Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the number of Kentucky children facing food insecurity. This has been corrected. (Aug. 4, 2024)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Food insecurity in Kentucky has been rising since 2020, according to Feeding America.

Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap report said every county in the United States is home to people facing hunger.

What You Need To Know

  • In 2022, Feeding America estimates in its Map the Meal gap report that 710,000 people in the commonwealth are facing food insecurities 

  • Feeding Kentucky said people with food insecurties decreased during the pandemic

  • The number of people with food insecurities increased after the pandemic policies ended

  • Food Banks like Dare to Care are helping feed those in need across the commonwealth

Dare to Care Food Bank in Kentucky serves about 19,000 meals a week in the summer to Jefferson County Children.

“So it’s an incredible feeling to be able to do that we have incredible volunteers that support the effort in working with our partner agencies to make sure our community has access to fresh and healthy food,” said Vincent James, President and CEO, Dare to Care Food Bank.

In 2022, Feeding America estimates in its report that 710,000 people in the commonwealth are facing food insecurities and over 208,000 of those are children.

“We all know that there’s a serious issue among food insecurity and particularly with children and seniors and so with these vulnerable populations, what we are attempting to do is to be able to provide that get be that gap in terms of being able to provide them with healthy, nutritious meals,” said James.

Feeding Kentucky said the pandemic policies helped feed hungry people, including children, but when those programs ended, food insecurity increased once again.

“As soon as those measures were rolled back in 2022, 20% of Kentucky children are going without consistent nutrition. That is 280,000 Kentucky school children not receiving consistent food,” said Jordan Ojile, advocacy coordinator for Feeding Kentucky.

Ojile said hunger can lead to health concerns later in life and he is urging legislators to prioritize feeding their constituents.

“So we really want to see less of a focus on slashing SNAP support for the safety net and then federally in congress, we really need to see support for a robust farm bill that doesn’t treat the safety net as an option,” said Ojile.

Until food insecurity improves, food banks like Dare to Care are helping who they can.

“We have government food that comes in and then we purchase food as well. So with those different streams of food and access to food coming in, we’re able to provide necessary resources for our community to have that access,” said James

 Dare to Care can be found in eight counties in the commonwealth.

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