Lexington non-profit FoodChain helps feed Western Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ/Press Release) — Over New Year’s weekend, FoodChain, a Lexington-based food education non-profit, sent a team to Western Kentucky to provide food and relief to those affected by tornadoes. FoodChain’s seven-person crew arrived with a van full of beverages, bread, fresh produce and grocery items.

During their time, the team members went door to door and helped deliver 1,400 meals in Dawson Springs.

The hot meals were prepared by food trucks from Madisonville sponsored by the LEE Initiative, including Let’s Get Fried, Jus Burgers, and a taco truck.

The FoodChain crew also packed 20 boxes with local ingredients and fresh produce to be delivered to refugee and immigrant families affected by the tornadoes in the Bowling Green area by Need More Acres Farm in Scottsville. Both of these efforts mirror strategies of FoodChain’s Nourish Lexington program that began in 2020. The program delivers boxes with local ingredients to 150 food-insecure residences in Fayette County weekly.

“FoodChain was grateful to be able to send volunteers over the New Year’s weekend, providing support during a holiday when it can be difficult to staff operations,” Executive Director Chaquenta Neal said. “During the pandemic, FoodChain learned the best way to ensure fresh food access is through meeting people where they are. Delivery began last winter in Lexington, when Covid made it dangerous to go to grocery stores and has continued because barriers to transportation prevent food access. This reality is true in Dawson Springs. As cleanup continues, the town is not yet pedestrian friendly and there are many people who are not able to make it to distribution sites. One resident told us we were the first people to check on her. There are lessons learned from the pandemic and the tornados that can transform future relief efforts.”

One lesson from the pandemic that was applied in Western Kentucky is empowering neighbors..

“People picked up meals to take to their neighbors,” said Kristin Hughes, FoodChain’s director of education and outreach. “People flagged us down to tell us about residents we should check on. They told us which houses to go to, making sure their neighbors were taken care of. This small community is resilient but has a long way to go and still needs a lot of resources. We have to continue to support our neighbors in Western Kentucky as they continue the difficult journey of rebuilding.

“If you would like to support the ongoing relief efforts, please consider first and foremost financial donations to organizations who are already on the ground in these areas. For volunteer efforts, reach out to approved agencies and ensure that you are placed in areas where volunteer help is needed. This is also a time to advocate for affordable housing options for all Kentuckians because so many are experiencing total home loss in a region that already has limited access to affordable housing for many of its residents.”