2,100 bags of food packed in Frankfort for children at risk of hunger

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Elected officials helped pack 2,100 bags of food for Kentucky school children at risk of hunger in the state Capitol Monday.

According to officials, one in five children in Kentucky are food-insecure, meaning they lack consistent access to enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle. In response, Feeding Kentucky gave out 72 million meals last year, including backpack meals for children.

Officials say backpack meals provide nutritious and easy-to-prepare food to children who are at risk of experiencing hunger on the weekend when free and reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches are not available.

“It’s a cause that everybody can get behind and it is great to see so many legislators here,” said David Osborne, Speaker of the House.

Among the officials including in the meal-packing event were Senate President Robert Stivers, House Speaker David Osborne, members of the General Assembly, Feeding Kentucky Executive Director Tamara Sandberg and Molina Healthcare of Kentucky’s Acting CEO Dwayne Sansone.

The food bags will be distributed to children through the Feeding Kentucky network of food banks:

• Dare to Care Food Bank.

o   Oldham County Preschool/Head Start.

o   Cane Run Elementary (Jefferson County).

• Facing Hunger Food Bank.

o   Blaine Elementary (Lawrence County).

o   Greenup County High School.

• Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland.

o   Taylor County Primary Center.

o   Taylor County Intermediate School.

o   Taylor County Middle School.

o   Taylor County High School.

o   Campbellsville Elementary School.

o   Campbellsville Middle School.

o   Campbellsville High School.

o   Campbellsville/Taylor County Head Start.

• Freestore Foodbank.

o   Arnett Elementary (Kenton County).

o   Tichenor Middle School (Kenton Co).

o   Ludlow High School (Kenton Co).

• God’s Pantry Food Bank.

o   Floyd County Housing Authority Backpack Program.

• Purchase Area Development District.

o   Fulton County Schools.

• Tri-State Food Bank.

o   Audubon Kid Zone (Henderson County).

Learn more at FeedingKY.org.