The coronavirus pandemic has had a catastrophic impact on families throughout the country. In Kentucky, school closures mean that the over 545,000 kids who rely on school meals are at risk for going without the food they’ve depended on during the school year.
When their communities needed them more than ever, schools, food banks, pantries and community organizations all across the state stepped up in incredible ways. Because of them, kids throughout Kentucky have remained nourished during the crisis.
These frontline hunger heroes – school nutrition and transportation professionals, community leaders, administrators, teachers, and volunteers – have done everything they can to ensure that kids continue to have access to meals. They’ve worked tirelessly, often for longer shifts and without days off. They’ve also found creative ways to get meals to kids, distributing 30 lb. boxes of non-perishable foods items to families, providing drive-thru meal pick-up and running grab-n-go meal sites across the state. These hunger heroes have shown tremendous dedication over the past weeks, all while juggling mounting stress and uncertainty.
Given the extraordinary need that families are experiencing, we urge our legislators to prioritize food access for vulnerable families and their children. No Kid Hungry has developed a new resource – Supporting school, communities, and Nutrition Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommended State Policy Actions – that list options available to state policymakers to unlock the potential of federal and state food nutrition programs and ensure that families and children have the support they need.
- With the support of emergency funds, Trimble County School District in Bedford, Kentucky, is providing meals via pick-up and delivery to kids struggling with hunger throughout the district.
- In Campbellsville, Kentucky, Taylor County Schools are using emergency grant funds to get kids the meals they need through delivery and drive-thru pick-up programs.
Since the pandemic began, No Kid Hungry Kentucky has provided over $170,000 in grants to support the work our hunger heroes are doing across the state. This month, we want to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Throughout May, we’ll be celebrating and lifting up the amazing work that’s been happening across the state by:
- Highlighting Kentucky Hunger Heroes on the Feeding Kentucky website
- Sharing stories all month long on our Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
- Highlighting the work of partners, grantees, and folks on the ground on our blog
JOIN US
We know you have hunger heroes in your community you want to thank too. You can:
- Celebrate your local hunger heroes on social media. To make posting as easy as possible, use this toolkit. Be sure to include #ThankAHungerHero and tag us so we can lift up what you’re sharing!
- Nominate your Hunger Hero for recognition here.
No Kid Hungry Kentucky couldn’t be more grateful for each and every one of these individuals and organizations and for all of the hunger heroes on the front lines. Let’s come together to shower them with much-deserved gratitude and appreciation.