Click here to download the informational flier!

Some items to be auctioned include:

Poverty Simulation was developed to stimulate change by improving services for people with low income, increasing connections among programs and organizations serving families with low income, and increasing advocacy for the millions of families living in poverty.

The movie lobby cards available for bid show scenes from movies and were used for promotion during the 1920s. “These are a great find for anyone interested in antiques and movie memorabilia. All proceeds from the sale go to help children, families, individuals and seniors receive essential services to be self-reliant”, said Cheryl Allen, CEO of Community Action. For a complete list of lobby cards available for bid, please see below. The lobby cards will be displayed from July 22^nd through July 29^th at Community Action’s Allen County facility, including during the United Way Day of Caring project on July 28^th, which includes volunteers making sleeping mats for the homeless. Bidding will end at 3pm on Friday July 29, 2010.

If you would like to place a bid on the movie lobby cards, please contact Charity Parrish at 270-782-3162 or cparrish@casoky.org.

Community Action of Southern KY is a part of America’s Poverty Fighting Network, which concentrates on helping people and changing lives. For more information, please contact Charity Parrish, Public Information Coordinator by phone at 270-782-3162 or by email cparrish@casoky.org, or visit www.casoky.org.

List of Movie Lobby Cards:

Group 1 - Marshall Neilan presents “ The River’s End” by James Oliver Curwood (3 Lobby cards) Minimum bid: $75

1. On the bottom “ Who you laughing at?”
2. On the bottom “But you don’t believe what that Chinaman said about me.”
3. On the bottom  - They didn’t “sabe” English but understood his gun right quick.

Group 2 -  Mae Murray in "Peacock Alley" (3 Lobby Cards) Minimum bid: $125

Group 3 - “Her Temporary Husband” (5 Lobby Cards) Minimum bid: $75

1. “Foiling the kidnapers”
2.  When she discovered her real husband
3. “Don’t get too frisky, old top!”
4. “Hand in……………………..”
5. “Shall I get your hot water bottle, sir?”

Single Lobby Card: “The Huntress” with Colleen Moore A First National Picture “I shall leave you and go to my white brothers.” Minimum bid: $20

Single Lobby Card: Marshall Neilan’s “Fools First” – “You might as well quit trying to go straight.” Minimum bid: $20

Click Here for the Summer 2010 issue of the Community Action of Southern Kentucky Community Crusader - another weapon in our war against poverty!

If you would like to sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter by email, please contact Charity Parrish at 270-782-3162 or by email at cparrish@casoky.org.

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Steve Beshear announced today that $4 million in federal funding will be made available beginning Monday, July 12, for summer cooling assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. LIHEAP services are provided locally by the 23 Community Action Agencies through a partnership between the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) and Community Action Kentucky.

“Already this summer we have experienced extremely hot temperatures across the state, which can cause serious health problems for vulnerable citizens, including those who may not be able to adequately cool their homes,” said Gov. Beshear. “These resources will help protect Kentuckians during these dangerous temperatures.”

The emergency funding is being provided to assist low-income families and the elderly who have the burden of increased energy costs because of the extreme heat experienced over the past few weeks. LIHEAP is a federal block grant program that provides states with annual funding to operate home energy assistance programs for low-income households. While LIHEAP funds are generally dedicated to winter heating needs, to the extent available funding and supplies allow, during periods of extreme or prolonged heat waves, states may elect to direct funds to heat relief. In addition to helping pay energy bills for low-income families and the elderly, some Community Action Agencies may also choose to use LIHEAP funds to provide air conditioners and fans to the elderly, disabled and to households with children younger than 6 years old.

The number of households seeking energy assistance reached record numbers for the third year in a row. This past year approximately 8.8 million low-income families nationally relied on LIHEAP to assist with the costs of heating and/or cooling their homes.

Individuals in Kentucky who want to determine if they qualify for assistance should contact the local Community Action Agency in their area.

Eligible households may receive a one-time payment to the household’s cooling (electric) provider. The eligibility requirements are:

• Income must be at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level;
• Pay home-cooling costs for which they are responsible either by direct payment or as an undesignated portion of their rent;
• Have liquid resources at or below $2,000 except when a household member has a catastrophic illness, in which case applicants may have as much as $4,000 in liquid assets if those assets are used for medical and living expenses.
• A household with a member age 60 or over or with a disabled member who has a liquid resource limit at or below $3,000.

