Report puts face on hunger in Fayette Co.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – On Thursday, God’s Pantry Food Bank released its Hunger in Fayette County 2016 report at Broadway Christian Church in Lexington.

According to the study, compiled from information collected from multiple sources, the typical person seeking assistance at a pantry is, female, in her 50’s, living alone.  She may have finished high school, but is currently, most likely, unemployed.  She rents her home and doesn’t own a car; she must walk, ride a bus, or arrange for a ride to the pantry with family or friends.

The report also shows that 30 percent of all those served by God’s Pantry Food Bank are children, 20 percent of adults needing assistance are working full or part time, and that the average monthly household income is less than $1,000 dollars.

Other noteworthy facts, 50 percent of parents needing assistance skipped meals so that their children could eat, and 1 out of 6 reported skipping meals daily.

God’s Pantry Food Bank says that it takes more than 146,000 pounds of food to stock their four Lexington pantries for one month.  All of the food collected from food drives over the last 10 months will only last six weeks in the pantries.

For information on ways to help support God’s Pantry Food Bank throughout the year, visit www.godspantryfoodbank.org.  The complete Hunger in Fayette County Special Report study is attached.