Community volunteers pitched in to build an outdoor amphitheater. Many volunteers later had parts in a play about an outlaw who had lived in the community in the 1840s. The theater has now expanded from 300 to 500 seats, and some 65 amateur actors from as far away as Louisville, Nashville, Owensboro and Bowling Green take part in the productions each year for no pay.

Adair Social Action Committee was a leader in the clean-up of "Parrott Avenue," a neglected area with no street lights, empty houses, and lots full of trash and garbage—all surrounded by families with children. Sister Dorothy McMannon, a retired nun, obtained grants and pushed through red tape until she turned the neighborhood around with the help of many concerned citizens. Her efforts have led to a cleaner community with security street lights, as well as a neighborhood with proud residents.

A nonprofit organization in Bell County started a program to help community members get nutritious food affordably and be able to stretch their food dollar.

This organization provides food, clothing, and housewares through discounted shopping opportunities for low-income residents of Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties. In order to qualify, families need to meet federal low-income levels, have dependent children or senior citizens, or have a member with permanent disabilities. The organization also provides computer access and training for beginners.

Pollard Place is a group home owned and operated by Pathways, Inc., a community mental health center. The home offers transitional housing for individuals with severe and disabling mental illness. The 15-bed home is a haven for people who cannot cope with life on their own. It offers them not only a place to eat and lay their heads, but a family structure as well. To some it is their only family. To others it is a release from having to depend on relatives. For most, it is the alternative to life on the street.

This program for the homeless in Boyle County supplies residents with basic needs: medicine, food and clothing, and psychological support. This agency has assisted many homeless people in the county, and homeless children have greatly benefited from the program.

The First United Methodist Church of Murray has purchased a safe house to meet the need of spousal abuse victims. Residents will be accepted on referral from the spousal abuse center in Paducah. While staying at the house, residents will get counseling from a local representative of Spousal Abuse. Residents may stay at the house up to 90 days. 

Founded in 1974, the River City Mission now helps an average of 40 people a day and the number of people being served is increasing. On average 120 meals are served a day to people receiving temporary shelter at the Mission. The Mission also provides shelter for the homeless and special counseling for people with drug or alcohol dependence problems. In addition, the Mission offers an educational program that includes a GED program and opportunities for trade school training.

Growing For Carter County, Inc., was organized in 1990 and has been seeking ways to help people, mostly farmers, get and stay on their feet. The majority of the people they help have lost their jobs or are starting out by investing all they have in a farm. A typical project might involve supplying cows and goats to farmers who agree to breed the animal and pass on one of its offspring to another farmer in the program.

An inter-agency council made up of 15+ agencies coordinate an annual holiday drive for needy in the county. About $9,000 in cash and numerous donations help make it possible for more than 185 families to have food and gifts.

God’s Pantry Food Bank is an ecumenical, community-based nonprofit agency established to meet the needs of the hungry in Central and Eastern Kentucky. It coordinates three programs in a 48-county service area. The Emergency Food Box Program uses donated food to provide a 5-7 day supply of wholesome food to more than 800 Fayette County families each month through seven local pantries. The Food Bank Program acts as a clearinghouse for surplus, improperly weighed, cosmetically imperfect and about-to-expire food and nonfood products from local, regional, and national donors. These products are distributed to private nonprofits with on-site feeding and emergency food box programs that serve the needy, with over 3.7 million pounds of product distributed in 1996. The Super Pantry Program provides free personal development workshops on nutrition, health, and life skills for families with children. Its goal is to encourage greater self-sufficiency for its participants.

Lex-Care is a group of human service and religious organizations that help people who have trouble finding assistance elsewhere. Lex-Care has a weekly article in the Lexington Herald-Leader featuring a client in need. Lex-Care officers reported that in 1996 a total of 337 donors contributed $36,483. Those contributions helped 98 Lex-Care clients.

Lex Make a Difference is part of a national program in which people across the country do a day of work in their communities. Two projects were organized in Lexington and volunteers concentrated on mending clothing for Copeland House and doing preservation work at Pope and Hunt-Morgan houses.

Project Future Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting families with autistic children. The project is made up of an all-volunteer Board and Advisory Council. It provides telephone consultation for families who have newly-diagnosed children, referrals to professionals, parent and volunteer training, public awareness campaigns, and fund-raising to bring in specialists from the West Coast to assist with training programs. A dedicated group of families with autistic children are at the core of Project Future Hope and are working together to access appropriate intervention methods, and develop new community resources.

The Southern Baptists in Central Kentucky have operated the Clothing Room for more than 35 years. Its mission is to help those in need of clothing and household items. The project usually assists 1,000 individuals and families in the county annually. They rely on church members and citizens of the county to bring in clothing and household items. The recipients are usually referred to them by local churches but walk-ins are welcomed.

Feed God’s Children, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Kentucky. It is run entirely by volunteers, with 100 percent of all donations going to assist needy families, with a focus on Appalachia. The mission of Feed God’s Children, Inc. is to enhance the quality of life for all, with special emphasis on children and senior citizens. The effort strives to fulfill this mission by providing food and sundry products on an emergency basis. Organic gardening is taught, from preparing the soil to harvesting the produce, along with preserving and canning of the produce, nutrition, and composting. The produce grown in these community organic gardens is distributed to needy families. They reinforce the importance of family, enhance self-esteem, encourage community involvement and promote volunteerism. The volunteers include physicians, psychologists, accountants, educators, and clergymen.