Based on local availability, air conditioners may be provided to households that include vulnerable adults or children. To be eligible for an air conditioner, the household must meet the eligibility requirements listed above, and the household must not have access to an air conditioner, and meet one of the following requirements:

• Have a member with a health condition or disability that requires cooling to prevent further deterioration as verified by a physician’s statement;
• Have a member who is 65 years or older; or
• Have a member who is younger than 6.

“We encourage all families who believe they may qualify for assistance to contact their local Community Action Agency,” said DCBS Commissioner Patricia R. Wilson.

Individuals can call 1 (800) 456-3452 or visit the Community Action Kentucky website to find a local agency. Information about applying for the assistance will be available beginning July 12.

Click here for Community Action of Southern Kentucky locations.



Community Action of Southern Kentucky will host a Poverty Simulation on July 22, 2010 at 1pm at 25 J.L. Turner and Son Place, Scottsville, KY. The Poverty Simulation was developed to stimulate change by improving services for people with low income, increasing connections among programs and organizations serving families with low income, and increasing advocacy for the millions of families living in poverty.

The Poverty Simulation enables participants to “experience” some of the frustrations, obstacles and constraints of living with limited resources and trying to access services to cover life’s basic necessities during a month (four, 15-minute weeks). Each participant is given a role and a set of circumstances through which they live this month.

Generally, the Poverty Simulation causes the participants to question:

•   long-held assumptions about the reasons people remain poor;

•   processes and procedures used by institutions serving families with low income;

•   the adequacy of services and support available in a community for families with low income;

•   the equity of policies at all levels of government; and

•   the efficacy of their own role in helping people with low income achieve basic levels of

     economic self-sufficiency and security.

Cheryl Allen, CEO of Community Action of Southern Kentucky said, “The simulation’s month of poverty is followed by a facilitated dialogue that enables participants to share their experiences, reactions to those experiences and then transform them into action steps for change.”

If you would like to participate, please contact Brandy Jones at 270-237-4149 or Charity Johnson at 270-782-3162 or charity.johnson@casoky.org. Register online at www.casoky.org/news.

Community Action of Southern KY is a part of America’s Poverty Fighting Network, which concentrates on helping people and changing lives. For more information, please contact Charity Johnson, Public Information Coordinator by phone at 270-782-3162 or by email charity.johnson@casoky.org, or visit www.casoky.org.



32.9 million Americans, 11.7 million of whom are children under the age of 18, live in poverty every day. Many more have incomes above the poverty line, but their incomes are still low enough to qualify for programs like Food Stamps and Medicaid. The recent economic downturn has seen unemployment rates rise and the use of emergency food pantries increase. It is difficult for those of us who have enough to truly understand the situations that families living in poverty experience every day – the decisions they have to make, and the fears and frustrations they feel. That is why we are inviting you to walk a mile in the shoes of those facing poverty by participating in the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS).

The CAPS provides participants with the opportunity to assume the role of a low-income family member living on a limited budget. The experience is divided into four 15-minute sessions, each of which represents one week in which you must provide for your family and maintain your home. As one participant commented, “This poverty simulation dramatically demonstrates how much time and energy many families have to give just to survive from day to day. It quickly dispels the myth that people would do fine if they would only go out and get a job!”

The simulation will be held from 1pm to 4pm on July 22, 2010 at the Allen County Community Action Center at 25 J.L. Turner and Son Place, Scottsville, KY. Please RSVP by July 15 by calling 270-782-3162, faxing the completed form to Jasmine Mayfield at 270-842-5735 or Brandy Jones at 270-237-5131, or by emailing charity.johnson@casoky.org. We look forward to your participation.

Click here to Download the Registration Form.

To register online, click here.

Community Action of Southern Kentucky celebrated the GRAND OPENING of the new Allen County Community Action Center on Saturday, June 26, 2010. Community Action’s Board and Staff joined the Board of the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation, three generations of the Turner family, Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce, and other elected officials and community members to celebrate this new beginning for Community Action’s services in Scottsville at 25 J.L. Turner and Son Place.

Cheryl Allen, CEO of Community Action of Southern Kentucky said, “Community Action helps the vulnerable become valuable. This new facility will provide hope and plant the seed to change lives.”

Christina Atkins, student at Allen County Scottsville High School, sang the National Anthem. VFW Post #5712 participated in the event with a flag ceremony. Other guest speakers included Laura Turner Dugas, Community Action Board Chair and Barren County Judge Executive Davie Greer, Allen County Judge Executive Bobby Young, Scottsville Mayor Robbie Cline, and Pastor Dan Smith.

