According to Houseboat Magazine, Monticello, Kentucky is the “Houseboat Capital of the World”, and for good reason.1 Lake Cumberland, the largest manmade lake in terms of shoreline in the world, has the most number of luxury houseboats of any lake in the United States. With 1,255 miles to explore, those houseboats can come in quite handy.2 But while there probably aren’t a lot of people wondering where to go for a great lake experience, there are many who often wonder where they will go for their next meal.
Wayne County is just one of the 42 counties served by our organization. According to a Feeding America study, approximately 1 in 6 people living in Wayne County (17.1%) 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 Monticello and other parts of the county which provide a reliable, consistent source of food for these individuals and their families.
We currently have 5 partner agencies within the county:
Hope Center
Horizon Adult Healthcare
House of Blessings Soup Kitchen
Wayne County Senior Center
Wayne County Community Action
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 – senior citizens and children.
Each month we provide a box of food to almost 300 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 nearly 50 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 Wayne County and all 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 everyone has access to the food they need all year long.
1 http://www.houseboatmagazine.com/2016/11/kentucky-governor-dedicates-bridge-to
2 http://www.waynecounty.ky.gov
