This article uses information from a press release from Feeding America.
The latest Map the Meal Gap data from Feeding America reveals a troubling surge in food insecurity across Kentucky’s Heartland. In 2022, 176,270 people in Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland’s (FAKH) 42-county service area were food insecure, an alarming increase of 35,250 individuals from the previous year.
Food insecurity, defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life, is more than a statistic. It is a critical public health issue with far-reaching social and health consequences.
Charles Dennis, Executive Director of FAKH, emphasized the importance of the annual Map the Meal Gap study for the organization’s efforts. “This report guides our initiatives and helps us to allocate resources where they are needed most to combat food insecurity effectively,” he said.
In Barren County, the data is particularly striking. The overall food insecurity rate is 18.2 percent, meaning one in five residents – totaling 8,120 individuals – lack adequate food. This rate is 4.7 percent higher than the national average. The child food insecurity rate in Barren County stands at 24.7 percent, or about one in four children, affecting 2,570 kids.
Other key findings from the study include:
– Overall food insecurity in the FAKH service area ranges from 12.3 percent in Nelson County to 20.6 percent in Wayne County.
– Warren County (19,990 food insecure individuals) and Hardin County (15,420 food insecure individuals) are among the top five counties in Kentucky for the highest number of food insecure individuals.
– Childhood food insecurity in the FAKH service area ranges from 15.7 percent in Nelson County to 34.5 percent in Fulton County.
– Warren County (6,220 food insecure children), Hardin County (5,350 food insecure children), and Christian County (5,270 food insecure children) are among the top ten counties in Kentucky for the highest number of food insecure children.
– Over 19 percent of food insecure individuals in Barren County do not qualify for SNAP or other government assistance programs.
From 2021 to 2022, 37,250 Kentuckians, including more than 16,000 children, lost food security. The Heartland region continues to face a growing need, in part due to rising costs of living, historically high food prices, and low wages.
“The data from 2022 underscores a persistent issue that has only intensified with time. The need for community support and resources has never been greater, not even during the pandemic,” said Dennis.
Despite a reduction in funding and resources, FAKH and their agency partners in Barren County continue to address these elevated levels of food insecurity. Last year, FAKH and their partners distributed 618,598 pounds of food, which provided enough food for over 515,498 meals in Barren County, valued at $954,954.
To learn more about FAKH and support the organization’s mission to ensure no one goes hungry, visit www.feedingamericaky.org.
