Hunger Action Month kicks off in Kentucky with focus on food insecurity

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Feeding Kentucky officially kicked off Hunger Action Month on Tuesday at God’s Pantry Food Bank, highlighting the need to address food insecurity across the state.

Observed nationally each September, Hunger Action Month shines a spotlight on families struggling to put food on the table and the critical role food banks play in filling the gap.

Melissa McDonald with Feeding Kentucky said the campaign is about more than awareness — it’s about solutions.

“That’s what Hunger Action Month needs to be about. It needs to be about the opportunities to come together and to hear stories. And to be able to raise awareness that we have one in six Kentuckians, 710,000 individuals in our state, that are struggling with hunger,” McDonald said.

Governor Andy Beshear has proclaimed September as Hunger Action Month in Kentucky, reinforcing the state’s commitment to supporting families in need.

Organizers say throughout the month, food banks and community groups across Kentucky will host events to encourage donations, volunteering, and advocacy for long-term solutions to hunger.