UK Students Assist Blue Grass Farms Charities
Description:
Earlier in September, Blue Grass Farms Charities (BGFC) received a call from the University of Kentucky's Ag Equine Programs asking if we could use volunteers. Of course, the answer was yes! The week of Sept. 28, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment hosted its first ever 'Equine Week of Service.' This is a chance for equine students, faculty, staff and alumni to support businesses and non-profits that align to their studies with volunteerism.
"One of the goals of our Wildcat Wrangler student leadership team is to build community amongst our equine students. The UK Equine Week of Service is such a great way for our students to serve our local equine community in an event lead by our Wildcat Wrangler team. It has been so fun to work side by side with them as the team's advisor in seeing their vision become a reality. I have had a chance to service side-by-side with them this week out in the equine community with Blue Grass Farms Charities being one of those organizations and had so much fun," stated Kristen Wilson, Academic Coordinator, Equine Science and Management Program.
Faculty, staff, and students from the Equine program have assisted BGFC with outreach and fundraising duties. And what a great group of volunteers they provided! Participants delivered fresh potatoes, frozen foods/meats, fruit, vegetables, and breads from Lexington's God's Pantry to area farms for the workers totaling close to 5,000 pounds.The volunteers visited the following: Juddmonte, Don Alberto, Dixiana, Mt. Brilliant, Mill Ridge, Ramsey Farm, and Gainesway.
"Covid19 is still with us, and these essential workers are adapting to social distancing and wearing masks while working. When they go home,they are met by their families who are dealing with online class learning, home isolation, and food insecurities. Their children are not receiving the breakfasts and lunches they normally would receive from school programs,and every bit of food we provide alleviates this burden," stated Julie Berry, Executive Director for Blue Grass Farms Charities.
One of the reasons the UK Equine Program selected Blue Grass Farms Charities was for their students to see that there is more than just the horse that is essential to the industry. People of all walks of life work with the Thoroughbred. We need to take care of one another, especially during this pandemic.
UK equine student volunteers, who are studying remotely, also called on horse farms just to check on them and to see if they were interested in the charity's food distribution program.They reminded them too of the health screening opportunities the charity has through its partnership with Bluegrass Community Health Center in Lexington. Another group even called on vendors to pickup auction items for the charity's upcoming online auction featuring 'relics and rarities of the Bluegrass Region.' This online event will take place October 29 through November 1.
The charity's pantry, located at 2339 Sandersville Road, is always ready to assist families with non-perishables, hygiene, baby items and paper products. Besides food assistance the charity provides housing, utility, medical and other assistance when referred by a farm or the track. Our Mission continues, even during Covid19, to provide health and human services to those working in Central Kentucky's Thoroughbred industry. Visit BGFC at www.bgfcky.org. To find out more about the UK Equine Program visit their website at https://equine.ca.uky.edu/