Oldham County High students present new "Colonel Care Center" to board, cite partnerships and food drives
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Summary
Students and school leaders described a new on-campus resource offering essentials and confidential support; presenters said community partners and student volunteers already have donated goods and organized more than 4,000 nonperishable items into family kits.
Jenny Evelyn, introduced in the meeting as an associate principal at Oldham County High School, described a new school-based resource called the Colonel Care Center during the board's Nov. 17 student showcase.
"This isn't just a project. It's something that will impact families across our community for years to come," Evelyn said, explaining the center is a transformed space intended to meet students' basic needs with dignity and privacy.
Student speaker Nikki Byers told trustees the center will provide essentials and also offer students opportunities to serve. "When students know their basic needs are met, they can show up ready to learn," Byers said. She cited partnerships with Walmart and Kroger that "donated over a thousand dollars in canned food drive items" and described students and staff organizing donations.
During questions, presenters pointed to a recent Halloween-week drive in which they said volunteers collected "over 4,000 non perishable items," which were organized into Thanksgiving food kits for families the school identified as needing extra help. The presentation highlighted student leadership in staffing and organizing the resource and framed the center as both direct assistance and a learning opportunity for students.
The board thanked the presenters; no formal action or funding request for the Colonel Care Center was recorded in the meeting minutes. Trustees inquired about impact and sustainability; staff indicated partnerships and volunteer engagement would be part of maintaining the center.
The presentation included recognition of other student and staff efforts across the district under the board's Ignite Passion awards, but the Colonel Care Center was the primary student initiative discussed.