This organization helps county families during times of crisis get in contact with certain agencies that can best help them. For example, a fire destroyed an apartment house in Fulton County in 1996 which left 5 families homeless. Twin Cities C.A.R.E., Inc. was there to assist these families. C.A.R.E. provides emergency food, household supplies, and furniture for any family in need.

The Garrard County High School clothing construction class made quilts for underprivileged babies in local hospitals. The idea came from Mrs. Debbie Carter and her daughter Allison, a student at Lancaster Elementary, when Allison’s quilts were shown to the class. Several community members donated material to the project.

Souper Bowl is an effort in Hardin County that raises money for the poor. The program is an interdenominational effort in transforming the traditional "Super Bowl Sunday" into something more meaningful than a sports competition. As congregations leave worship services on Super Bowl Sunday, they are invited to contribute $1 each toward helping the poor and hungry. Each church then donates the money directly to the charity of its choice.

Church leaders form a team to identify, describe, and provide labor and materials for minor home repairs for elderly and disabled low-income residents. This program was started when Group Workcamps of Loveland, Colorado, approached local church leaders to propose a week-long work project using Christian teenagers and adult leaders during the summer of 1996. 

A Mission House was established several years ago as an outgrowth of the Hickman County Ministerial Alliance. South Central Bell Telephone Company later donated a building to the Mission House. This effort has grown and mushroomed; it is open three days a week to provide clothing and food to the needy. The Mission House provides instant free assistance concerning all material needs to many county families that experience tragedies.

The 15th District PTA Clothing Assistance Program has been instrumental in providing clothing for school children in the Jefferson County Public Schools for the last 20 years. During the 1996-97 school year, CAP clothed over 2,000 school children. Approximately 10 volunteers participate on a regular basis. However, there are at least two to four school PTAs that participate weekly by providing two to six volunteers each to assist the 10 regulars. The Jefferson County Public School System provides the location for the program to be housed.

The Canaan Community Development Corporation is developing a community center from an acquired old church facility. The Community Center will address many of the area’s problems, including crime and drugs. A child-development center, classes to attain a High School equivalent certificate, computer classes, job-skill training and interviewing skills are some of the programs available at the center.

Project Warm is a nonprofit energy conservation program manned by a group of volunteers. Annually they seal drafty Louisville homes before the onset of winter, helping their owners trim their heating bills. The volunteers are outfitted with tools, sheets of heavy plastic, rolls of plastic tape, and ropy lengths of foam insulation. They organize into teams and receive their job assignments from a list of homes where disabled and elderly people need weatherproofing help. Their annual effort usually leads to weatherproofing 450 homes with the assistance of volunteers from the county. Home weatherizing is also done year-round. 

Project Women is a nonprofit organization that helps disadvantaged women with children. The project’s six sponsoring Catholic orders have given $5,000 in seed money and lend their expertise and community connections to help open Sophia House. Sophia House provides housing for three women and their children and there are plans to expand. The House stresses the importance of either earning a GED or pursuing higher education. 

The main focus of the Bluegrass Mission Project is to address an urgent need among poorer residents of the Jessamine County community. Assisted by local builders, youth and adult volunteers from Kentucky and other states repair houses for needy Jessamine County residents. The goal, besides providing needed housing, is to teach that service is not only a good thing, but a fun thing to do. Members of several area churches provide meals and housing to the volunteers. The Bluegrass Mission Project works on 12 projects in a typical week.

The Gardens at Greenup is a transitional housing program for families who have been homeless or are at risk. The program allows residents up to six years to achieve economic self-sufficiency. All residents are expected to volunteer in the Greenup community by becoming involved in the Resident Council, providing child care, working with seniors, or assisting in other avenues identified in the program. The program was originally funded through U.S. HUD but is now sustained through several corporate, individual, and family funds.

When government subsidies for the Ryland Heights Food Distribution Program in Fairview dropped off, volunteers (including the mayor) helped run the program to overcome funding difficulties. Local churches and businesses donate food and clothing, and a local church pays for heat and electricity to the building that serves as the headquarters for the food distribution program. This program currently serves 165-180 families a month, with retired older adults making up a large percentage of clients.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is a support group for families and persons with special needs. It sponsors workshops intended to benefit both families of special needs children and community service providers. 

Representatives from the Whitesburg Housing Authority, the Letcher County Family Resources and Youth Services Center, the Migrant Education program, the county extension office and several church groups started thanksgiving food drives. Also, all county schools were asked to participate in the food drive with the top three winning schools receiving awards for their efforts.

People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) is a private nonprofit housing agency that has provided affordable housing for low-and very low-income Lewis County families since 1982. Labor for its projects is provided by PSHH building crews, AmeriCorps Service members, friends, families, and neighbors of the prospective new homeowners and Glenmary Home Mission volunteers from across the country. Housing opportunities provided by PSHH include emergency shelter and homeless prevention assistance, transitional housing with supportive services, affordable rental housing, rent assistance, repair, rehabilitation or replacement of existing homes, and new construction of single family homes.

Martha’s Vineyard is a group of volunteers who serve meals to the elderly and homebound individuals in McCracken County. Hot meals are delivered twice per week and approximately 780 are delivered weekly. Martha Bell organized the group during Thanksgiving 1993 and it has been growing since. The group also delivers personal care items, books, magazines and taped church services along with the meals. In 1996, 37,253 meals were served.

