JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- Shelves are fully stocked, and volunteers are hard at work bagging food destined for hungry children across Kentuckiana.
The need for the food is urgent, as 1 in 5 children go without meals across the area.
"County after county after county," said Tracy Patton, underscoring the widespread nature of food insecurity. Every night, 1 in 5 kids watch television with an empty stomach. Every morning, 1 in 5 arrive at school hungry.
Patton, founder of the REACH Food Program 4 Kids, has witnessed the struggle firsthand. A decade ago, she noticed children in one Scott County school relying on free school meals with no safety net during summer breaks.
"So I said, 'What happens to those kids all summer when there’s no free lunch program or bag of food to get them through?' The teacher said, 'That’s when we worry about them the most,'" Patton recalled.
Determined to fill the gap, she began buying and delivering food herself during the summer months. Word spread, and soon other families and schools reached out for help.
"For the first two years, I kept buying everything myself until I realized I might end up in the food program if I didn’t get help," she said.
Today, REACH Food Program 4 Kids feeds children in 11 states, offering vital support to families like the Cannons. When these children receive food, the joy is unmistakable.
"Wow, just wow," a 4th grade student said while selecting treats.
"It’s a gift," Jeremiah Cannon, a 7th grade student added. "It’s something not a lot of kids have, but we’re grateful we do."
For Patton and her team, the reward comes from moments like these.
"That’s why we do what we do. It’s not for a paycheck. It’s to hear a little child yesterday who saw our volunteer coming to the door with food and jumped up and down, saying, ‘Mommy, they’re bringing food to us,’" she said.
Volunteers ensure every delivery reaches the kids in need, and even small donations make a difference.
"When someone donates a can of corn and says, ‘All I can give you is this,’ I used to say, ‘That can of corn could change a life.’ Now I say, ‘That can of corn could save a life,'" Patton said.
The simple act of giving not only provides meals, but transforms lives—a testament to the power of compassion and community.
To donate or volunteer with REACH Food Program 4 Kids click here.
Last May, Feeding America's annual Map the Meal Gap study showed a 30% increase in food insecurity across Kentuckiana.Â
According to the study, more than 126,000 people are food insecure in the area, including more than 55,000 children.
The study also shows 167,950 Kentuckiana residents, roughly 13% of the region's population, were food insecure in 2022, a 33.2% increase from 2021, which saw a total of 126,060 people.
The Map the Meal Gap study looks at food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district from a local level. To look at the study, click here.
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