Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission receives Summer Sunshine awards

Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission’s Head Start program has received two 2005 Summer Sunshine Southeast Region Awards from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  Five Kentucky organizations received awards in five categories, with NKCAC the only organization receiving awards in two categories.

NKCAC received recognition in the Community and Faith-Based Organizations category, presented to groups that coordinated efforts to eliminate obstacles to the participation of faith-based organizations and the activities these community groups exhibited to expand the services of the program; and the Partnering With Other Organizations or Groups category presented to groups that linked their outreach efforts, program operations and/or activities with other groups to form a coalition to support serving low-income children in Summer Food Service Programs. These regional awards make Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission eligible to compete next year for national recognition.

The USDA created the Summer Sunshine Awards to recognize the extraordinary efforts and the creative and successful strategies program operators and other groups contribute to the SFSP. NKCAC Head Start collaborates with a number of community organizations for its summer feeding program, including Oasis, Inc; the 9^th Street Baptist Church in Covington; Holy Trinity Schools in Newport; Kenton County Parks and Recreation; Erlanger-Elsmere Parks and Recreation; Bright Days child care center.  Besides the summer nutrition program, Northern Kentucky Head Start provides preschool services for 3 and 4 year old residing in Boone, Kenton, Campbell and Pendleton Counties.

The SFSP provides nutritious meals to children without regard to race, color, national origin, age (within statutory limits), sex or handicap, during extended school vacation periods.  In most areas, the program operates from May until school goes back in to session in August or September. Meals and snacks are served to children in such places as schools, playgrounds, parks and churches.

- December 14, 2005