NICHOLASVILLE, KY — Working together to fight hunger in Jessamine County is one way the Jessamine County Retired Teachers Association is making a difference in their hometown. In its fourth year of efforts to alleviate hunger locally, JCRTA matches a grant funded by AARP-KY and the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association (KRTA) to help those struggling to put food on the table.

A check for $100 from retired teachers has been donated to the Jessamine County Food Bank located at the Nicholasville Christian Church, where food is purchased at the best rate in order to help those in need. Another part of the effort was a donation of canned foods by JCRTA members at the Sept. 13th meeting. More than 210 food items, as well as $60 in cash from the “Change for Charity” ongoing effort, were donated to the  Salvation Army of Jessamine County’s emergency food bank.

In Kentucky, hunger threatens 13.4 percent of citizens, and of those, 5.40 percent are seniors at risk. Overall, the Commonwealth ranks 20th in the nation for at-risk seniors. Building on the success of food drives in the past three years, KRTA units across the state are again taking action to help change this with the “Yes, We Can Feed Kentucky” food drives in 2016.

“We know hunger is not part of the American dream, we know there are Kentuckians going to bed hungry, and we’re going to do something about it.  We’re inviting other local groups to join with us and help end hunger right here in Jessamine County,” said Terry Leitch, JCRTA President.  “It’s important to take action locally and meet local needs in Nicholasville and Wilmore and know working together we can make a difference. We are amazed at the community spirit and its response. I think it’s a testament to the commitment of our volunteers and the willingness of the entire community to get involved.”

Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus founded the National Retired Teachers Association in 1948 and ten years later, founded AARP with a vision of service to others.  Year four of “Yes, We Can Feed Kentucky” continues that mission of service and the spirit of service to give back.