Author: Mandy Lambert

The Senior Companion Program submitted its progress report supplement on December 10. The report is a reflection of the progress the program has made in carrying out the outcome-based work plans. A total of 44 volunteers, all over the age of 55, provided 45,951 hours of in-home services to 109 clients living within our six-county service area. Counties served include Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, Marion, Nelson and Washington. The program’s semi-annual financial and progress report was also due in e-grants by January 30. Progress of work plans and budget seem to be right on target at this time!

Volunteer performance evaluations will be completed, reviewed and signed off on during the February In-Service. The Director completes an evaluation on all 44 of the program’s volunteers and then reviews it with each one of them. The Director and volunteer both sign the document in approval of the content written in the evaluation.

Income reviews will also be another task that will be completed by March. Each volunteer must turn in proof of their household income annually. This is a requirement for eligibility in serving as a volunteer in the Senior Companion Program. This proves whether or not they meet the criteria of the guidelines established by the program’s federal funding source, the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Volunteers in the Senior Companion Program will be mailing out cards to our veterans, active military and their families. This event will serve as our service activity in honor of “Martin Luther King Jr. Day.” We certainly take pride in making our National Service Projects a huge success!

SCP currently has a waiting list of individuals interested in volunteering, as well as clients that are in need of our services. Anyone interested in joining or knows someone that needs some extra help can call (270) 734-3604 for more information.

We hope that everyone had a joyful holiday season surrounded by the love of family and friends. Saying “thank you” just isn’t enough for the commitment in responding whenever we are faced with needs. Your support will definitely help drive us forward in the important work ahead. As always, we are so thankful for the opportunity to serve Central Kentucky’s elderly and disabled population. We continue to strive to make living independently a reality. We wish you many blessings in the New Year ahead.

Mr. Raymond Temple was recently presented with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication and service to Nelson County. He has served 7,808 volunteer hours during his 12-plus years with the Kentucky Railway Museum, Inc. in New Haven, KY.

CKCATS is off to a fast pace for the 2019 year. We just received eight new mini vans from American Bus in December. The vans were provided by a 5339 grant from the Office of Transportation Delivery. This addition will update our fleet to 78 buses and will help fulfill the transportation needs of our clients with over 75 percent of our fleet being wheelchair accessible.

We will also receive two 12 x 2 buses from Mid-South Bus Center in March. These buses will also be provided by the 5339 grant. Current projects we are working on include processing our 5310, 5311 and 5339 grants. These grants are due by April 1.

CKCATS received a grant to renovate the Central Office in Lebanon along with a new phone system. New camera systems were also recently installed in the new buses and the entire fleet has been updated. Another project we are currently working on is the safety and security of all parking lots in the counties we serve. The Marion County parking lot for CKCATS had new LED lights installed. This is part of our Safety and Security Plan. All other county parking lots are being evaluated for lighting as well.

I hope this newsletter finds everyone warm and well. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Winter hasn’t been too bad for the Congregate Meals Program thus far. The senior centers have only had to close a few days this winter due to inclement weather. Per policy, if school is closed due to inclement weather senior centers are closed as well.

With snow day closures, holiday closures and potlucks Congregate Meals is now projected to have enough funds to provide meals through May. As of right now, June looks to be the only month where providing meals may be an issue. Any and all donations made to the Congregate Meal Program are always needed and appreciated!

Everyone who was previously trained for Bingocize has completed the recertification training. Staff in Hardin and Nelson Counties completed the Bingocize training and are now certified to offer classes in those counties. Please see your local senior center for class times and dates.

Since July 1, 2018, we have provided 696 Bingocize sessions to 99 unduplicated participants. We have served 18,762 meals to 472 unduplicated participants and have provided 3,003 nutrition education sessions to 355 unduplicated participants.

Grayson County Senior Center has a job opening for the kitchen aide position. Please see our Facebook page for job the description and how to apply.