The Senior Companion Program operates through Audubon Area Community Services. It allows volunteers to provide assistance to the elderly which, in turn, enables them to stay in their own homes as long as possible. The volunteers do such tasks as housekeeping, laundry, and meal preparation. Volunteers spend 20 hours a week with their recipients and see them five days a week.

The Mason County Men’s Club was organized in 1989 by the county’s extension agent. The club volunteers for many community events. Its main project is collecting and donating food for the local food bank. Other projects include donating to the prostate cancer fund and providing transportation to the doctors’ office for ill members.

In Meade County six churches have united to form what they call the Clothes Closet. Each church initially donated $450 to get the project started and sustain it for six months. The main effort of this volunteer organization is to provide clothing to those in need in the county. The Clothes Closet works in conjunction with Community Action. Community Action receives a request for help and they provide the person/family with a voucher to be used at the Clothes Closet. The Clothes Closet employees are all volunteers from the community and all the clothes are donated by the county citizens.

Community Outreach has volunteer groups who work in the area to conduct service projects for people in need. Examples of the work include cleaning, mowing, and minor house repair. 

A dream of the Nelson County Ministerial Association was to provide temporary shelter to displaced families in Nelson County. The shelter, called Bethany Haven, is supported by more than 40 churches in the county to help homeless people temporarily, until they get their feet on the ground. The shelter has a capacity of providing space for three to four families.

Many families have difficult times providing clothes for their children at the beginning of the school year, so the Family Resource Center has a program where county residents donate "gently" used clothes. The clothes are then available to county residents in need. 

The students at Crestwood Elementary School collected new coats, hats, gloves, sweaters, and jackets from area residents for needy children in the community. All of the donations collected by the students were given to the Oldham Red Cross for their disbursement.

The children of Ms. Stoess’ class wanted to do a service project for the community. They decided that they would collect canned and boxed goods for the food pantry of the Oldham County Red Cross. The effort brought the entire school together in collecting the goods for community residents in need. 

The Taylor County Interagency Council coordinates a holiday helpline. The helpline trains and uses volunteers to collect information from local residents concerning needs during the holiday season. The information is cross-referenced and given to charitable organizations, individuals, and groups in the local area. Duplication is avoided and more needy people are served because of this effort.

The Anderson County Inter-Agency Council was formed in the summer of 1995 and was awarded a Family Preservation Grant of $70,000 to enhance the lives of children at risk in Anderson County. As a result of the grant the following programs have been implemented in the county: Parents as Teachers, Family Night Educational Series, Back to School Fest for preschool and kindergarten students, Acorns to Oaks Community Issues Conference, and the SHARE Lawrenceburg Volunteer program. The Inter-Agency council is also the primary force behind Anderson County’s response to welfare reform. 

In Bath, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, and Rowan Counties, a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained court appointed citizen representing the interest of a child in court. CASA volunteers help children whose home placement is considered in court. A CASA volunteer is an advocate for a child going through the court system, often through no fault of their own. The average CASA volunteer carries two or three cases at a time and most have full-time jobs, families, or are going to school. The volunteers are appointed to make recommendations to the court on the child’s behalf; they also provide the court with crucial background information to help judges render a decision. 

The Caldwell County Health Department, County Schools Family Resource Center and Migrant Programs, and the UK Extension Service joined forces to develop a monthly after school program to encourage and educate teen parents and pregnant teens on topics concerning parenting and child development, and the importance of continuing education and career planning. 

The WIN-teens program is based on sponsorship of teens who in turn sell coupon books in the area. Money raised is distributed back to the teens and to organizations such as DARE and MADD.

The Carroll County Community Development Corporation (CCCDC) offers a variety of summer events for children in the community, ranging from sports to the summer reading program to enrichment programs to special camps. All events and activities available for the youth of the community are published in the Youth Summer Catalog. 

The Youth Service Center, located at the Carroll County High School, works to solve problems that get in the way of children’s education such as teen pregnancy, drug addiction, health problems, conflicts, and death in the family. Two support groups which have made a difference are the teen parent group and chemical dependency group.

Various churches, civic organizations, government entities, and common citizens have organized a county-wide effort to raise $115,000 to construct a youth/community center. Many Casey county teens and adults have volunteered to help. Car washes, bake sales, traffic solicitation—even a raffle for a $400 registered border collie are planned or under way. Volunteers have torn down an old horse barn at Gateway Park to make way for the new center.

The Clark County 4-H Self-Esteem Program is presented to grades 1-8, including those with disabilities, of the Clark County Educational System and seven after school groups of high risk youth. The high risk youth are lacking in good behavioral skills, decision making skills, and social skills. The program has made a difference in these youth by teaching them how to think and act in ways that build their positive self-image.

Safe Children Foundation acts as a catalyst for preventing child abuse in all its forms, thereby enhancing the quality of life for children and families. After the death of two local children from child abuse, public awareness increased significantly. Many have volunteered to help prevent this tragedy from occurring again. Activities have included events designed to heighten awareness of the issue and assisting with school presentations on child abuse. Safe Children collaborates with other organizations in the community to increase the safety and respect of children. 

The all-volunteer Elliott County Tourism Development Council conducted an Elliott County Youth Challenge Program. The money for the program was received through a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to increase the role of youth leaders in Eastern Kentucky. This program is free and encourages development of youth leadership, volunteerism and community involvement for Elliott County’s young people. 

