Despite being just 301 square miles, Washington County, Kentucky has been home to many “firsts” throughout the years: It was the first county established in Kentucky; It was the first place where Jacob Beam, founder of Jim Beam, sold a barrel of whiskey1; And It was home to the first Dollar General Store.2 However, it has not yet become the first place to escape the issue of hunger.
Unfortunately, almost 1,500 people in Washington County do not have access to the food they need to live a healthy, active lifestyle. According to a Feeding America study, approximately 1 in 8 people living in Washington County (14.5%) 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 Springfield and the surrounding areas that provide a reliable, consistent source of food for these individuals and their families.
We currently have 4 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 150 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 60 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 Washington 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 expand the southern hospitality they are known for to help those struggling with hunger.
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_County,_Kentucky
2http://www.kentuckytourism.com/springfield-tourism-commission/4546/
