06/14/2026
For several years, the Rotary Club of Lexington After Hours has partnered with Arlington Elementary School by hosting the Fifth Grade Graduation Luncheon at Malone’s Banquet facility on Tate’s Creek Road as well as an Empowering Girls Forum held in the fall of each year. As part of the club’s interest in that particular elementary school, Mrs. Ashli Dunn Taylor was invited to update the club on the successes and needs of the school this year.
Mrs. Taylor visited the club on June 11 to share more about her role as the Family Resource Coordinator. Taylor, who has served in that role for the last six years, takes care of the needs of 279 students and 254 parents. She helps provide clothing, tutoring services, holiday assistance and mental wellness support for those who need it. One of her programs distributes weekend food bags (prepared by the Southern Hills Methodist Church) to 149 students.
She is very proud of her Latino Literacy Program which addresses the complex language issues of that growing demographic in her area. While she remains involved with the children almost 7 days a week, she is most concerned about the growing epidemic of homelessness in her area. Taylor shares, “I struggle to wrap my head around the fact that some of our children and families are living out of their cars or under a tarp in the bed of a pick up truck. Situations like that keep me up at night. I do what I can to work with other agencies to identify those families and help where we can. But my heart breaks when these children show up at school hungry and tired but happy to be in a safe place.” She continues, “There is only so much I can do, but I try to make a difference.”
A special thank you to Mrs. Taylor and all of the Family Resource Coordinators who may face the same odds.
(Pic with club members President Elect Katherine Wright, Rebecca Simms, Taylor, Pres. John Simson and Conley Salyer. Not pictured Jeanne Clark)
