Transportation Cabinet
TRANSPORTATION CABINET EXTENDS A “HELPING HAND” - KYTC Community Outreach Initiatives is Added to the Cabinet’s Agenda

FRANKFORT, KY (January 20, 2006) – Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials, today, announced the establishment of  the cabinet’s Community Outreach initiatives which will involve volunteers from the Executive Staff throughout the Cabinet’s Central Office.

The Outreach initiative grew out of a Christmastime visit by Secretary Nighbert, and several members of his staff, to the Hope Center in Lexington, where they served lunch to homeless people who regularly depend on that facility for meals.

“Our visit to the Hope Center was a truly eye-opening experience,” said Secretary Nighbert. “We were confronted with the life situations of many less fortunate people. From that experience, we realized that we really could make a difference in the community by taking the time to Reach Out.”

The Cabinet’s Community Outreach volunteers served lunch today to those who rely on Frankfort’s “Soup Kitchen” for a good meal. The “Soup Kitchen”, a center operated by the Coalition of Committed Christians, is located on West 2nd Street in Downtown Frankfort.

Shaunee Lynch, the Cabinet’s Deputy Director for Public Affairs, organized the Hope Center visit and has coordinated the Cabinet’s Community Outreach Initiatives. “Secretary Nighbert decided that we should make this more than a once-a-year effort,” Lynch said. “We now intend to make this a monthly project. There are many different ways that we can make a difference in our communities. We’ve just begun to explore a few opportunities.”

The Community Outreach Initiative will be reaching out to children oriented organizations and others during the months ahead.

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