Food insecurity is the consistent lack of enough food for everyone in a household to live an active, healthy life. According to 2019 Feeding America Map the Meal Gap data (https://map.feedingamerica.org/), the average food insecurity rate for the 10 county Lake Cumberland Area is 16.2%. 

In order to address this problem, the Clinton County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences shared Hunger in Kentucky lessons with the Extension Homemakers in ten Lake Cumberland counties. 94% of participants indicated that they could identify resources to address food insecurity in their communities following the lesson. Discussion in each community focused on goals such as encouraging others to volunteer, starting little food pantries (blessing boxes) or implementing more throughout the community, communicating better about available resources, addressing transportation, and working with youth to create a map of food resources in the community. 

Extension Homemakers from throughout the area voluntarily provided phone feedback to the Agent about what they had done or learned months following the lesson. As one member shared, “I have found out more than I ever knew about”. She went on to describe local church and business collaboration projects which provided meals to families, low-cost bulk food purchase opportunities within the area, and her Extension Homemaker club’s efforts to stock blessing boxes throughout the community.