Feeding Kentucky participates in ‘America Gives’ initiative
Published 3:23 pm Tuesday, October 13, 2026
As food insecurity is on the rise across Kentucky, volunteers and elected officials on Monday provided a helping hand unloading a 34,000-pound food donation that will be distributed through Feeding Kentucky and God’s Pantry Food Bank.
The delivery was part of a nationwide effort by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to send 250 truckloads of food to 250 food banks across the United States to commemorate America 250. Mayor Layne Wilkerson, Gov. Andy Beshear, and First Lady Britainy Beshear attended, helping unload packaged materials from trucks.
The 34,000-pound donation includes shelf-stable foods, such as canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, flour, pancake mix, and dried milk. Items will be delivered to five locations in God’s Pantry Food Bank service: The Emergency Food Pantry of Frankfort; St. Vincent de Paul of Frankfort; Open Hands in Lawrenceburg; AMEN House in Georgetown; and the Woodford County Food Pantry.
“This is what food insecurity looks like in Kentucky,” said Melissa McDonald, executive director of Feeding Kentucky. “It’s not just hitting rural communities; it’s hitting everywhere. We are increasingly seeing people who are working, including people earning middle-class wages, struggling to keep up with the cost of living and putting food on the table. A neighbor, coworker, or family down the street may be facing that choice right now. Donations like this provide thousands of meals that help us reach those families.”
Gov. Beshear shared that same sentiment, believing that “checking in on our neighbors and helping fight hunger is the right thing to do.”
He added, “This donation could not have come at a better time, as more people across our country and commonwealth are facing hunger due to rising costs and changes to the SNAP program, which supports our most vulnerable neighbors. I want to thank the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for this meaningful donation. I also want to thank Feeding Kentucky for their continued work to fight hunger and help families across our state.”
Steven Bodhaine, regional leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is thankful for what moments such as these bring in terms of connection and keeping us all aware of the needs families have.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to link arms with Feeding Kentucky, Gov. Beshear and others throughout the commonwealth to serve our neighbors,” said Bodhaine. “We hope this food will not only help meet a physical need but also remind families that they are cared for.”
Feeding Kentucky is a nonprofit organization that serves all 120 counties across the state. Through more than 900 partner food pantries and meal programs, the nonprofit reaches an estimated one in seven Kentuckians each year as they work collectively to create a hunger-free state.
