By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Food insecurity is a major issue in our region and around the world. According to godspantry.org, “Nearly 265,000 people in Central and Eastern Kentucky are experiencing hunger, representing a 20 percent increase from last year’s data release. This includes 1 in 4 children who are not being nourished. These numbers represent real people who are going to bed unfed every night.”
The numbers represent a stark reality that our region – where the predominant household income is barely above the poverty level – is starving. And with a struggling economy being outpaced by inflation at every turn, many find it impossible to cover the basic necessities of life such as shelter and food. Added to this is the fact that those who suffer most, unfortunately, are those most at risk, such as the very young and the very old.
Marc Bentley, the President of the Carter County Kiwanis Club, said the Kiwanis are dedicated to doing something to change that.
“The Kiwanis Club is a service club,” Bentley said. “Its focus is on the youth of a community and their families. Investing in programs, sports teams, playgrounds, and whatever a community needs to fill gaps regarding young people and their wellbeing. That’s where the Kiwanis step in.”
Service can be direct service or fundraising for projects, Bentley explained.
The current project the Carter County Kiwanis Club is dedicated to is the Harvest Pack food program. Harvest Pack is a company, Bentley said, that specializes in packing nutrient rich meals for those in need.
“There are two options, and we are taking the option for oatmeal. So, we are going to get together on Tuesday, November 19, and all the volunteers are going to work in an ‘assembly line’ process,” he said.
The Kiwanis and volunteers will be packaging the nutrient rich oatmeal meals for distribution.
“But it’s not just oatmeal,” Bentley said. “There are vitamins and minerals that are necessary for a person’s life.”
Bentley said the company had been in contact with food pantries, and that those food pantries expressed a need for nutrient rich breakfasts, and Harvest Pack was their response to that need.
“So, we are going to get together and package these packages of oatmeal, and our goal is to have 30,000 bags.”
Each bag, he said, contains multiple meals, and the cost of each bag is 30 cents. Bentley said that the Kiwanis Club is working with other service clubs, churches, and community organizations to raise the $9,000 necessary to make the 30,000 goal a reality. The Kiwanis accept donations from individuals and even corporate sponsors, and all donations are tax deductible. In person donations can be made to Stephanie Kidd at City National Bank in Grayson.
Bentley said that some people might be hesitant simply because they are unable to donate a large amount of money.
“But the beauty of this is if you donate just ten dollars, that’s around 33 meals,” he explained.
Bentley said that just because you might not be able to give a lot, doesn’t mean that any donation you make doesn’t do a lot.
“And even if you can’t make a monetary donation, showing up to help is invaluable.”
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
