HOME > SERVICES > COMMUNITY SERVICES > FOOD SECURITY

FOOD SECURITY

The number of working families facing “food insecurity” is on the rise. Food insecurity is the uncertainty of where the next meal is coming from, the inability to purchase nutritious foods, or when adults (and even children) skip meals or eat less than they should to stretch food dollars to the max.

Food stamps, school breakfasts and school lunches are not enough. Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission provides a variety of services to help families, children, individuals and senior citizens meet their nutritional needs and stretch their food resources:

  • Emergency Food Pantries — are available for those without food on their shelves at home, or those waiting for food stamp benefits to start.
  • The Emergency Food Assistance Program — provides monthly commodities to low-income households.
  • The Commodity Supplemental Food Program — provides a monthly food box to low-income senior citizens who meet income guidelines.
  • Mobile Food Pantries — Bring perishable food to communities across the region, in partnership with area food banks.
  • Farmer’s Market Coupons — are available in the summer months for seniors to obtain fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Summer Nutrition Program - Provides, at no cost, balanced, nutritious meals to all children 18 years of age and younger to ensure that nutritional needs are met during the long summer vacation, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast.
  • Angel Food Ministries — provides access to perchasing a low-cost food box to help families stretch their food dollar.
  • Head Start Program — Head Start promotes child wellness by providing nutrition services that help children get a good healthy start. Children are served breakfast, lunch and a snack to meet 2/3rds of their daily nutritional needs. The menus are planned to consider nutrition, personal, and cultural preferences as well as the introduction of healthy foods which broaden the child's food experiences. Meals are served family style and parents receive nutrition information throughout the year.
  • Parent Education - Head Start staff promote good family nutrition by providing training for parents on such topics as Stretching Your Food Dollar, How To Cook Thanksgiving Dinner, Heathy Snacks for Young Children, and Good Nutrition for Healthy Families. We also assist with access to Registered Dieticians at no charge to our families.
  • Senior Nutrition — Through our Owen County Senior Center, participants have access to a hot meal each weekday which meets their nutritional needs while also providing opportunities for recreation, education, and socialization.

Call the Neighborhood Center in your county to see what programs are available where you live.