Kids Voting Kentucky is part of a national program with two major objectives: to increase adult voter turnout and to educate children—the next generation of voters. One of the many strengths of the program is that it is curriculum-based. Students in grades K through 12 participate in lessons about government, democracy, and voting in school. On election day, they go to the polls with their parents and cast their votes on a special Kids Voting ballot. The results are tabulated and reported in the media along with the official election results. Post-election research conducted at several universities indicate that Kids Voting is already having a positive impact on adult voter participation and on behaviors demonstrated by students who participate in the program.

The Bluegrass Alley Clowns of Kentucky (BACK) is a clown troupe that has taught over 4,000 children in three central Kentucky counties how to resolve the conflicts they inevitably face in our increasingly complex society. The troupe teaches conflict resolution through what they call clown capers––funny skits, stories, jokes, magic tricks, and anything they can think of to help the children remember the six "C words" of conflict resolution––communication, cooperation, courage, caring, compromise, and change.

The Youth Service Fellowship was founded to provide a means to organize members of Lexington’s high schools and involve them in the community. The Fellowship intends to give Lexington a positive view of teenagers that contrasts with negative stereotypes. The Youth Service Fellowship has recently expanded into other Kentucky middle and high schools. They hope to form a council that will provide information on volunteer service in Fayette County. 

Each of Kentucky’s 120 counties have the service of a Court Designated Worker (CDW), 24 hours a day, seven days a week. CDWs process all complaints, both public and status, against persons under the age of eighteen. Based on criteria, juveniles are sent on to formal court, where either a CDW’s involvement ceases or the case is handled with a diversion agreement. A diversion agreement is the voluntary contract, which can last up to six months, between the CDW and the juvenile to resolve a complaint. Diversion agreements can consist of many requirements, depending on the offense and juvenile. Education, accountability, and deterrence are the goals of the agreements. 

This program has senior citizen volunteers that adopt a "grandchild" in assisting them in their special needs.

The Kentuckiana Girl Scout Council is a program in which successful women give girls a hands-on introduction to the world of science. About 250 elementary school girls are expected to participate in the 12-week science program. The goal of the program is that the business women will become mentors to the young girls and encourage them to study science and math.

Youth undergo a training program where they learn such things as medical terminology, volunteer responsibilities, emergency first aid and CPR, and proper handwashing. After the training, they donate their time and energy at local health care facilities to help care for patients in duties ranging from filling ice pitchers to making beds. 

The SFA is trying to reach the underprivileged children of Madison County. SFA is a student organization at Berea College looking to make a difference. The day camp that is offered in the summer is offered to children at a minimal cost of $2. This fee includes care as well as lunch every afternoon of the two-week session. The program is trying to make a difference to kids that are classified "at-risk." SFA is a volunteer group and was recognized by President Bush by receiving an annual Presidential Points of Light Award. SFA volunteers involve themselves in a number of community service activities, including an adult literacy program, tutoring and mentoring at-risk children and volunteering with a local hospice. 

The Ranch operates as a summer youth camp for needy children. It is completely dependent upon voluntary gifts from the citizens of Kentucky. Each summer more than 1,000 children benefit from the recreational and educational program, free of charge.

This program offers youth in the county the opportunity to learn about the local government process, develop leadership skills, and plan community service projects and activities to benefit the community. This program is operated by the Black Mountain Improvement Association.

Out of concern for the future of the community, the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce asked the public to give their input by responding to the community evaluation that was printed in the local county paper. The survey allows respondents to give input on the strengths and weaknesses of their community and is designed to tell what needs are not being met, with the purpose of giving community leaders an idea of where to focus their energies.

TVA’s Quality Communities Initiative adopts a unique approach to economic and community development by applying elements of leadership development and total quality improvement to strategic planning. A broad base of citizens from all interests in the community come together to plan strategically for their community’s economic future. While planning, they learn valuable skills, such as how to work together effectively as teams and how to use many of the same total quality improvement tools and techniques used by business and industry to implement their plans.

The Lexington Citizen Summit was created following 1994 episodes of community unrest due to racial divisions. During the three successive years, 1995 through 1997, citizens have met in two-day innovative "open space" sessions to address issues of race/prejudice, tolerance and community building. Three programs spawned by the summit include: the Transformation House, a mediation center set up to help resolve community conflicts; the Rainbow Reading Conference, which was designed to better introduce parents, teachers and children to minority authors; and the Museum of Culture and Diversity, dedicated to increasing people’s knowledge of the negative effects of bigotry and the importance of tolerance.

Speak Out Lexington is a community-wide series of small conversations that take place during January and February each year. Citizens meet in workplaces, public spaces, living rooms, classrooms, and at religious organizations to discuss a set of prepared questions. Trained volunteer moderators and reporters facilitate each session. The purpose is to engage citizens in talking about what they can do about issues that matter to them and affect their lives. Speak Out Lexington also aims to reduce the isolation citizens feel in facing community problems and to provide them with a positive experience of civic work that will encourage them to engage in additional civic action during the course of the year.

Under the auspices of TVA’s Quality Communities Initiative, a group of citizens from the city of Fulton have collaborated to construct a preferred vision for the future of their city. The Economic Development Partnership is an organization dedicated to developing leadership, social capacity, team building, a strategic agenda, and a shared vision for the City of Fulton. As such, input was sought about citizens’ vision for the future of the community.

