Let’s End the Risk of Hunger for Kentucky Children
Michael J. Halligan
CEO, God's Pantry Food Bank
2024 Summer Newsletter
With my sister and brother, I spent much of the summer outside at my grandparents’ home along the Cedar River in Iowa. We chased each other through blankets of humid air and drank cool water from a hose. We sang louder than our radio, but not the cicadas. We fished along the riverbank and caught lightning bugs until Mom called us in for supper. Those are the types of childhood memories we hope every kid and teen experiences in summer.
Unfortunately, for far too many Kentucky youth, summer memories are full of uncertainty and hunger. They include the times when they bring leftover food home to a sibling, when they open an empty fridge, or when they start a countdown to eating regularly at school again.
In the Food Bank’s 50-county service area, 1 in 4 children are at risk of hunger. In sixteen counties, it’s 1 in 3. The food insecurity we see is not strictly in homes that are experiencing poverty. On average, 25% of children experiencing hunger in our region do not live below the poverty line; in some counties it’s up to 52%. Their working caregivers make too much to qualify for government assistance, but not enough to cover their needs with increased housing and food prices. Regardless of their family’s situation, God’s Pantry Food Bank works hard to ensure no child goes hungry.
Our network of over 500 food pantries and meal programs helps thousands of neighbors each year, including kids and teens. Partnerships through the BackPack Program, School Pantry Program, Summer Meals Program, and Kids Cafe help address childhood food insecurity directly. This work matters because we all know this: Hope is a full stomach. With every filled plate for a child, there is hope for the best outcomes in education, relationships, and health. Hope for summer memories without worry and with more joy.
We are so grateful for the folks that make feeding our young neighbors possible—every pantry and meal program worker, teacher, volunteer, and donor. And you. We couldn’t do this work without your help. Thank you so much for supporting your neighbors through God’s Pantry Food Bank. Read our summer newsletter for more information.
