TITLE: Aaron McNeil House  

Level Long Term: 

Hopkinsville, Kentucky is an urban area of Christian County. The residents have a rich heritage in African American history agriculture development, & culture. The lack resources and education in healthy lifestyles and learning. Rev. Aaron McNeil, a pioneer, churchman, educator and community leader, came to Hopkinsville Kentucky in 1896 as the first black Episcopal priest in this community and first rector of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepard. The building for the church of the Good Shepard, at 604 East Second Street, was constructed in 1896 with funds raised by Nat Gaither, president of the Bank of Hopkinsville and Hunter Wood Sr., publisher of the Kentucky New Era. It also served as the first library in Hopkinsville for African Americans. From the beginning the Church was truly a community center. The Center was incorporated in 1971. In 1983 the Aaron McNeil House was designated a Kentucky Landmark. Crisis Relief Services operated out the United Way Offices and Aaron McNeil had been operating as two separate United Way Agencies until the end of 1991. Their merger came about during United Way's annual programs review process. Effective January 1, 1992, the boards of Aaron McNeil and Crisis Relief merged. 

Partnership

The Kentucky State University Small Farms Agent for the Christian County Extension Service partnered with community educators and leaders to create an urban, community garden in for the Aaron McNeil House that could be used by the undeserved, homelessness, families, teachers, & community leaders to educate and promote the importance of a healthy living experience & the importance of agriculture.

The .50 acre garden was funded by grants and donations from, Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Small Farms Program Service, local churches and other non-profit organizations along with the undeserved, single families, and homeless which are forgotten about in the world.

Target audience

In 2017 Aaron McNeil House (AMH) served 6,403 individuals Christian County 8.7%; 2,953 households with Crisis Relief, Food Pantry, and TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) services totaling $155,748.38.

We served 870 children between the ages of 0-17, 1,517 adults’ ages 18-57, senior adults 60 years and over were 314, and 139 individuals of unknown age. 

This data was collected via our database, Charity Tracker, and does not include individuals served through our TEFAP program. 

Outcomes

The programs here at AMH are strictly “crisis” based; for that reason, if a client stops in or calls us to request assistance with utilities or rent, a true crisis must be demonstrated. A crisis is specifically defined in the by-laws of Aaron McNeil House as a temporary change in a client’s environment, a situation that is outside of their control, and one that has caused them to be in financial distress. Kentucky State University assisted the Aaron McNeil house in the development of a stronger garden to teach and educate the undeserved about healthy living, diabetes, the difference between high & low blood pressure, children diabetes. What is the importance of urban gardens, and the strength of a healthy community?