Bowling Green citizens are rallying to aid the Barren River Area Safe Space domestic violence shelter, one of 15 Kentucky shelters that learned earlier this month it will no longer receive funding from a federal food commodities program.

BRASS, which primarily serves 11 surrounding counties, is losing about $6,000 a year due to cuts. But the local banking community and students at Western Kentucky University are stepping in to try to offset the loss.

PBI Bank will be conducting a food/monetary donation drive today through Nov. 19 at its Campbell Lane and Fairview branches, joined by Franklin Bank and Trust at its Gary Farms Boulevard and Dishman Lane branches.

The goal is to surpass the $6,000 loss, said Marvin Stratton, community market president of PBI Bank in Bowling Green.

“We’d like to see all of the banks in Bowling Green become a part of this food drive,” Stratton said. “When we learned in the Daily News that this funding was being lost, we felt it was important to help because BRASS is so valuable to so many people. We realize the service work they do for this community, for which unfortunately there is a real need.”

The Medallion Society, a service group for honors students at WKU, has also started a campuswide food collection for the shelter. The students also will host a campus fundraiser Nov. 6 with a goal of $6,000, said Jolie Carwile, chapter president.

“BRASS is an organization facing funding cuts and really in significant need,” said faculty adviser Rachel Leer. “Our membership felt strongly about doing something to help.”

The loss of funding places further strains on what are already scant resources for shelters that serve a steadily growing number of domestic violence victims in Kentucky. The shelters are no longer eligible to receive the help because the U.S. Department of Agriculture decided to enforce a regulation limiting its distribution to “Tier 1” agencies – such as soup kitchens – and individuals after a federal audit determined the state had been distributing to shelters in error.

The loss of federal commodities represents a loss of $500 a month for BRASS, which feeds about 20 families every month, said Lee Alcott, executive director for BRASS.

“This is truly an incredible response from the community,” Alcott said.

Kentucky’s domestic violence programs sheltered more than 4,100 victims of domestic violence and their children for a total of 146,558 resident days last year, serving about 440,000 meals, according to the KDVA. Almost all Kentucky shelters receive the commodities, so the total loss statewide equals about $35,000, according to the agency.

The commodities program distributes food it buys from farmers in price support and supplement programs to the homeless and hungry.

KDVA is asking Kentucky’s congressional delegation to amend the regulation to include domestic violence shelters and other “Tier 2” agencies.

Food donations may be dropped off at participating banks and may include canned and dry goods as well as personal toiletry items. Monetary donations are also acceptable.

The Medallion Society’s fundraiser “Game Day” will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Nov. 6 at WKU’s Downing University Center. The event will consist of 12 games similar to those on the television game show “Minute to Win It” and anyone can sign up to participate. There is a $50 registration fee and all proceeds will go to BRASS, Carwile said.

Collection bins will also be placed around the WKU campus.