The communities of Fulton, KY and South Fulton, TN created a Community Leadership Institute for the twin cities. The participants in the program have instituted a number of exciting events and projects. One group started "All Aboard!," a movement to open a railroad museum in a vacant downtown building. The group has hosted two successful fund-raisers and is gathering donations of railroad memorabilia for the museum. Another group, the Blue Ribbon Committee, is seeking a grant to renovate the building. 

In an effort to improve relationships across Kentucky, members of Leadership Louisville’s Bingham Fellows V team have developed a pilot project called Leadership Partners, sponsored by The Anthem Foundation. Partnerships between the Bingham Fellows and people in leadership positions throughout the state have been established, whereby members of the partnerships visit between communities and work on specific partnerships to improve areas of the state.

The idea for the Family Friendly Workplace Task Force grew out of a planning process spearheaded by County Judge/Executive David L. Armstrong called Community Support for Young Families At Risk (YFAR). The volunteer members of the Family Friendly Workplace Task Force were asked to create a designation program to heighten awareness among area employers that family friendly policies and practices are effective strategies for workforce and economic development. The result was the Business/Family Partnership Designation, the nation’s first community-wide recognition program developed by business for business to link work/family issues and the bottom line. 

Citizens from all over the county, representing diverse backgrounds and interests, developed a vision for Jefferson County that serves as a basis for the County’s new comprehensive plan. These citizens also volunteered to work on one of five committees that have developed goals and objectives for the new plan called Cornerstone 2020. The volunteer citizens logged in thousands of hours in the evenings and weekends to oversee the development of goals and objectives for transportation, land use, environment, and economic growth for the next 25 years.

This is a grassroots organization for citizens with social, economic, or environmental concerns. With 2,500 members statewide, the organization intends to expand in the Laurel County area. Locally, members foresee the preservation of the national forest and proper maintenance of the landfill as immediate needs within the community. Members receive monthly magazines describing the issues facing citizens and actions taken to ensure fair treatment of all citizens.

rushy Fork Institute offers four one-day workshops on strategic and tactical planning, fundraising, and involving citizens in community efforts. These workshops are open to community organizations and individuals from Eastern Kentucky. In addition to the one-day workshops, the Institute will hold a two-day follow-up workshop at which participants will practice program planning and proposal writing.

Through creation and support of citizen-based Action Teams, MACED is developing a long-term strategy for sustainable community development decision-making at the local level. To demonstrate this strategy, MACED has launched a five-year Sustainable Communities Initiative in partnership with citizens in Kentucky's Owsley and Letcher Counties. The purpose of the Sustainable Communities Initiative is to create the conditions for people to work together voluntarily, to understand the larger system they are part of, and to make informed choices about where they want to be in the future and how to get there. Local, citizen-based Action Teams will help people rediscover what choices they have, understand their dependence on one another, and encourage them to become personally involved in making their own home, workplace and community sustainable.

Development of a long-range strategic planning process is the goal of the Quality Community Initiative which is being sponsored by the Marshall County Chamber of Commerce. This program receives technical assistance from TVA staff but development of the ideas and the ultimate product will be determined by local volunteers. The entire process is to establish a vision for Marshall County.

The citizens of Shelby County have a long range visioning plan that focused on the central business district. The outcome of this long range plan was the Shelbyville 2000 Plan. This economic development plan is a road map designed to take their community into the 21st century. It has assisted the Shelbyville community in making decisions that affect their core area. Over 100 volunteers work at a constant pace to provide sound management of their downtown business district. 

The local extension service addressed Washington County’s opportunities and concerns through bottom-up leadership. The extension service saw that many farmers were involved in a variety of programs and the extension service did some similar programs on a local level enlisting a variety of volunteers from around the county. 

The parents of the 1996 graduating class of Ballard High School made plans to ensure a safe, drug- and alcohol-free graduation night filled with fun and entertainment. Project Graduation, initiated by the Kentucky State Police, was an effort by parents and students. Project Graduation is funded solely by donations and fund raisers and the money is used to buy items that benefit graduating students when in college. The items are given away through a variety of planned activities and games.

The SAFE HOMES Program goal is to help young people learn to socialize without alcohol or other drugs through the cooperation of volunteering parents. The program prepares students for the negative pressures that will come upon them as they are enrolled in school. The SAFE HOMES Program offers assistance to students by networking concerned parents who have signed a pledge stating that their home will not have a party without their supervision, and that they will not tolerate illegal drinking or drug use on their property. Parents who sign the pledge have their name and telephone number published in a directory.  

The Barren County Literacy program has enlisted volunteers to help county residents learn to read. The volunteers go through a 12 hour training workshop.

The MOMS program is designed to assist mothers who need services to help them work on their GED or continuing education, such as providing resources for day care, book purchases, clothing, and, if necessary for work, travel cost to classes. Legal support for child support and other issues is also available as well as assistance with getting needed services.

Four years ago a group of individuals formed the East Carter County Adult Education Center Board and opened a full-time center to house these education programs. Teachers are provided by state funding and the center is maintained by the volunteer board. By May 1997, 168 GEDs had been earned.

A grant in Edmonson County allowed the extension service to develop an after-school program that allows elementary age children to participate in hands-on learning activities that excite them. This program also utilizes teenage youth as mentors in the classroom. The development of this program has involved numerous community leaders, businessmen, volunteers, and the local school system in various capacities. This program has helped numerous youth in the county improve their attitudes towards the educational process.

