Carolyn Richey of Allen County Health Department named latest Healthy Kentucky Policy Champion for 'veggie tasting' program

Carolyn Richey receives the Healthy Kentucky
Policy Champion award from Ben Chandler,
CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.
(Photo by Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky)

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has named Carolyn Richey, a nurse supervisor with the Allen County Health Department who has worked to increase access to health foods for youth, as the latest Healthy Kentucky Policy Champion.

Richey, who has served nearly 30 years at the agency, organized the Community Health Action Team, bringing together representatives of schools, extension, library, chamber, Rotary Club and other organizations to address food access issues. From this collaboration, Richey created a farm-to-school "veggie tasting" pilot program.

"Carolyn has created and nourished many collaborative partnerships, applied for and won several grants, and established extensive health education programming along the way," Foundation CEO Ben Chandler said in a news release. 

Chandler presented Richey with the award on July 24 in Scottsville at the Need More Acres Farm, which the release notes is an "important element" of the farm-to-school project. Richey was nominated by Michelle Howell, co-owner of the farm, who said in the release that Richey's efforts "have increased the consumption of fruits and vegetables as well as raised awareness of the local farming community."

The programs Richey launched "provide numerous healthy food options for kids not only during the school year but also during the summer at multiple community locations," added Melanie Harston, her co-worker at the health department.

Richey is now eligible for the Healthy Kentucky Policy Champion of the Year award, which comes with a $5,000 grant from the foundation to a Kentucky-based nonprofit of the winner's choice. The winner will be announced at the foundation's annual health policy forum Sept. 23 in Lexington.