FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 14, 2017) – Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes on
Thursday, Hunger Action Day, announced the launch of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Bowl, a statewide competition that challenges Kentucky’s local and county government
offices to donate food and funds to aid Kentucky families suffering from hunger.
The Office of the Secretary of State, Kentucky Association of Food Banks (KAFB), the
Kentucky Council of Area Development Districts (KDADD), and the Kentucky Association
of Food Banks partnered to create the competition.
“One in four Kentucky children don’t always know where their next meal will come
from,” said Grimes. “We have to do better, we must do better. That’s why we are
partnering with the Commonwealth’s Area Development Districts and the Kentucky
Association of Food Banks to help us feed Kentucky’s kids and their families as we
approach the winter and this holiday season.”
The inaugural campaign will run from October 16 through October 27.
“Our goal is to raise $50,000 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the state
legislation that created the Area Development Districts,” said Mayfield Mayor Teresa
Rochetti-Cantrell, who is co-chair of the KCADD. “The campaign, with the support of
local and county government offices across our Commonwealth, will help provide
families with the food they need to thrive.”
Every $1 donated through the completion will return $8 or more in food to the
community.
Grimes will make visits to each of the area development districts over the next few
weeks to discuss the vital need for hunger relief in Kentucky. She has been a
champion for solving Kentucky’s hunger issues since she took office in 2012 and
before she was elected to public office. She is a longtime volunteer at the
Salvation Army, serving the Thanksgiving meal at her local service center every
year. She also has served on the board of God’s Pantry Food Bank in Lexington.
Proceeds and goods generated from the competition will directly aid the members of
the KAFB – an organization that distributes over 58 million meals to 1 in 7
Kentuckians annually in partnership with a network of 800 local charitable feeding
organizations. Its members serve all 120 counties in Kentucky.
Tamara Sandberg, executive director of KAFB, said, “We all have a role to play in
ending hunger in Kentucky and we’re grateful that our elected officials are rising
to the challenge.”
The Area Development District that raises the most food and funds will win the
Commonwealth of Kentucky Cup.
More information on the Commonwealth of Kentucky Bowl is at
kafb.org/commonwealthbowl/<http://kafb.org/commonwealthbowl/>. #HelpFeedKY