The mission of the county’s literacy program is to attack illiteracy by volunteer tutors working with adult learners who desire to advance their education. An assortment of materials are used to teach people to read, including workbooks, videos, cassettes, and computer programs. Edmonson County’s literacy program is housed in the city hall building.

This program helps women in the county plan and reach their goals. Hundreds of women in and outside the county benefit from this program. Workshops sponsored by the program discuss basic survival skills such as home repair, plumbing, self-defense, and automobile repair. Also, they provide women participants with advice on how to balance their budget when living on a fixed income.

The Fulton/Fulton County Literacy Program provides materials and training free to adults who want to become volunteer reading tutors. Tutors meet with students for one hour each week at The Fulton Adult Learning Center or The Adult Education and Literacy Center in Hickman.

The cities of Fulton, KY and South Fulton, TN recently reinstituted a chapter of the national organization: Business and Professional Women (BPW). The group meets monthly and has about forty members. In its first year, BPW sponsored a $1,000 scholarship for a woman who returned to school after being in the workforce, and who plans to remain in the Fulton area. BPW also cosponsored a GED graduation ceremony and promoted "Take Our Daughters to Work" day in the community.

A total of 110 Hancock County seniors participated in a pilot program that entails choosing a career after graduation. The goal of the program is to assist seniors in choosing careers, researching their choices with the help of volunteer mentors in the field, and finally proving their grasp of the subject through an oral presentation to a judges’ panel. The judges’ panel is drawn from the professional resources of several surrounding counties. This program stands to be implemented in other schools in the state if it is considered successful by the Kentucky Department of Education.

Volunteer tutors in Harrison County help and encourage citizens attain their GED. Harrison County Adult Education offers GED studies and other educational and life-skills opportunities for county residents over the age of 17.

The mission of the Family Resource Center (FRC) and the Youth Services Center (YSC) is to improve academic achievement through the removal of noncognitive barriers to learning. The activities of the centers are designed to promote the flow of resources and support families in ways to strengthen the growth and development of individual members and the family unity. Some of these include free dental checks for students, computer classes, family trips sponsored by bake sales, and Basic Aid Training.

The Kentucky Training Team promotes adult education and tutoring services through a community partnership. It is a unique partnership between a university, a Head Start program, and a model family support project. The team evolved as a solution to individual needs felt by each partner for an ability to consistently teach computer skills and applications in on-site locations.

Volunteer tutors are very active in Monroe County teaching area residents the basic skills to become literate or to read better. The volunteer tutors also assist individuals in the county in attaining their GED.

A community-based organization comprised of volunteers is working with area residents to assist them with basic reading skills. The program focuses on basic reading and writing skills for adults. It is free, confidential, and taught by volunteer tutors in a one-on-one setting.

"House for All Ages" is a demonstration house project and a community development project that created a community or public space for learning. It is built upon the idea of "home or civic space." Citizens worked together to renovate a house to incorporate ideas for accessible living—from birth to old age. The House is used for community forums, art exhibits, and other community educational meetings. Numerous civic organizations and businesses were involved in volunteering their time to the project. 

Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) teaches entrepreneurship through "hands-on" or "real world" projects. The SIFE business club also provides college scholarships to students who best promote free enterprise principles. SIFE has completed over 25 community service projects and is sponsored by Fortune 500 business leaders.

Nearly 100 Emma B. Ward Elementary School fourth grade students have created a company called Can Kids to collect cans in an effort to raise money for an overnight environmental camp. They needed $1400 for their field trip and were in danger of not reaching their goal through their own collection. In order to boost business, the Can Kids announced and held a special collection day, encouraging the community to help the Can Kids reach their goal by bringing aluminum cans to the school.

The founding location for Paris, Kentucky, is Hopewell Springs. This historic site was littered with trash and debris, and was overgrown with weeds. The Rotary Club of Paris decided to make Hopewell Springs a civic project by cleaning up the area and returning it to a landmark of historical significance. The club members volunteered their time to pick up trash, broken bottles, cans, and downed tree limbs. The intent of the civic project was to clean up and preserve this historical site in Bourbon County.

In the past two years, over 6,000 hours were volunteered at the Murray-Calloway Park by school children, club members, businesses, and students at Murray State University. In addition, close to $100,000 has been spent or given to the park through the Pennies for the Park Project over the past two years.

With community-wide support, the CEED project is a plan to beautify the main highway approach to Manchester and construct a riverside park and walking trail which will be visible upon entering the town. The community is moving steadily towards the project cost goal of $35,000 as new sources of cash support are being uncovered and donation of in-kind services have also mushroomed. A second CEED project has been undertaken. It will consist of extensive renovation, and thereafter the operation, of a school building which previously housed the last all-black segregated facility in Clay County, known as the "B" school. This multi-room facility will be used as a museum, community meeting hall, and community literacy center after renovation. The anticipated cost of the renovation currently exceeds $50,000.

Grant County’s Earth Day brought environmentally conscientious residents together who took advantage of free dumping and recycling programs offered April 27, 1996. The event, sponsored by the Grant County Solid Waste Management District and The Grant County News, brought 184 truckloads into the landfill for the "free day."

