Inspiration

INSPIRATIONS:

How Lexington’s Food Pantries Are Feeding Those in Need

by Peter Chawaga

During the New Year, as we gather with loved ones to enjoy the things that truly matter in our lives, our thoughts often turn to those who may be less fortunate. As we do, we remember the harsh truth that acute inequalities and struggles for even the most basic necessities sadly do not take breaks for the holidays. But many within the Lexington community confront this truth every day, working tirelessly to help resolve it. It’s worth taking a moment to highlight a few of the organizations who work year round to help relieve one of the most basic needs of the less fortunate: the food pantries that feed our neighbors.

Hope Center

Lexington’s Hope Center opened in June 1993 with a mission of serving the homeless beyond just providing food and shelter, quickly establishing a substance abuse recovery program, day labor program and more. But its food provision service is one of its most impactful programs, reaching those in need through its main Jacobs Hope Cafeteria, which is open to the public for dinner each night, as well as the cafeterias in its recovery centers and its mobile outreach program, which provides sack lunches to anyone in need in downtown Lexington every Monday through Friday. “At our main cafeteria, we typically feed 120 to 200 individuals per meal, three meals a day, 365 days a year,” said Carey Cairo, the volunteer and community relations manager for Hope Center. “Last fi scal year, we served 362,286 meals altogether.” Hope Center’s cafeteria in particular is a rewarding program for those seeking to give back this season, or really at any time of the year. “Come and volunteer to serve a meal with us!” Cairo encouraged. “Our kitchen staff and volunteers always have a great time and our volunteers continually comment on how much fun it is to serve meals — our clients are so grateful, and it’s a positive way to serve the community.”

God’s Pantry Food Bank

In the 1940s, Mim Hunt, the founder of God’s Pantry Food Bank, left behind her profession as a child welfare worker after returning to her hometown of Lexington from New York

City. But when she witnessed the poverty plaguing her neighbors, she founded the food bank as a mobile operation in 1955, with the fi rst pantry opened in 1959. Today, God’s Pantry serves 50 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky through numerous programs, all dedicated to solving hunger. “The Fayette County Pantry Program serves those experiencing hunger through direct distribution at three different locations in Lexington,” explained Misty Beard, the community engagement and communications manager at God’s Pantry. “Through the Fayette County Pantry Program, we serve on average of 2,000 households per month. The Food Bank also works with many community organizations such as schools, shelters, meal programs and many more to meet those experiencing hunger where they are.” God’s Pantry partners with local organizations so that it can distribute its aid more widely, reaching communities directly, rather than expecting those in need to visit a central location. And over the decades that it has been pursuing this mission, its staff have found that the need for its services is much more widespread than many might think. “There is a misconception that food bank visitors are those consistently living in poverty, but that’s not necessarily the case,” said Beard. “Food bank visitors very often live in a home where at least one adult is employed, and many are only relying on the food bank temporarily to get through a momentary rough patch… The position of not having quite enough money to cover every expense is not an uncommon spot for people to fi nd themselves in.”

St. Luke Church

St. Luke Church, located on Alumni Drive in Lexington, has been a partner of God’s Pantry for almost three decades, serving as a community hub for food donation that evolves as community needs do. In 2010, it built an addition to its building, including a dedicated space for its food pantry which included a service entry and waiting room. In March 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Luke recruited younger volunteers for its food donation program and saw those in need line up in their cars in its front parking lot, serving about 80 families per day. This dedication and willingness to meet hunger needs as they change have seen St. Luke become one of Lexington’s leaders in addressing hunger. Its team estimates that in November 2021, it served 602 households, representing 1,468 individuals, of which more than 400 were children. “As a volunteer, I am constantly amazed at the appreciation expressed by those who come for food,” said Mark Walz, Jr., the director of communications and technology at St. Luke. “They are very grateful for the food, but they are also very appreciative of the kindness and caring attitudes they receive. I also am impressed by the many who say, ‘I only come when I really have no other choice.’”

More Organizations

Certainly, this isn't an exhaustive list of organizations helping feed people in our community. Here are some additional resources that can help connect people in need to meals and/or food staples: Family Food Center at Bethel Harvest Church • bethelharvestchurch.com/ffc Community Action Council • ckcac.org New Life Day Center • newlifedaycenter.org Meals on Wheels • mealsonwheelslex.org Salvation Army • salvationarmy.org Catholic Action Center • catholicactioncenter.net

SPONSORED BY LG&E

We provide a circle of influence, protection and support for your business.

Because of my involvement in Commerce Lexington, I had the tools and people at my disposal to help my “ business get through the last couple of years.

- Gwyn Everly, Co-Owner of J. Render’s Southern Table & Bar

JOIN TODAY!

Commerce Lexington Inc. 330 E. Main Street, Suite 100 Lexington, KY 40507 859-254-4447 commercelexington.com