LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- In the heart of Valley Station, Exodus Family Ministries provides more than just boxes of food. It offers a lifeline for families across Louisville’s south end.

The boxes, each capable of feeding up to four people, are filled with essentials like canned goods, fresh vegetables, and meat. Volunteers donate their time to deliver these boxes directly to people’s homes, bringing relief and hope to families struggling with food insecurity.

For those receiving food boxes, the gesture means more than just a meal. "It feels wonderful, because there were times for a long time I couldn't get food stamps," one recipient who wanted to stay anonymous shared.

Shane Schlatter, who started the Exodus Family Ministries Food Pantry nearly four years ago, recalls that he initially believed demand would lessen over time.

“We believed because of our limited knowledge that it was gonna get easier because that was in the midst of COVID," Schlatter said. "We thought it was going to be the hardest it was ever going to be." But as the pandemic subsided, the need continued to rise.

In the pantry’s first year, volunteers served around 500 people each month. Now, Exodus helps more than 1,700 people monthly, distributing boxes filled with nutritious foods to families in the area.

“All of these food boxes represent the lives of people in our community,” Schlatter said. “Some of them are our neighbors that, right now, are experiencing a lot of hopelessness.”

Statistics from Feeding America show that Kentucky has the highest rate of food insecurity among older adults in the nation, and one in five children go to bed hungry. For those who rely on these food boxes, the assistance is a vital support.

“Although this does not fix all their problems, it does at least help them to have the strength and the energy and the nutrition to face whatever is going on in their lives right now,” Schlatter noted.

The recipient, reflecting on the help Exodus has provided, said, “(Without them), I'd probably be on the road to destruction, which is something that I don't want to go back to. Yeah, they’ve helped my life a whole lot as well as my kids and grandkids.”

As the demand grows, so does the need for more helping hands. Exodus Family Ministries is calling for volunteers to join their mission, offering a way for community members to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors.

For those interested in lending a hand, Exodus provides a meaningful opportunity to help combat hunger and bring hope to Louisville’s most vulnerable residents.

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