Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland (FAKH) hosted its annual Volunteer Luncheon Friday afternoon at the Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown. The event celebrated the contributions of FAKH volunteers who have supported the organization’s mission to combat food insecurity across its 42-county service area in the last year.
In 2024, over 2,000 individuals volunteered at the organization’s Volunteer Center in Elizabethtown, totaling almost 15,000 hours of service. This volunteer effort equates to the work of seven full-time employees.
At the Volunteer Center, volunteers pack Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) boxes for seniors and BackPack Program bags for children in local school systems. Each month, 8,500 Kentucky seniors receive CSFP boxes, and each week, 5,300 Kentucky children receive BackPack Program bags packed with healthy, easy-to-prepare food for kid-friendly meals.
In addition, the organization recognized its volunteers working with FAKH’s 190 agency partners to distribute food resources across Kentucky. During the luncheon, 31 individuals and 27 group representatives were recognized and presented with awards for their dedicated service. Some of the organizations recognized included Parkway Baptist Church, the Buffalo Soldiers, and Akima – among others.
“The incredible dedication and hard work of our volunteers are what truly enable us to make a difference in the lives of those facing food insecurity in Kentucky’s Heartland,” said FAKH Executive Director Charles Dennis. “We are deeply grateful for the passion, time, and hard work our volunteers invest.”
The highlight of the luncheon was the presentation of the 2025 Golden Plate Awards, which honors individuals and entities that have shown exceptional dedication to support FAKH’s mission. The recipients were John Karnes of Elizabethtown, Horst and Penny Tremmel of Elizabethtown, and the Classic Corvette Club.
“These awards highlight just a few of the many individuals and organizations who go above and beyond to fight hunger in our region,” FAKH Board Chair Jeremy Hinton said. “The commitment to service demonstrated by our volunteers truly exemplifies the spirit of compassion that is the foundation of this organization.”
To learn more about FAKH’s mission or how to get involved, visit feedingamericaky.org/volunteer.
