The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has purchased 56 deep freezers to help food banks across the state meet the increase need caused by the pandemic.
According to a news release, the KDA used $25,000 from The Emergency Food Assistance Program to purchase 32 chest freezers and 24 standard refrigerators with top freezers that are being delivered to food pantries across the state. The action is the latest in a series of steps the Department of Agriculture has taken as part of the Kentucky Hunger Initiative. Feeding Kentucky’s seven member food banks serve all 120 Kentucky counties in partnership with a network of over 800 local food pantries and shelters.
Last year, members distributed 86 million pounds of food and grocery products. Ag Commissioner Ryan Quarles says, “The freezers and refrigerators are helping food pantries preserve donations of perishable items such as eggs, meat, and milk so they can be distributed to food insecure Kentuckians at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has cost many their jobs, worsening our existing hunger problem.”