PressContact:
Laura Brooks
lbrooks@godspantry.org
606-584-4572
May14, 2025 – Hunger continues to worsen across Central and Eastern Kentucky, according to Map the Meal Gap, the latest study released by Feeding America based on 2023 data. The report highlights a disturbing reality: food insecurity has reached historic highs in the region served by God’s Pantry Food Bank.
God’s Pantry Food Bank serves 50 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky, home to 19 of the most food-insecure counties in the nation. Nearly 280,000 people (18.2%) in the region face hunger, the largest number ever recorded. Alarming disparities persist among children: 1 in 4 are food insecure, and in many of the rural counties, it’s 1 in 3. In the 43 rural counties served by God’s Pantry Food Bank, food insecurity is 10% higher overall.
“These numbers are not abstract. They reflect the daily realities of families, seniors, veterans, and children across Kentucky who are skipping meals or choosing between food and medicine,” said Michael Halligan, President and CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank. “Hunger is an urgent crisis in Central and Eastern Kentucky. By listening to our neighbors and using insights from this study, we can rally around solutions that ensure every person, especially every child, has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.”
Food insecurity affects communities in every zip code in Kentucky and the United States, regardless of background, demographics, including gender and ethnicity. The picture of hunger in our region is more urgent than ever before. We must meet this moment with bipartisan action.
In Central and Eastern Kentucky, the meal gap has reached a historic high of 53 million meals annually, a staggering shortfall that underscores the daily struggle faced by families across the region. This means that millions of times each year, someone in our community sits down to an empty plate. Closing that gap will require a unified effort through strengthened public nutrition programs, increased charitable food support, and policies that prioritize food access for all.
One of the most critical tools in our fight against hunger is the public-private safety net, which includes programs authorized in the Farm Bill — a sweeping piece of legislation that shapes not only our nation’s agricultural policies but also core food assistance programs.
We call on our elected officials to protect and strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – a lifeline for millions, The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) – A cornerstone for food banks like ours, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), which provides nutritious USDA food to low-income seniors, and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
Hunger weakens our workforce, strains our healthcare system, and stifles opportunities to learn and grow. Investments in food assistance are investments in the health, stability, and resilience of our people.
God’s Pantry Food Bank recently announced a $40 million capacity campaign to address the growing hunger crisis in the Commonwealth. However, the truth is simple: without SNAP, TEFAP, CSFP, and NSLP we cannot close the meal gap. Without these programs, we risk falling even further behind.
God’s Pantry Food Bank urges our representatives to support safety net programs and pass a Farm Bill that supports our farmers and builds a stronger, hunger-free future for every Kentuckian.
Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study builds upon USDA’s most recent report of national and state data, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest rate in more than a decade. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the need for the public to join the movement to end hunger.
To learn how food insecurity impacts your community, visit FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap. For more information about God’s Pantry Food Bank and how to help end hunger in Central and Eastern Kentucky, visit godspantry.org.
About God’s Pantry Foodbank:
1 in 6people in Kentucky do not know when they will receive their next meal – in Central and Eastern Kentucky, it is 1 in 5. We empower more than 500 food pantries and meal programs across Central and Eastern Kentucky. Our vision: A nourished life for every Kentuckian. Our mission: Reducing hunger by working together to feed Kentucky communities. Visit godspantry.org to learn more.
About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.
