The Pikeville Community Foundation recently awarded $60,000 to community-based nonprofits administering food security programs in Pike County. Their list of grantee partners includes Helping Hands of Phelps, Faith Life Ministries, Grace Community Kitchen, Pikeville Community Kitchen, Church of God Militant Pillar & Ground of Truth, Handfuls on Purpose, East Kentucky Dream Center, and Elkhorn Community Church Backpack Program.
Food insecurity refers to the lack of access to nutritionally adequate foods for a healthy active life. It may reflect a household’s need to make trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing or medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods. Research by Feeding America from 2018 shows that Kentucky has the eighth-highest rate of food insecurity in the nation and the Pike County rate is 19.6%. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Feeding America estimates food insecurity has gone up by 40% in Kentucky.
“We are grateful to be in a position to help our community with food security needs. The nonprofits we are working with are incredible to collaborate with and are working diligently to better the health of our community,” said Pat McNamee, Pikeville Community Foundation board chair.
The Pikeville Community Foundation is a collaborative effort of local people dedicated to the preservation and sustainability of Pike County. The Community Foundation is working to create a culture of giving and philanthropy that promotes community development. It also serves as a resource to engage the community in cooperative and creative partnerships to strengthen and build a better future in Pike County.
The Pikeville Community Foundation’s board members include Dr. Fadi Al Akhrass, Kathy Atkins (secretary), Gerrie Clark, Helena Jackson, Pat McNamee (Chair), Rick Newsom, and Brad Slone. The Pikeville Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, which serves 54 counties in southeast Kentucky and is accredited through the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.
To make a donation to the Pikeville Community Foundation, mail a check to Pikeville Community Foundation, 243 Main Street, Pikeville KY 41501 or donate online at https://bit.ly/pikevillecf. Online donations can be set up to recur monthly, quarterly, or annually.