Elliott County is a beautiful county tucked away in the hills of eastern KY . However, with all its beauty, the rural area of Elliott County does not provide a great deal of job opportunities, and this is reflected in its high poverty rates. As a region often referred to as a "food desert," where many families struggle to access affordable, nutritious food. The county has long had high rates of poverty, unemployment, and other socioeconomic challenges, which exacerbated food insecurity. 

According to the U.S. Census most recent data, Elliott Counties population stands at 7,245, with 25% of this population living below the poverty line. This is a number that is double the national average of 12.5%. 

Sometime around 2010, The Elliott County Extension Office collaborated with God's Pantry Food Bank in hopes to help serve the local people of Elliott County with some of their food and nutritional needs. 

God's Pantry Food Bank is a regional nonprofit organization serving a broad area of Kentucky, with a mission to provide nutritious food to people in need. They support a network of food pantries and community programs across the state. Recognizing the specific challenges faced by rural communities like Elliott County, the food bank extended its outreach to provide regular food distribution and nutritional support.

Not long after the collaboration the Little Sandy Correctional Complex chipped in to provide much needed volunteers to help distribute the commodities at the food drop each month. 

The God’s Pantry Food Drop program now serves 100-120 underprivileged families monthly. The Elliott County Extension Office, along with help from God’s Pantry Food Drop and other local community organizations, plans to keep pressing on to do all it can to serve the people of this beautiful, Appalachia area. 

Key Impact and Success:

1. Consistent Access to Food: Through regular food distributions and community partnerships, God's Pantry has ensured that families in Elliott County have consistent access to healthy food options. The food bank provides both emergency food assistance and long-term solutions for food security.
2. Local Community Involvement: One of the key factors in the success of the food bank is the active involvement of the local community. Little Sandy Correctional Complex, Elliott County Soil Conservation, and Elliott County Christian Community Center along with the Elliott County Fiscal Court have all been huge assets to making the food bank work month to month. 
3. Expansion of Services: Over time, God's Pantry has expanded its services in Elliott County, providing not only food to Elliott Co. Ext. Food Drop but also to the Christian Community Center Food Drop.
4. Partnerships with Other Organizations: The success of the food bank in Elliott County is also due to the network of partnerships it has formed with other local and regional organizations, such as the Kentucky Association of Food Banks and local schools. These collaborations help provide additional resources and ensure a more efficient food distribution process.
5. Positive Community Outcomes: Since the establishment of the food bank's services in the region, there have been noticeable improvements in the health and well-being of local residents. Reduced levels of food insecurity have led to improved nutrition, better health outcomes, and a stronger sense of community solidarity.