VERSAILLES, Ky. — Three Woodford County businesses are donating money to help families in the school district whose students qualify for reduced meal prices. 

Over $24,000 was donated between three local businesses in Woodford County that Dani Bradley said will go toward helping families within the school district. For many students in the region, their school meal could be their only warm meal of each day.

“You can’t overstate the benefits of giving a child a warm meal and for some kids this is the only warm meal that they get all day, and this covers both their breakfast and lunch each day that they’re in school,” Bradley said.

Nearly 150 students in Woodford County qualify for reduced-priced meals, costing the families roughly $100 per year. 

“Everyone knows inflation is on the rise and food prices are going up, and that’s hitting some of our families the hardest that are the most food insecure,” Bradley said.

In order to qualify for reduced-price meals, the family’s income must fall within a specific household income depending on the size. 

Bradley said More Than a Bakery, Ruggles Sign and Community Trust Bank stepped up to fill the need, covering the difference in cost that federal dollars do not cover. 

“This allows our kids to focus on learning and growing and thriving in our district. I cannot think of a better way to give back to your community than feeding kids,” Bradley said.

A need, Billie Dollins with community trust bank says, that was a no-brainer.

“Community’s in the name of our bank, Community Trust, and we take that very seriously. And it’s important to us to do the right thing for our communities,” Dollins said.

And along with Dollins, Ruggles Sign’s president Tim Cambron agreed there was no hesitation with supporting the students. 

“I think the kids are our future, that’s our future employees and your future leaders and we just felt it would be good for us to support this and just take one thing off the table that families have to worry about,” Cambron said.

The $24,000 donated from the three local companies will cover the entire year for those students’ meals. 

Bradley says she is grateful to work in a community, where businesses come together for the children.

Before the school year started, the district had 122 students qualify for reduced-priced meals and now a couple weeks into the year have increased that amount by nearly 30 additional students.