A new report from Feeding America revealed that in 2022, 54,710 children in the region faced food insecurity.
This statistic translates to approximately one in five children within the region, which is a 42-county area served by Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland.
The United States Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity is linked to various detrimental social and health consequences, according to Feeding America.
In the report, the organization notes an escalation in childhood food insecurity in their service region compared to previous years.
Last year’s study identified four counties with childhood food insecurity rates exceeding 20%. This year, 36 counties report childhood food insecurity rates surpassing 20%.
The report found that three counties in the area rank among the top 10 counties in Kentucky for the highest number of food insecure children. Warren County secures the fourth position with 6,220 food insecure children, followed by Hardin County at fifth with 5,350 food insecure children and Christian County at sixth with 5,270 food insecure children.
Charles Dennis, Executive Director of Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland, said these figures illustrate the importance of Feeding America, Kentucky Heartland’s mission and the urgency of campaigns such as the “Pasta Bowl,” the organization’s annual Feeding Kids campaign to raise funds and awareness to fight childhood hunger in the region.
All donations for the Pasta Bowl campaign benefit the organization’s Feeding Kids efforts, funding crucial programs such as the BackPack Program, which ensures that children receive a backpack filled with food every weekend, and the School Pantry Program, which allows families to select food for their households directly at their child’s school.
In the past year, Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland has distributed 461,066 pounds of food to area children through Feeding Kids programming.
To learn more about Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland and support the organization’s mission of fighting food insecurity in the region, click here.
Source: WBKO
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