Hazard, Kentucky – Kentucky Power and local partners are launching the fifth annual Power Up the Pantry event aimed at alleviating food insecurity in Eastern Kentucky. This initiative encourages community members to contribute both non-perishable food items and monetary donations to support local food pantries.
The event, set to take place in cities including Hazard, Pikeville, and Ashland, seeks to benefit God’s Food Pantry Bank, which supplies food to pantries and meal programs in Hazard, Pikeville, and Prestonsburg. It will also support the Facing Hunger Food Bank, which serves food pantries in Boyd, Greenup, Lawrence, and Martin counties.
This year’s collection sites will feature a red tent where donations can be made. Participants are encouraged to bring non-expired, non-perishable food items or monetary contributions. Tracking the progress of this initiative, since its inception in 2019, the Power Up the Pantry campaign has successfully gathered over 26,000 pounds of food and collected upwards of $143,000 in donations.
Organizers are hopeful for continued community support, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in addressing hunger in the region. Kentucky Power supplies service to approximately 162,000 customers across Eastern Kentucky counties, highlighting the extensive network affected by this initiative.
The dates for the Power Up the Pantry event will be announced soon, and organizers are calling on local residents to unite once again to make this campaign a success. As food insecurity remains a pressing issue in the area, every contribution counts in providing essential resources to those in need.
For more information on how to get involved, individuals can look for updates from Kentucky Power and local community organizations as the event approaches.
