September is Hunger Action Month, and it’s a good reminder for us to check on our neighbors.
Hunger doesn’t always look like what we imagine or expect – and that’s especially true right now, at a time when nearly everyone is struggling. Dare to Care Food Bank in Louisville recently announced that, in the area they serve, more people are hungry right now than at any other time in the organization’s five-decade history.
In Kentucky, more than 837,000 people are currently facing hunger – and of those, nearly 258,000 are children. That’s 1 in 5 people, and 1 in 4 children.
Groceries are too expensive and gas is too high. Even back-to-school supplies spiked in cost this year. Family budgets are being stretched in every direction. And while all this is happening because of the President’s tariffs and unforgiving policy decisions, the federal government is also restricting SNAP benefits, which 1 in 8 Kentuckians rely on.
These are our neighbors. My faith teaches me that our neighbors are not just the people who live next door to us; they are the people across town, across the state, across the country. They are human beings, and they matter. No person should starve. It’s our sacred duty to help our fellow human beings.
We can all do something. Whether you show up to your local food bank to volunteer, drop off food at a donation box, or offer to share a meal with a neighbor in need. One small act of kindness has the power to start a ripple effect. If we all did just one thing, think of the difference that would make. To learn about opportunities to help near you, visit FeedingKy.org.
Andy, the kids and I have cherished our experiences volunteering at food banks – packing boxes, preparing meals and serving food. These experiences have informed our values and our service as Governor and First Lady.
We believe no person should ever have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. That’s why, on Team Kentucky, we’ve made fighting hunger a priority.
We’ve launched multiple programs to help provide food to students over summer break. We’ve supported food banks by providing funding and opening new kitchens. Andy has directed more funding to senior meals than any Governor in Kentucky history. As First Lady, I’ve hosted the annual Shop & Share event, which collects food and other essentials for Kentucky’s domestic violence shelters.
We’ve also fought back hard against cuts and threats to SNAP. Andy sued the Trump administration when it tried to suspend SNAP during a federal government shutdown last year – because it was cruel and unnecessary – and he won. And Team Kentucky worked through the night to process benefits as quickly as possible. Because of this team’s dedication, our commonwealth was one of the first states to process full benefits for recipients.
Hunger does not know political divides. Hunger is hunger. And leaders should be able to push aside politics and do what’s needed to fight it. We must remember our common humanity.
As a mom, it’s hard to imagine any child going hungry. No family should ever have to choose between putting food on the table, paying rent or buying medications. And a parent skipping a meal to stretch their grocery budget is a decision no one should have to make.
Things feel tough right now. But I have faith that we can rise above the challenges we see today. And I have that faith because of people who care about their community, who care about their neighbors, and who want to help build a better future – the same people I’m calling on this Hunger Action Month to help our fellow Kentuckians and Americans.
Together, we can continue working to end hunger, to ensure every child has a full belly, and to ensure our people can live happy and healthy lives.
Britainy Beshear is First Lady of Kentucky