Connecting with kids
Eyes and ears
GLASGOW
Jennie Phelps is vice president of finance and accounting with Farmers RECC, a job with a lot of responsibility that requires attention to detail.
In her free time, she has taken on a serious volunteer role with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of South Central Kentucky, supporting children in the community who are victims of abuse, neglect and dependency.
“There are a lot of children who have to go through the system,” Jennie says. “There are not enough social workers. We supplement them by meeting with children in the system. We listen to them and let them know we are here for them. When it comes to court appearances, we are their eyes and ears. We can be the one person throughout the process that will be there for them.”
Jennie Phelps, right, often talks with social worker Marymae Hensley about advocating for their young clients. Photo: Jennie Phelps 
Emma Redmon, who volunteers at a church camp, works as a billing and customer service specialist at Shelby Energy Cooperative. Photo: Wade Harris
Happy campers
SHELBYVILLE
Emma Redmon, a billing and customer service specialist for Shelby Energy Cooperative, always knows where she is going on vacation: to Templed Hills Camp & Retreat Center, sponsored by the United Church of Christ.
Emma has been attending this camp since she was 5, spent her summer breaks in college as a camp counselor, and is now the music resource person at the Bellville, Ohio, center.
She uses her vacation time from Shelby Energy to lead the choir camp there. Other camps include those focusing on canoeing and sports, along with a grandparent/grandchild camp and another called MMADD for music, mime, arts, dance and drama.
“I want to create for other kids the same kind of environment I had growing up,” Emma says. “The camps are electronic free. It is a chance for kids to connect with other kids, face to face. That’s an important thing for them.”
