(WKYT) – Some Kentuckians are having a hard time buying food or even traveling to places that have it available, according to a new study that looked into food needs across the state.
People in Laurel County say they are seeing those needs firsthand.
Sack lunches are filled by volunteers, paid for by donations, and given to anyone who has the need at Isaiah 58:10 Ministries on Burley Avenue in London.
“There are so many who don’t have transportation. They cannot get to resources available to them,” said Tracie Byers of Isaiah 58:10 Ministries and Outreach.
Transportation and income barriers
According to Feeding Kentucky, transportation is one of the big reasons people struggle with food insecurity. Lack of enough income is another.
“Last month we handed out over 4,300 sack lunches. We serve eight counties down into Jellico, Tennessee,” Byers said.
According to the study, a lot of people are working to provide food for their households but the dollars are not going far enough. The Feeding Kentucky organization has 900 partners and works to help as many as one in seven Kentuckians.
Calvary Baptist Church in London has a regular drive-through distribution. Their next one is April 20 and will start in the morning and last until all the food is gone. Typically it’s given out in a matter of hours.
“At one time as many as 300 cars,” Calvary Baptist pastor Dennis Gibbs said of a recent distribution.
“The need is food. People are struggling. We get a lot of elderly. Folks on fixed incomes. A lot of single parent families,” said Gibbs.
People say it doesn’t take long for big time needs to overwhelm them.
“Most of us are one paycheck away from being homeless,” Byers said.
People say they are simply doing their part to help people just a little at a time.
The next food distribution with Calvary Baptist on April 20 will start about 8:30 in the morning and last until all the food is gone.