WQXE News

Kentuckians showed their support for nonprofit organizations during the 13th annual Kentucky Gives Day fundraiser Tuesday, and Central Kentucky Community Foundation Communications and Projects Coordinator Erin Hahn says this year’s event was the most successful Gives Day in the ten years the community foundation has been the regional sponsor.

“We had 24 nonprofit organizations participating in our region that we service, our nine county region, so we brought in $206,000 for those local nonprofits,” Hahn said.

This year marked a milestone for the community foundation, as over the last ten years more than $1 million has been raised for area nonprofits through Kentucky Gives Day.

Hahn says donors on Kentucky Gives Day come from all walks of life.

“Just alone for our area, we had 688 donors contribute 982 gifts, so if you think about that, these aren’t huge dollar amounts that are being sent to these nonprofits,” Hahn said. “It could be $5, it could be $10, but in some cases, some organizations even had matches offered that allowed them to kind of double their dollars.”

If you missed out on Kentucky Gives Day, there are still ways to contribute.

“They can go to our website www.ckcf4people.org, or give us a call at 270-737-8393, and we can get you connected to any of our local nonprofits,” Hahn said.

Hahn says as another testament to the local community’s support, five area nonprofits made it onto the Kentucky Gives Day leaderboard’s top ten.

Breckinridge County Public Schools is gearing up to launch their summer feeding program on Wednesday, May 21.

“We always have a really strong summer feeding program,” said BCPS Superintendent Dr. Nick Carter. “We have a lot of kiddos that take advantage of that, which it’s a huge help to so many of our families as everyone is feeling the effects of inflation right now with grocery prices and things along those lines.”

The district last year acquired a “Tiger Meals on Wheels” bus to use for the program.

“This year we’re doing every Wednesday throughout the summer weeks, and kiddos will be able to pick up five breakfasts and five lunches,” Carter said. “It will be per child, and we’ve got different drop-off sites throughout the county.”

The summer feeding program is open to all children, not just BCPS students. Families with students at other school districts or private schools and homeschool students are welcome to sign up.

“There are so many kids that the best meals they get a day are at school, and so we are always excited to be able to offer this service in the summer months for those children and those families,” Carter said. “You know, it’s hard times right now for so many of our families that are working hard every day to make ends meet.”

Registration is requested. Find the flyer with the list of drop off locations and the link to register on the Breckinridge County School District Facebook page.

The Heart of Kentucky Chorus invites the public to their spring show, to be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 24.

“This year we’re going full gospel,” said chorus member Bob Swope. “All of our songs are going to be classic favorite gospel songs, and in keeping with the theme, we will be performing in the sanctuary at the Memorial United Methodist Church here in Elizabethtown.”

Tickets are $15 and available from any chorus member and at the door, with children 12 and under free. The spring show is a benefit for the Living Waters Guatemala Partnership.

“I lead a team of volunteers that go to Guatemala several times a year to install water purification systems in little mountain villages that basically have no access to clean water, so this is an opportunity for the community to come out and help support this mission as well as enjoy some wonderful entertainment,” Swope said.

Swope says the Heart of Kentucky Chorus is open to anybody that loves to sing.

“We come from all around Central Kentucky, Hardin County and surrounding counties,” Swope said. “We meet every Thursday evening and rehearse under the direction of Aaron Dale. Aaron is a phenomenal director, and he manages to get some wonderful sounds from some pretty average voices (laughs).”

All are welcome to attend. Find more information on the Heart of Kentucky Chorus Facebook page.