Rinse and Return is a statewide program to collect and recycle rinsed plastic pesticide containers. Farmers and agricultural dealers can return rinsed, plastic pesticide containers of five gallons or less. Containers are chipped and recycled into jugs for pesticides and other hard plastic products. The program helps reduce landfill volume and gives farmers and agricultural chemical dealers a container disposal option they would not have otherwise. Rinse and Return collections statewide totaled more than 80,400 pounds of chipped plastic pesticide containers in 1995. Rinse and Return is a joint effort of the Kentucky Fertilizer and Agricultural Chemical Association (KFACA), local Extension and governmental offices, Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) and Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation.

Headed by one paid employee and the help of many volunteers, Operation Community Pride provides long range planning for the beautification of the city. The program has completed a "River Walk" and the planting of trees and shrubs where needed. During the Christmas season, this group sets up a "Christmas Village" in downtown Central Park, with lifesize figures of people and animals, adult size rocking horses, and general Christmas scenes. Most of the figures are constructed by senior citizens who look forward to their contribution to the community.

Realizing that downtown Louisville needed to be cleaned up and "greened up," community leaders decided that something had to be done. The response was "Operation Brightside," a broad-based, city-wide cleanup, beautification, and landscaping effort calculated to enhance livability, attract new business, and inculcate environmental awareness.

As part of Asbury College’s Freshman Orientation, 205 of the 300 new students chose to spend their Saturday night working on community service projects in the Wilmore, Jessamine County area. The Wilmore Community Service Center, Wilmore Mini Park, High Bridge Park, Asbury Challenge Course, Wilmore Campground, Wilmore Elementary School and Jessamine Creek all benefited from the students’ efforts, which ranged from sorting clothing to picking up trash and landscaping.

The Letcher County Clean Community Committee (LCCCC) sponsors county-wide clean-up drives, poster and essay contests, environmental concerts, and other events and activities. These activities are made possible through the efforts of volunteers.

Volunteers help make improvements to the Livermore riverfront. A clean-up day was scheduled to clear about 8 acres along the Rough River. The area along the river will be used for a nature trail which will tie in with the riverfront. Also, this nature trail will be open to everyone in the community and it will also be used as an educational center for the county’s school children.

A group of Tompkinsville residents decided to launch a bi-annual cleanup day for the city and county. They received support and assistance from city and county government agencies and from various other agencies and organizations within the county.

The goal of this organization was to get the community involved in recycling and beautification. The group advertised in the local paper, placed inserts in telephone bills, and met with local service clubs and schools. The first "drop-off" was very successful and led to the opening of a drop-off center at the county garage. They also furnished materials for flowerbeds and helped plant flowers and trees at 13 sites throughout the community.

The students volunteered their time to collect paper to be recycled. The main goal of this effort was to raise awareness of the amount of paper that is used each day. Each classroom was asked to bring in as much paper as they could. The school collected over 3.5 tons of paper and delivered it to the Jackson recycling center.

Youth groups such as Future Farmers of America, 4-H clubs, Boy Scouts, church groups and others participated in an effort to clean the county. Local businesses and service clubs also helped with labor and financing. The result has been a dramatic decrease in the amount of litter in the county.

County government has joined forces with the local tourism board, Chamber of Commerce, schools, city government, Kentucky Division of Forestry, Keep Pike Beautiful, businesses, community groups and citizens to organize an annual county-wide spring cleanup. By all the groups volunteering together they cleaned up the county. All needed supplies are provided.

Rowan County has an annual Earth Day cleanup effort that receives volunteer support from a wide range of individuals and organizations in the county. Participants are provided the essential resources needed to clean up the county. Some local residents volunteer their boats to clean up the waterways in the county. All the trash is disposed of by the local sanitation businesses.

A group of local residents volunteered their time to clean up and preserve a local historic cemetery.

The Adopt-a-Spot program enlists volunteers from businesses, organizations and individuals to adopt a local area of the county to clean up. Those that choose to clean up an area will have a sign erected staking their claim to the area.

In Breathitt County’s Sebastian Middle School, a local barber, dentist, and medical doctor come into the school for a day to volunteer their time. During their day, these individuals cut hair, examine the health of the children, and examine their teeth. A report is sent home with those who have possible problems.

Volunteers at the Caldwell County Hospital run the hospital gift shop and assist in many other departments such as obstetrics, home health, radiology, central supply, and food/nutrition. They participate in fundraising activities to purchase needed equipment and supplies for the hospital. They are also active in the Senior Adult program, CARE (Caring, Activities, Resources and Education).

St. Luke Free Clinic fills the health care needs of the working poor who have no health insurance. Started by a physician and a priest, the Clinic’s success is due partly to the law passed by the Kentucky legislature to pay for liability insurance for free clinics.

The GRADD Regional Health Council is comprised of health care professionals and interested citizens from seven counties. Their long term project, Healthy Vision 2001, hopes to raise awareness of health care issues and improve the general health of individuals in local communities. The group published a Community Health Report Card in 1996 which has created a great deal of public interest and several other health related initiatives.

The McAuley Clinic responds to the health needs of the economically poor, the disadvantaged, the underserved and those lacking access to health care in the West end of Owensboro. Services at the Clinic are delivered at no cost to qualified individuals. Owensboro Mercy Health System jointly collaborates with other community agencies in meeting the health needs of the clients who come to McAuley Clinic for assistance.

Green River Regional Rape Victim Services have volunteers to assist victims of sexual assault. The agency provides 40 hours of training to its volunteers. A hot line number is used to assist those that have been sexually assaulted.

