Author: Kathy Mills

As we close out 2024, it is time for reflection and celebration! Central Kentucky Head Start has had a very successful first half of this school year and is excited for the time to recharge as we prepare for 2025!

Central Kentucky Head Start is working to fully implement our new program option. We now have 352 Head Start slots and 48 Early Head Start slots across our nine centers. Early Head Start is a growing area for Head Start and we are glad to be able to convert three classrooms to serve these younger kiddos. Staffing remains an ongoing challenge, but we are actively working to make sure our programs are fully staffed and fully enrolled.

Central Kentucky Head Start is excited about the future of our organization. This year, CKYHS has created a new role to have Ms. Ann Pickerrell as the Assistant Director for our program. Ms. Pickerrell is transitioning from our Education Manager position and brings wonderful experience and ideas to this new leadership position. 2025 will mean that we will have a new Head Start Director as Mr. Bryan Conover transition to CKCAC’s Executive Director, as well. Stay tuned for exciting news as we continue to strengthen Central Kentucky Head Start!

As 2024 comes to a close, we want to wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday season and Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support of Central Kentucky Head Start! Please help us raise awareness of the educational and employment opportunities that we provide! If there is anything we can do to help the children and families in our communities, please let us know!

Central Kentucky Community Action Council (CKCAC) is a proud sponsor of the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The CACFP is a federal program designed to promote the serving of nutritious meals and snacks to children and adults in the care of participating childcare centers, day care homes and adult day care centers. CKCAC currently sponsors 25 Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) and 22 Unaffiliated Day Care Centers (UC) and 1 Emergency Shelter in the following 18 Kentucky counties: Anderson, Boyle, Casey, Fayette, Franklin, Hardin, Jessamine, LaRue, Lincoln, Meade, Mercer, Nelson, Pulaski, Scott, Taylor, Washington, Wayne, and Woodford.

Every day that a child is fed USDA certified meals at a Family Child Care Home and/or Unaffiliated Center as part of the Food Program is a success story to celebrate. Often, children of lower incomes are not afforded the opportunity to eat a well-rounded meal while at home. The CACFP benefits those children, the Family/Center Daycare, and the parents/guardians.

If you know of any Family Child Care Homes and/or Day Care Centers who are interested in finding out more about the Food Program and whether they are eligible to participate, they may contact CKCAC’s Food Program Director Kathy Hagan at 270-692-2136 X501 or by email at kathy.hagan@ckcac.org.

Community Collaboration for Children has been busy collecting Toys for Tots for Nelson County. CCC In-Home services has a waiting list, but we are working extremely hard to keep the waiting list down.

Parent Engagement Meeting Program for Elizabethtown Independent Elementary schools is off to a great start for the year 2024-2025. We are working on expanding into other counties after the New Year.

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

Trail of Hope Regional Network’s Build A Bed program has been extremely busy making sure 41 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 Extension Office in Elizabethtown at 10:00 AM on January 21, 2025. If you are interested in being a network member, please reach out to Ronda Bertrand, CCC Network Coordinator at 270-692-7553.

As I prepare to step down from my role as Executive Director of the Central Kentucky Community Action Council, I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude and reflection. The journey we’ve shared over the years has been both challenging and rewarding, and I am proud of the work we’ve accomplished together.

Throughout my tenure, my passion has always been to empower our community members, especially those in need, by creating programs that lift them out of poverty. Our initiatives have aimed to provide not just immediate relief but also sustainable pathways to better futures. Protecting the most vulnerable among us—our children and senior citizens—has been a core part of our mission, and I am heartened by the impact we’ve made in these areas.

I have been privileged to work alongside an incredible team whose dedication and hard work have been the cornerstone of our success. The love and respect I have for my staff and colleagues cannot be overstated. Your commitment to our cause and the compassion you show to those we serve inspire me every day. Together, we have built a community that truly cares and acts, and I am confident that this spirit will continue to thrive.

As I retire, I leave knowing that the Central Kentucky Community Action Council is in capable hands.  Bryan Conover will do a fantastic job leading our team starting January 1, 2025.  Our vision and mission will continue to be driven forward with the same fervor and dedication. I look forward to seeing the great strides that will be made in the years to come.

Thank you all for your support, friendship, and shared commitment to our community. It has been an honor to serve as your Executive Director.

More to come………….much more …………..

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

Congregate Meals has been working with Lincoln Trail on the yearly monitoring to make sure we are compliant, this is due this month in November.

Congregate Meals has been working on our United Way grant due next month in December.

Congregate Meals has a new computer program called Mon-Ami. Congregate Meals would like to thank Lincoln Trail for all their help in getting us through some of our computer issues.

Congregate Meals is still in need of a part-time Cook and a full-time Coordinator at our Grayson County Senior Center.

Woodbine Construction has started demolition on our Elizabethtown building so there will be a new Congregate Meals cooking center opening in Hardin County.

Congregate Meals served were 11,069 in October and the meals continue to grow weekly.

On October 28^th the senior volunteers of the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) gathered in Elizabethtown at the American Legion to recognize and honor their service to their communities over the past year. RSVP volunteers serve in over 14 nonprofit workstations across Hardin and Nelson Counties. During the past year 103 volunteers served over 27,500 hours for these community partners. RSVP is proud of the work our volunteers do every day.

RSVP is grateful for the lunch, donated by Bluegrass Meats and Catering and the meeting space donated by the American Legion. Volunteers also enjoyed a magic show by Aaron Hart from Hodgenville.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer in Hardin or Nelson Counties reach out to Melissa or Jessica at (270) 737-1059.