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AARON PAYNE
Since March, thousands of Kentuckians have lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic. That has created an even greater need for food in the commonwealth.
In Kentucky more than 600,000 people face hunger. The pandemic has worsened unemployment and caused even more people to struggle to afford food.
One form of relief came when the U.S. Department of Agriculture paid farmers for food that didn’t make it to schools and restaurants. Those food boxes were sent to food banks across the country.
Feeding America, Kentucky’s Heartland, received three rounds of USDA food boxes. CEO Jamie Sizemore says the need for food has increased by 20 percent in the western and south central portion of the state.
“Families are just having a really tough time. Because parents may have been laid off from their positions. And they’re trying to draw unemployment and the kids are out of school,” Sizemore said. “Therefore they’re needing more food and eating more meals at home.”
Sizemore says the food bank is in need of volunteers. Much of the food bank’s volunteers are seniors and can’t volunteer because of the pandemic. Donations are also needed. For every dollar, the food bank can purchase nine pounds of food.
“There’s never been a need as great as right now,” Sizemore said.
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