By: Tina Bryson
MOUNT VERNON, Ky. — Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) has been awarded a grant by Kentucky Kids Eat, a child nutrition program that is committed to ending childhood hunger in Kentucky by connecting kids to healthy meals 365 days a year. Through this program, CAP will provide free meals to children aged 18 and under in Rockcastle County.
“This is the first year that CAP has received this award,” said Sharon Goff, manager of CAP’s Child and Family Development Center in Mt. Vernon. “Our main goal is helping children and families. When we get to participate in the summer feeding program it allows us to assist some of the families that we serve at the CFDC as well as meeting new children and their parents in the community that may need assistance over the summer when school is out.”
Last summer, more than 2,600 food distribution sites served nearly 3 million meals to Kentucky children. Those numbers continue to grow as awareness and participation in the program expands. Children from low-income families receive a nutritious meal, recreational fun, and educational activities May through August.
“This grant through the No Kids Hungry KY campaign has enabled CAP to expand our services to the community this summer and help families who may be living paycheck to paycheck,” said Mike Loiacono, director of human service programming at CAP in Rockcastle, Jackson, and McCreary Counties. “Programs like these help us continue to support families and make a difference in the lives of their children.”
The grant provides funding not only for food, but also educational and recreational supplies. CAP was able to use additional funding to purchase portable picnic tables for the children to sit and eat, canopies that provide shade on hot summer days, and arts and crafts supplies that provides an additional element of active learning and play.
“We want to be a blessing to the children as well as the families,” Goff added. “I am excited about this funding because it has allowed us to expand our summer feeding program so that we can reach even more families. We get to buy more food to help families and provide new ideas to parents about how to prepare and serve a variety of nutritious meals at home.”
The Summer Food Service Program will run through July 25 in Rockcastle County. No food will be served during the week of July 4. CAP operates the program three days a week. Tuesdays at the Brodhead Depot, noon to 1 pm. Wednesdays at Valley View Apartments, noon to 12:30 pm; Carter Drive Apartments, 12:40 to 1:10 pm; and the Williams Street Community Room, noon to 1 pm. Thursdays at the Livingston Community Center, noon to 1 pm. The program is also offered by Rockcastle County Schools and the Rockcastle Public Library each Tuesday through Thursday, 4 – 4:30 pm at the library.
The Summer Food Service Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For more information about the program in Rockcastle County, call 606.256.5613.
