Feeding America has determined that too many people in Barren County, Kentucky are food insecure. A new montly mass distribution is being launched get more food to residents in the Glasgow and Cave City areas.
Feeding America Kentucky’s Heartland, which is based in Elizabethtown, already distributes more than 12 million meals each year through food pantries, soup kitchens, and programs for children and seniors in 42 counties.
Even so, not enough food is getting into Barren County. The recent “Map the Meal Gap” report from Feeding America shows that 6,700 adults and 2,100 children in the county do not have reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
Jamie Sizemore is executive director of Feeding America Kentucky’s Heartland.
“Barren County right now is what we consider a “red county,” which means we’re only meeting 43 percent of the needs, food needs in that particular county,” said Sizemore.
To meet more of the need, the food bank is initiating a mass distribution in Glasgow on Tuesday, Aug. 20 and in Cave City on Thursday, Aug. 22. The distribution will be held each month at both locations.
Residents do not need proof income, but they do need proof of their address, which can be a piece of mail, a driver’s license or a rent receipt. Becasue the project is a U.S. Department of Agriculture program, distribution at each site will be based on zip code.
Sizemore says some people who need food don’t have an address.
“Now we’ve also had situations where we’re had people that were homeless," said Sizemore. "And if you declare that you’re homeless and you tell us where you’re living at the time, you know, whether it be by the river or whatever the case may be, if you declare that you’re homeless we will serve you as well.”
Details are available on the Facebook page of Feeding America Kentucky’s Heartland.