This agency cares for indigent children in the Lexington area. They provide health care to children from birth to 12 years of age at no charge. The service caters to families that are too poor to afford health insurance but have too much income to receive Medicare. Baby Health Services was awarded the President’s Service Award in 1997, the highest award given by the President of the United States for volunteerism.

The Helping Hands Family Resource Center sponsors an annual free community health fair open to anyone who lives in Hart County. Health services provided include: Free cholesterol testing, free blood sugar levels, free mammogram information, low fat diet information and food samples provided by Caverna Hospital, free screening for adults for distant and near vision, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and cataracts. Children are screened for distant and near vision, depth perception, eye muscle imbalance and color vision. All services are provided by local health service providers.

This effort focuses on charitable health care, free meals, homeless shelters, and a program of recovery from alcohol and other drug dependence. Since a local physician started providing charitable medical care in the Mission House Men’s Shelter in 1981, this volunteer initiative has grown to a campus of facilities for both men and women. Jefferson County Medical Society Outreach Program assumed responsibility for the shelter in 1989 and re-named it The Healing Place in 1991. The Healing Place now provides 23,000 free meals and about 6,500 clean-linen beds per month; offers a nonmedical sobering-up center each night; and at any one time assists 75-80 individuals to achieve long-term sobriety in Phase I and another 200 or more through after-care support groups and 3/4 housing. It also provides free medical care to 75 or more people each week at the clinics staffed by volunteer doctors, nurses, medical students and pharmacists.

The Mended Hearts volunteer program is comprised of those individuals and family members who have experienced the various emotions involved with possible heart surgery. Volunteers visit others facing the same, offering comfort and support. The program is open to both former and present heart patients, as well as to the families. Volunteers are trained by physicians and nurses in the purpose, procedure, and presentation of the program to others facing heart surgery.

The Community Health Council (CHC) was established based on a recommendation from a group of interested citizens, health care providers and local leaders who participated in a Health Needs Assessment. CHC is comprised of volunteer members from Breathitt, Lee, Owsley and Wolfe Counties. The goal of CHC is to become a strong and common bond for area health care providers, agencies, and citizens in order that all may work more closely to improve the health of the community. CHC promotes health education.

St. Nicholas Family Clinic is a group of volunteer nurses, doctors, pharmacists, etc. who provide free health care to the working poor. The clinic is open two nights per week and over 200 volunteers rotate evenings to serve an eight county region. Clients must meet certain criteria to be admitted to the clinic, such as not having health insurance or a government "medical card."

The Local Medical Society furnishes the doctors and a church provides the office space, as volunteers join forces to provide free medical care for those who otherwise could not afford it.

The coalition has a statewide focus and brings together providers and nonproviders, rural and urban residents with a common goal—to improve primary health care access. Rather than address provider interests, the membership addresses the needs of Kentucky’s citizens. The membership is voluntary. The employer organizations of the memberships support their staff participation by enabling the staff to attend meetings and participate in task forces.

Kentucky Homeplace employs and trains paraprofessional family health care advisors that work with residents of 24 Kentucky counties to identify and find solutions to their health needs, including access to free health care. The advisors make home visits. Kentucky Homeplace advisors refer individuals to agencies and providers and they also assist with transportation if needed. Kentucky Homeplace advisors advocate for the health needs of residents and help them assume responsibility for their own health.

In 1994 the United Way created a Task Force on Protective Services which brought together many human service agencies, local government agencies, and volunteers from the community to formulate an approach to prevent and resolve occurrences of elderly and child abuse and neglect. Reports recommending changes necessary to accomplish these goals were developed. One result of this initiative was an AmeriCorps program which enlisted members of the community to serve at an agency which aids children and another which serves the elderly. These individuals were able to expand these agencies’ capacity to establish systems that would prevent future neglect and abuse in the lives of their clients.

A group of Princeton residents petitioned the Council to start a neighborhood watch program. This started the planning phase of the program in which the Mayor, Police Chief, Councilman, and neighborhood residents will be involved.

The CAPP program is patterned after one started in a suburb of Chicago. Program participants patrol their streets in cars with radios to inform police of suspicious activity. Participants must complete a training class before they can start patrolling and volunteers are assigned to patrol their areas during times when crime rates are highest and police resources are stretched. The police keep a binder chronicling volunteer progress. The volunteers are only to observe and report; they are unarmed and are not allowed to get involved in criminal situations.

The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program provides community policing training to officers throughout the state. One component of the program provides training for citizens to work directly with the police to identify and solve problems. Participants receive training on how to get involved in community safety issues. Equipped with this training, groups are better able to identify neighborhood problems and develop "plans of action." Such plans might include efforts to abate the cause of criminal activity or respond to it more effectively.

The local fraternal youth lodge sponsors a fingerprinting day to be held for Rockcastle, Jackson, and Madison Counties. Children ages 1 through 12 are encouraged to participate in this free program. A video is taken of each child. This volunteer service is provided to assist police in the unfortunate event a child is missing. This program will help identify the children and give police a better idea of what the child looks like as well as a concrete way to know they are on the right track. The parents of the children store the prints and video.

The VFW sponsors a program called Lite-A-Bike Safety Program. This is a safety program for the children and young people of the county. Volunteers gather at the firehouse and ask parents to bring their children’s bikes to be examined for safety. The volunteers also apply reflective tape on the bikes that glows in the dark when car lights shine on it.