Laura Turner Dugas motivated attendees to make this building the hub of activity in Scottsville saying, “As you did once before, I encourage you, as a community, to take ownership of this place and the great work that goes on here.”

The ceremony included a Time Capsule dedication. The time capsule is set to be opened in 2065 during Allen County’s 250^th Anniversary. A ribbon cutting, in partnership with the Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce, closed the ceremony, and then community members took tours of the new Allen County Community Action facility beginning at the main entrance. The foyer of the building brings visitors to Community Services, which includes individual and family services through food, rent and heating assistance, garden program and educational scholarships. Also on the 1^st floor is Children Services, which includes three pre-school classrooms, offices for Head Start staff, laundry facilities and a common area for staff. The commercial kitchen on the first floor will provide meals for seniors, Head Start children and cooking and food preservation classes for the community. The elevator and/or stairway leads to the 2^nd floor of the facility, which includes a large multi-purpose room, computer lab and the Senior Center.  The Senior Center includes a large dining area with casual seating, Senior Center staff office, recreation room and exercise room.

This building is a result of the partnership between Community Action and the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation, who donated the J.L. Turner & Son Warehouse property and committed $1.75 million towards the new handicap accessible facility to house all of Community Action’s services in Allen County. To help pay for the $3 million project, the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation challenged Community Action to raise $250,000, which is being matched dollar for dollar by the Foundation to support the operation of a third Pre-school classroom, if given or pledged by June 30, 2010. There is still time to make an investment in this generation and generations to come in Allen County.

The Agency provides services to children, seniors, individuals and families through a multitude of programs in Allen County. More people are expected to be served with more activities and opportunities in the new facility. Community Action of Southern KY is a part of America’s Poverty Fighting Network, which concentrates on helping people and changing lives. For more information or to donate/pledge for this capital campaign, please contact the local Community Action Community Services office at 237-4149, Charity Johnson, Public Information Coordinator by phone at 270-782-3162 or by email charity.johnson@casoky.org, or visit www.casoky.org.



Community Action of Southern Kentucky’s new Allen County Center will celebrate its GRAND OPENING on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 1pm. Everyone is invited to attend. Community Action’s Board and Staff will join with the Board of the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation, three generations of the Turner family, Scottsville-Allen County Chamber of Commerce, and other Allen County officials and community members to celebrate this new beginning for Community Action’s services in Scottsville.  Shuttles will be provided to and from 25 JL Turner and Son Place for the GRAND OPENING ceremony and open house. Visitors may park behind the Washington Center and at Scottsville United Methodist Church ride a shuttle provided by Community Action.

Cheryl Allen CEO/Executive Director said, “We are very blessed to have partnered with the Foundation and our communities to build this new home for all of our services in Allen County.  This is not just a building for Community Action, but a truly important resource for all of the children, seniors, individuals and families of Allen County and what better time to celebrate than during Community Action’s 45^th year of providing opportunities for individuals and families to be self-reliant.”

This building is a result of the partnership between Community Action and the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation, who donated the J.L. Turner & Son Warehouse property and committed $1.75 million towards the new handicap accessible facility to house all of Community Action’s services in Allen County. To help pay for the $3 million project, the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation challenged Community Action to raise $250,000, which is being matched dollar for dollar by the Foundation to support the operation of a third Pre-school classroom.

“Allen County has very limited options for childcare and pre-school education. This additional classroom will provide important services to more children and their families as well as additional jobs. If we meet this challenge, these matching dollars will provide $50,000 annually for five years!” said Allen.

This challenge also came with a time limit. Donations will be doubled through the generosity of the Foundation, if given or pledged by June 30, 2010. The Agency has over $100,000 in contributions and pledges for the Allen County capital campaign, with $35,000 more soon to be announced.

The Agency provides services to children, seniors, individuals and families through a multitude of programs in Allen County. More people are expected to be served with more activities and opportunities in the new facility. Community Action of Southern KY is a part of America’s Poverty Fighting Network, which concentrates on helping people and changing lives. For more information, please contact the local Community Action Community Services office at 237-4149, Charity Johnson, Public Information Coordinator by phone at 270-782-3162 or by email charity.johnson@casoky.org, or visit www.casoky.org.

