For more than 40 years, Marion County has been host to one of the top ten events in the state of Kentucky – Marion County Country Ham Days. With over 40,000 people in attendance each year, the various festivities and foods is something many look forward to each year, particularly the Country Ham Breakfast. In just three days, this annual event will serve over 4,000 pounds of country ham alone.1 But for many in Lebanon and the surrounding area, getting a piece of that famous country ham is the least of their concerns.
Marion County is one of the 42 counties served by our organization. According to a Feeding America study, approximately 1 in 7 people living in Marion County (14.9%) are food-insecure. This means while they might not be going completely without food, they don’t always know when or where food will come from. To help alleviate this uncertainty, there are several programs in Lebanon and other parts of the county that provide a reliable, consistent source of food for these individuals and their families.
We currently have 4 partner agencies within the county:
Aid and Services of West Marion
The Caring Place
Marion County Community Action
Marion Centennial Apartments
Through these partnerships, we are not only able to help individuals and families fill their pantries and tables with various food items, but also have programs which specifically support those in the community who are more vulnerable.
Each month we provide a box of food to nearly 240 seniors through the CSFP Program. This government commodities program helps support those who are 60 and older and struggle to meet all of their own needs, usually because of a limited income. In addition, the BackPack Program provides weekend food to more than 80 students, who often rely on the school meals they receive during the week as a main source of nourishment.
We are incredibly grateful for our partner agencies in Marion County and all that they are doing to fight hunger in their community. But there is still a lot to be done. Together, we can work to fight hunger and ensure that everyone has access to the food they need all year long.
1 https://marioncountykychamber.com/ham-days/
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