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Governor Steve Beshear's Communications Office
Gov. Beshear Announces More than $400,000 to Assist the ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ Community Action Partnership
ASHLAND, Ky.– Governor Steve Beshear today joined Department for Local Government Commissioner Tony Wilder and local officials to announce funding to assist the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” community action partnership in eastern Kentucky.
Boyd and Lawrence counties are receiving the $440,000 Multi-County Local Government Economic Development Funds (LGEDF)/Coal Severance Funds to renovate the Johnson Dairy building, which is home to the “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” facility in Ashland.
“Local partnerships are the most effective method to targeting and helping citizens in our communities who are in need,” Gov. Beshear said. “I am so pleased we can provide funding to the ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ partnership in its effort to help citizens in the Ashland area and make the overall community a better place to live.”
Formed in 2002, “Neighbors Helping Neighbors” is a partnership of five community action agencies that share the common goal of improving access to basic food, clothing and emergency services for the homeless and low to moderate income families in the Ashland area. The five agencies include River City Harvest, Dressing Room, CAReS, Ashland Community Kitchen and the Ashland Area Presbyterian Ministries.
“It is amazing how providing a hot meal and a clean shirt can change the attitude and perspective of a person who happens to be down on his or her luck,” said DLG Commissioner Wilder. “This funding will provide ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ with the resources it needs to continue its positive interventions in the lives of the most vulnerable and needy in the Ashland area.”
The funding will help renovate an approximate 6,000-square-foot space in the Johnson Dairy building for use as the Ashland Community Kitchen. All other partnership agencies will also be housed in the new facility.
The community kitchen provides meals to residents in the greater Ashland area including Boyd, Carter, Greenup and Lawrence counties. In 2009, the agency served more than 30,000 meals at its existing facility and prepared an additional 31,000 meals for the local Meals on Wheels program. The current community kitchen operates in the Parish Hall of the Calvery Episcopal Church and is only able to serve meals two days a week due to other church activities and services.
“I want to commend Boyd and Lawrence counties for using coal severance funds to consolidate ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors’ under one roof,” said House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, of Sandy Hook. “Expanding operations and renovating the new facility will provide our region and its residents better access to essential services. This is a great example of the vital role coal severance dollars play in improving the quality of life in eastern Kentucky.”
Renovations to the facility will include, but are not limited to, demolition, flooring, walls, doors, windows, kitchen equipment, HVAC and electric. Additional funds for the project are being provided by the Ashland Community Kitchen.
LGEDF/Coal Severance Funds are a portion of coal severance taxes set aside to fund projects benefiting two or more coal-producing counties.
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