Feeding Kentucky released the first comprehensive statewide hunger study in more than a decade, offering a new look into the attitudes, behaviors, and barriers Kentucky families face when trying to put food on the table.
Conducted in partnership with IQS Research and funded by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services and private donations, the study found that food insecurity in Kentucky is being driven less by food availability and more by affordability, transportation challenges, and the difficult financial tradeoffs families are forced to make every month.
The research provides one of the most detailed looks in over 10 years at:
• How Kentucky families actually experience food insecurity
• The financial decisions households are making to survive
• Which programs families rely on most
• The barriers that still prevent families from getting help
“You cannot separate food insecurity from the broader economic realities families are facing across the Commonwealth.” said Melissa McDonald, Feeding Kentucky Executive Director. “This study confirms what food banks are seeing across Kentucky, that families are working, but they are still being forced to choose between groceries, rent, medicine, gas, and utilities. The rising cost of living along is pushing more families into crisis.”
Through an online dashboard, users can view how hunger-related challenges differ across Kentucky regions and compare local data to statewide trends, offering a clearer picture of the unique barriers families face in different parts of the Commonwealth.
The findings reinforce Feeding Kentucky’s support for practical, targeted solutions that reduce pressure on working families while strengthening local agriculture and food systems.
The study also identified transportation as one of the most significant barriers families face, particularly in rural communities where grocery stores, food pantries, healthcare, and jobs may be located many miles apart.
Feeding Kentucky says the study comes at a critical time as food banks continue seeing increased demand, including more first-time visitors seeking assistance due to inflation, rising grocery prices, and higher household costs.
The organization hopes the findings will help inform future policy discussions and encourage lawmakers, community leaders, and stakeholders to focus on long-term, evidence-based solutions that strengthen family stability and reduce hunger across Kentucky.
Feeding Kentucky