtual compliance review with the Office of Transportation on October 1st and a vehicle and facility inspection on September 23rd. Thanks to all staff who helped in getting information and who worked with us to make this compliance review a smooth process.

We had 2 new buses delivered on September 17^th. These were 8×2 narrow body buses. This is the first time that these have been ordered, but they mimic the older transit vehicles that we have in our fleet. These new buses will be placed in Marion and Nelson counties.

We are continuing to accept applications for hiring. If you or anyone you know would like to join the staff at CKCATS, please go to the link below to view or apply:

https://centralkentuckycommunityactioncouncilinc.applytojob.com/apply

 

 

 

 

November is here. Leaves have changed, we have had our first snowfall, and we are firmly beginning the holiday season. I know this is a challenging time for many in our community for various reasons. CKCAC is here to help you in whatever ways we can. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

On November 12^th, the Federal government officially reopened with President Trump’s signature. We are very thankful for our Congressional delegation for helping put an end to the longest Federal government shutdown in U.S. History. Unfortunately, we are not fully out-of-the-woods, yet. It will take a few weeks for the Federal government to re-open fully, so we are not sure when we will have our full grant awards. CKCAC is in constant communication with our contacts in D.C. and hope to have positive news, soon.

This is the time of year where we need to celebrate with each other and lean on each other a little bit more. We know that many families in Central Kentucky are struggling. Please remember that the LIHEAP subsidy window is open for applications. At our locations where we have food banks, we are distributing commodities as quickly and efficiently as possible. Please reach out to your local CSBG office if you need anything.