This is a crisis: Federal cuts to food programs will make Kentuckians hungrier

The picture of hunger in Central and Eastern Kentucky is clearer — and more alarming—than ever before. Nearly 280,000 of our neighbors, 1 in 5 people, face food insecurity. For our children, the situation is even more alarming: 1 in 4 do not have consistent access to enough food, and in some counties, it’s 1 in 3.

At God’s Pantry Food Bank, we see the faces behind these numbers every day: parents skipping meals so their children can eat, seniors making impossible choices between groceries and medication, and hardworking families still unable to afford basic necessities. Hunger is widespread in our communities.

We must meet this moment with bipartisan action. One of the most critical tools in our fight against hunger is the public-private safety net, including programs authorized in the Farm Bill, a sweeping piece of legislation that shapes not only our nation’s agricultural policies but also our core food assistance programs.

As Congress debates these programs, we urge our elected officials to protect and strengthen vital programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).

SNAP is a lifeline for millions of Americans, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. However, current benefit levels often fall short of covering the actual cost of a healthy diet.

TEFAP is another cornerstone in our work. It helps food banks like ours distribute surplus U.S. agricultural products to people in need while supporting American farmers. In Central and Eastern Kentucky, TEFAP accounts for 19.4% of the food we distribute, food that families rely on to make it through the week.

CSFP supports low-income seniors – people who have worked their whole lives and deserve dignity in retirement. 13% of our distribution comes from this program, which provides monthly boxes of nutritious USDA food to individuals aged 60 and older.

Hunger weakens our workforce, strains our healthcare system, and stifles opportunities to learn and grow. Investments in food assistance are investments in the health, stability, and resilience of our people.

At God’s Pantry Food Bank, we are committed to working with elected and appointed leaders at all levels of government to advance policies that support Kentuckians facing food insecurity. No community should be left behind when it comes to access to food.

God’s Pantry Food Bank has recently announced a $40 million capacity campaign to address the growing hunger crisis in the Commonwealth. However, the truth is simple: without SNAP, TEFAP, CSFP, and NSLP, we cannot close the meal gap. Without these programs, we risk falling even further behind.

As we navigate this crisis, each of us has a role to play—whether by supporting local food banks, volunteering our time, or speaking out in support of informed public policy.

We urge our representatives to protect safety net programs and pass a Farm Bill that supports Kentuckians facing hunger, supports our farmers, and builds a stronger future for every Kentuckian.

Hunger is not a partisan issue. It is a human issue.

Michael J. Halligan is the president and CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank.

This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 9:20 AM.