Author: Kathy Mills

Executive Director’s Newsletter – June 2026

This month is a special one to me personally because it marks my five-year anniversary of working at Central Kentucky Community Action Council. These five years have flown by, but it marks a great opportunity to reflect, as well.

I began at CKCAC in our Head Start program, where we work every day to provide children in Central Kentucky with high-quality early childhood education in a safe, loving environment. Head Start also helps families stay in the workforce by reducing the burden of childcare costs. Head Start epitomizes the mission of Community Action because it provides a multi-generational path forward for families in need. We all need to continue to encourage leaders in Washington, D.C., to recognize the value of this program to communities across the country.

Moving into the Executive Director role a year and a half ago has been an incredibly challenging and rewarding experience. We have a wonderful team working to make a real difference in Central Kentucky. Our Strategic Plan 2028 has put forward a meaningful roadmap of what we hope to achieve over the next three years. I hope you will continue to support CKCAC and help us achieve our vision of helping people and changing lives in Central Kentucky!

As always, thank you for all you do.

Senior Companion Program (SCP)

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

The Central Kentucky Senior Companion Program held their annual volunteer recognition on April 29 as part of Volunteer Appreciation Month. The SCP volunteers were recognized for service in their communities and were treated to a fun afternoon of lunch, music, and Derby themed games and prizes.

Volunteers in this program served over 29,000 hours last year and have already served nearly 9,000 hours this year. We are very proud of the work they do and the difference they make every day. Their efforts bring much needed companionship and assistance that allow many of our frail elderly community members to age in their homes with dignity.

We would also like to express our appreciation for the American Legion Hardin Post 113 for being generous with their space for our program time and again. They are always gracious hosts, and we appreciate everything they do. Also, special thanks to Barry Howard for entertaining our volunteers with music and supplementing our pasta and salad lunch with lots of pizza. Barry does great work in Hardin County and our volunteers enjoyed talking with him about his work and dancing to the music. Rosie Posie in Elizabethtown supplied beautiful Derby-themed centerpieces that elevated the décor and created the perfect atmosphere.

If you are interested in becoming a Senior Companion in Marion, Washington, Nelson, Hardin, Grayson, or Breckinridge County, or would like to sponsor a Senior Companion Volunteer, please contact Mary Jean Blake at mary.blake@ckcac.org or 270-402-7194. 

 

Congregate Meals Program

Congregate Meals served 4,507 meals in April to the seniors in our 8 county wide senior centers.

The seniors are getting excited about the Senior Celebration coming on May 21st. They have been getting signed up to ride with CATS, or planning their ride to get there.

We had a Teams Meeting and talked about different activities for our centers to make it fun for the seniors. Good ideas were shared.

Several centers had Derby parties last week to celebrate the Derby. The photo is our attendees of Washington County senior center at their Derby party. So much sweetness in one picture.

If you are a senior, or know a senior, we invite you to visit the center in your county. We would love to see you!

 

Central KY Community Action Transportation Services (CKCATS)

CKCATS currently has a total of 68 employees and has been busy providing various transportation services to 13 counties:

Marion, Breckinridge, Grayson, Nelson and Larue Counties- we provide General Public, VET, Senior, Department of Corrections, Medicaid and Medicare trips.

Washington County- we provide Senior, Medicaid and Medicare trips.

Edmonson and Hart Counties-we provide VET trips.

Bullitt, Adair, Boyle, Taylor, and Green Counties- we provide Medicare trips.

CKCATS held their annual Coordination Meeting on February 25th at 1pm EST at the CKCATS Central Office. This meeting is advertised and made available to the public each year to address the needs and concerns of the general public in all counties. Surveys are given to clients and Stakeholders in all counties and the information gathered is used for discussion to help improve transportation services.

I have been attending the Marion County Situation Table every Wednesday that I am available. The Situation Table is a group of community partners who come together for scheduled meetings to discuss the acute elevated risks of individuals in Marion County with hopes to pull together resources to meet the specific needs of the individuals presented to the Situation Table. The Situation Table has been successful so far and I look forward to sitting at the table and knowing that I or other resources in the community are helping individuals who face everyday barriers.

CKCATS is gearing up for the Senior Celebration that will be held on May 21st at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown. Funding for transportation for this event has decreased this year, but CKCATS will still be the means of transportation for seniors from the senior centers for this event. CKCATS will also have a booth at the Senior Celebration and will be talking with seniors to make them aware of the services that we provide.

Some members of the CKCATS team will be attending the Community Action Kentucky (CAK) Conference in Lexington on June 9th. We are looking forward to networking and learning valuable information.

CKCATS will also be participating in the Grayson County Thrive Resource Fair on June 9th. We are excited to meet and talk with the citizens in the county, as well as educate them on the services that CKCATS provide.

CKCATS continues to grow each year. We are now accepting applications in Nelson, LaRue, Breckinridge, and Grayson Counties. Come join our wonderful and dedicated group of staff! Thanks to the staff for working diligently each day! If you or anyone you know has questions about CKCATS or any of our services, please contact the office at 1-800-242-8225 or 270-692-9313 to speak with any of our experienced verification clerks.

Executive Director’s Report – May 2026

May is Community Action Month!! We are excited to celebrate all of the success of CKCAC programs and the impact we are having with the citizens of Central Kentucky. I hope you will follow us on Facebook and share the good news!

Spring LIHEAP Subsidy will end on May 22nd. Unlike our Winter Crisis component, LIHEAP Subsidy program does not require a potential client to be in a shut-off situation. If you know folks who are struggling to afford utility and housing costs, please have them contact their local CSBG office in their county. Applications must be submitted by the deadline in order to receive the Spring LIHEAP Subsidy.

Lincoln Trail Area Development District is hosting their annual Senior Celebration event at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown. CKCAC is proud to partner for this free event to help provide transportation to Seniors and be able to share all of the work that CKCAC does.

Just a friendly reminder that Kentucky’s primary elections will occur on May 19th. Many counties have early or absentee voting options going on, but please make sure your voice is heard by May 19th! Happy Election Day!

Lastly, Memorial Day is Monday, May 25th. To those men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, we are all eternally grateful. As a son of a career military father, I also have a deep appreciation of what families of our servicemen and women endure. I hope you all will take a moment on Memorial Day to remember and honor those who have served and those families who have lost.

As always, thank you for all you do.

CKCAC Area Board of Directors Meeting

 

As a non-profit agency, Central Kentucky Community Action, Inc. is required to inform the local community of the Area Board of Director’s Annual Meeting which is open to the public. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST. For more information, call the Central Office at 270-692-2136.

Public Review of the Community Services Block Grant Proposal

Article By: Samantha Ross

Press Release April 29, 2026

 

Central KY Community Action Council, INC. is holding a public review of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) proposal for SFY 27. The proposal is prepared annually by Central KY Community Action Council, INC. and is submitted to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and Community Action Kentucky. It describes Central KY Community Action’s plan for the use of the funds in Central KY Community Action’s services area; which includes agency capacity building, civic engagement and community involvement, employment, education and cognitive development, income/infrastructure/asset building, health and social/behavioral development, housing, linkages, and services supporting multiple domains. It also includes the results of the local community needs assessment.

 

This project is funded, in part, under a contact with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services with funds from the Community Services Block Grant Act of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

The proposal will be available on Central KY Community Action’s (www.ckcac.org) on April 29, 2026. Comments or questions may be forwarded to Samantha Ross, Central KY Community Action Council, INC. 332 Hood Ave. Lebanon, KY 40033; or call (270) 692-2136; or email Samantha.ross@ckcac.org.