When Meade County, Kentucky was being settled in the early 1800’s, it was seen as a place teeming with agricultural promise. Settlers were attracted to the area by the abundant fish and wild game, as well as the quality soil that was good for growing corn and other crops. The ideal location on the banks of the Ohio River also could not be overlooked.1,2
Not much has changed in the years since people first started arriving. Brandenburg and the surrounding area continues to be a place of “peaceful farmland”, providing various foods to locals and visitors alike. But despite this agricultural richness, the problem of hunger still exists. 3
Roughly 1 in 7 people living in Meade County (13.7%) are food-insecure. This means that while they might not be going completely without food, they don’t always know when or where that food will come from. To help alleviate this uncertainty, there are several programs in Brandenburg and the surrounding areas that provide a reliable, consistent source of food for these individuals and their families.
We currently have 6 partner agencies within the county:
Through these partnerships, we are not only able to help individuals and families fill their pantries and tables with various food items, but we also have programs that support seniors and children – those in the community who are more vulnerable.
Each month more than 50 seniors are provided with a box of food through the CSFP Program. This government commodities program helps support those who are 60 and older that struggle to meet all of their own needs, usually because of a limited income. In addition, the BackPack Program provides weekend food to almost 150 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 Meade 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 fight hunger in Meade County and make it a place where more than the soil is successful.
1http://visitmeadecounty.org/history/
2http://www.brandenburgky.org/attractions.shtml
3 http://www.kentuckytourism.com/articles/the-magic-of-meade-county-kentucky/32/
