Each month at Temple Hill Baptist Church, cars line up early with neighbors greeting neighbors, all coming together for one shared purpose: to ensure that families across Barren County have enough to eat.
For Tracey Roberts and her team, partnering with Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland (FAKH) has been a turning point in their distributions.
“Since we started partnering with FAKH, it’s opened up a whole new world,” Tracey shared. “Before, we were only able to give out canned meats like tuna. Now, we can offer so much more like peanut butter, fresh protein, and nutritious foods that really make a difference.”
The expanded access has allowed Temple Hill to stretch its budget further and serve more families with food that truly sustains them.
Each month’s distribution welcomes a wide range of neighbors: single parents, grandparents raising grandchildren, and older adults on fixed incomes.
“We see all different situations come through this line,” Tracey said. “People sometimes feel like they have to explain why they’re here, but we tell them it doesn’t matter. We’re going to give you food, and we’re going to treat you like anybody else.”
For many elderly participants, the help means they don’t have to choose between a meal and their medicine, a small but meaningful relief during tough times.
The impact is deeply personal for families like Penny Stein’s.
“I’m retired — supposed to be retired — but I take care of my grandkids seven days a week,” Penny said. “Sometimes there are 12 kids in my house. When money got tight, this place was fantastic. It really helps.”
Because of the compassion and teamwork at Temple Hill Baptist Church, hundreds of families across Barren County head home each month with full boxes and full hearts.