Following the completion of CKCAC’s latest annual report, I always like to see on the local level how organizations impact regions. The National Community Action Partnership recently released the first National Community Action Impact Report: Building Opportunities for All. This unique and comprehensive report looks at how Community Action Agencies across the country impact the lives of 15 million people each year, creating pathways to prosperity. To access the report, visit: www.communityactionpartnership.com/impactreport.

The report outlines the needs families face in today’s uneven economy, the reach of Community Action coast to coast, and the impact Community Action has in communities every day. CKCAC is part of the Community Action Network, a local force of 1,000 local Community Action Agencies, reaching children and families in 99 percent of all U.S. counties. Agencies connect families to approaches that help them succeed and promote community-wide solutions to seemingly stubborn challenges in cities, suburban and rural communities. Creating pathways to prosperity, we work with our clients daily to do just that. I welcome you to be a part of it.

More to come…much more.

Central Kentucky Community Action’s Weatherization Program is in full swing and performing weatherization services in our eight-county service area. As of the end of December 2018, CKCAC completed 17 homes with 10 walkaways. As of January 1, CKCAC had 52 clients on the waiting list to receive services. The Weatherization Program is fully staffed with an in-house crew, along with contractors to perform HVAC, electrical work as well as weatherization that we have to perform to the dwellings receiving services.

Staff includes highly trained supporting and technical personnel, including Denny Baxter Dwelling Needs Evaluator/QCI Dustin McGowan Crew Leader, Aaron Haycraft Crew Worker, Bob Turci Crew Worker, and supporting staff Barbara Garrett Accounts Payable/Property Coordinator. We would like to say a huge thank you to all staff for their dedication for improving the quality of work and the dedication to ensure the health and safety of all the clients we serve.

Our testing services consist of aliening air and thermal boundaries, pressure diagnostics, heating system diagnostics, indoor air quality, and base load energy consumption diagnostics. Staff will be attending training January through March to obtain new certifications, which are now required by DOE.

This fiscal year, the program received funding from both DOE and LIHEAP with DOE funding totaling just over $260,000 and LIHEAP being just over $699,000. Central Kentucky Community Action Council has leveraged funds from utilities to expand the reach of the Weatherization Assistance Program. This year, we are leveraging funding from DOE, LIHEAP, ATMOS, East Kentucky Power, Kentucky Utilities, and Louisville Gas & Electric.

Our goal is to continue to reduce energy waste and assure the health and safety of each client we serve. We look forward to the future of CKCAC’s weatherization program and to better serve our eight-county service area.

This is the busiest time of year for the Community Services staff. We have just completed the Subsidy Component LIHEAP Subsidy, collaborated with other service organizations in our communities for a successful Christmas program, prepared the second quarter CSBG Service and ROMA reports, and began the LIHEAP Crisis Program.

LIHEAP Subsidy – In our eight-county service area, we assisted 3,482 families with home heating assistance in the amount of $475,625. This program began on November 5, 2018, and ran through December 21, 2018. The program proceeded smoothly thanks to the hard work of our dedicated staff members. The number of applicants was down across the state, maybe due to the warmer weather.

LIHEAP Crisis began on January 7, 2019.We are in the process of completing the annual Needs Assessment Survey. An email link has been sent to the Board of Directors for their input. This survey information will be entered into a database for accurate compilation. The results of the Needs Assessment Survey will determine the work plan for the next program year. The information will also be available to other programs and to the community.

Wintercare – The Wintercare Program is available to families for utility assistance. These funds are donated by utility customers as they pay their utility bill, and sometimes matched by the utility company. This program is used for families who are over income for LIHEAP, but under 150 percent of the federal poverty level. These families are often the “working poor” that fall between the cracks in income level eligibility.

Emergency Food and Shelter Program in Breckinridge, Grayson, Marion, Meade, and Nelson Counties is available to families for utility and rent assistance.

Thanks to all of the staff members who work so hard to balance all of these different programs and assist those in need. Their extraordinary efforts are greatly appreciated. We have a great team!