“This year’s event was the most successful to date,” Click here for additional photos from the event!said Cheryl Allen, CEO/Executive Director. “Over 180 supporters including golfers, sponsors, volunteers and Agency staff joined together for the Charity Golf Classic to raise funds for programs that create opportunities for individuals and families to be self-reliant throughout the 10 county Barren River Area Development District.”

There were no winners on the specified Hole In One contest sponsored by Saylor’s Golf Carts, but one golfer hit his first hole-in-one on Cave Valley Golf Club’s #7 hole on the Ridge Course. Dennis Hinkle said, “I have been playing golf for 54 years and this is my first hole in one!”

Cindy Rich, Director of Golf Operations at Park Mammoth Resort said, “We are always happy to host tournaments that help our community. It was a beautiful day on the course for golf and we are very excited for Mr. Hinkle’s hole-in-one.”

First place teams won $300/team and were as follows: First flight Dennis Hunt, Chris Bratcher, Ernie Thomason and Terry Thomason; Second flight Doug Polk, Kevin Reels, Brent Logsdon and James Supulski; Third flight Joe Harbaugh, Kerissa McKinney, Brian McKinney and Kerry McKinney. Second place teams won $200/team and were as follows: First flight Bob Jeffers, John Lawson, Jason Bull and Jeff Warren; Second flight N.E. Reed, Rick Starks, Rodney Kirtley and Scottie Woodcock; Third flight Jerry Shanks, Howard Franklin, Gary Frank Stone and Bart Risner.

Ron Drummond and Wendy Noble, Closest to the Pin Winners, each received $25. Straightest Drive winners were Gary Frank Stone and Betty Robbins, who also each received $25. The Team Longest Putt winners were Joey Violette, Bob Rahill, Bill Balance and Jerry Beckham, who received a team prize of $200.

2010 Community Action Charity Golf Classic Sponsors:

Exclusive TV Media Sponsor: WNKY CBS 40.1 & NBC 40.2

For a full list of sponsors, click here.

“A very special thank you goes to all of the individuals and businesses who provided sponsorships or cash, door prizes, welcome bags or food/drink donations. We would also like to thank Park Mammoth Resort for their generosity and hospitality in hosting this event, which netted over $9,100 to provide services to children, seniors, families throughout the 10 counties and for the Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation Match Grant.” noted Cheryl Allen, CEO/Executive Director.

For more information about Community Action of Southern Kentucky and how you can help fight poverty locally, visit www.casoky.org or call 270-782-3162.

For more information about Park Mammoth Resort, please visit www.parkmammothresort.us.



WKU Graduate Students recently completed an analysis of GO BG Transit’s performance. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Bowling Green’s public transportation system by evaluating the proper coverage of various demographics around the city. In turn, potential areas for expansion were identified that could possibly improve mobility and accessibility throughout the City of Bowling Green. Frank Aryee, Brandon Fowler, Rachel Hetzler, and Brandon Porter are graduate students working with the WKU Department of Geography & Geology and the WKU Center for GIS. By utilizing data provided by Community Action of Southern Kentucky and the U.S. Census Bureau, these students were able to show how effectively the current transportation serves the community.

The results of this study can be downloaded here.

The analysis included the following (5) demographic variables:

• · Population – total number of people at a given place and time
• · Income – median household income
• · MF 12-16 – males and females between 12 and 16 years old
• · 65 up – people who are 65 years or older
• · Transit Type: Biking, Walking, Taxi – people who used these as a means of transportation

“This study shows that we are serving the majority of places within the city that need Public Transit the most.” said Ken Meredith, Public Transit Coordinator. “This information is helpful as we continue to evaluate services and plan for the future.”

The study results and discussions included several maps showing current ridership and ridership in relation to the variables and the following conclusions:

•  “the current coverage is sufficient”

• “Focusing more on Route efficiency, such as quick connectivity and increased bike and pedestrian accessibility can maximize patronage.”

• “it may be important to consider looking at Industrialized and Commercial areas for future route extension.”

GO bg transit provides 5 fixed routes weekdays 7am-6pm, two Saturday Shopping Shuttles the first Saturday of each month, and numerous other shuttles to serve the Bowling Green Community. The GO to Work Shuttle provides transportation in the early morning hours to various employment locations along Campbell Lane, Scottsville Road and 31W By-pass and links riders to other routes and shuttles.

GO BG Transit is a service of the City of Bowling Green and is operated by Community Action of Southern Kentucky. For more information, please visit http://www.casoky.org/transportation or call 782-3162 ext. 238.