Lexington's Food Drive Challenge

Lexington’s Big Give Food Drive

As of November 25, God’s Pantry has received $5,697 in cash donations and 64,905 pounds of food, equating to 54,088 meals. The food drive is still ongoing and will run through December 2, giving residents more time to contribute.

The City of Lexington, God’s Pantry Food Bank, and several community partners have launched “Lexington’s Big Give,” a citywide food drive aimed at collecting donations for God’s Pantry Food Bank and the Family Care Center of Lexington.

“As we approach the holiday season, we want everyone to pitch in … to give big … to ensure no one in our community goes without food,” said Mayor Linda Gorton. “Lexington is a city that gives and cares. By contributing food, or making a monetary gift to God’s Pantry Food Bank, everyone can help.”

The initiative involves multiple local organizations, including the Mayor’s Office, Lexington Fire Department, Lexington Police Department, Lexington Division of Emergency Management, other Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government divisions, God’s Pantry Food Bank, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, and Fayette County Clerk’s Office. WKYT is serving as the media partner for the campaign.

The food drive comes at a critical time, as two federal judges ruled that the Trump administration must continue to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) using contingency funds during the government shutdown. This follows an announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that federal food aid through SNAP would not be issued beginning November 1 due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Approximately 600,000 people in Kentucky rely on SNAP benefits every month. As of February 2025, SNAP participation in Kentucky was 575,834, representing 12.9% of the state’s population, including 225,000 children, 73,000 people over 60, and 61,000 people with disabilities under 60.

Growing Community Needs

There are growing needs throughout the community. Many of the families at the City’s Family Care Center, which provides childcare, education, and support services for young parents, need food assistance. Many of those families rely on a partnership with God’s Pantry Food Bank to receive the nutritional support they need.

“During one of my regular leadership meetings, my Commissioner of Social Services, Kacy Allen-Bryant, shared concerns raised by Family Care Center families and staff about continued food assistance,” said Gorton. “We immediately began organizing ‘Lexington’s Big Give’ to help those families, and people across Fayette County.”

“In the Department of Social Services, we see every day how food insecurity affects families and the most vulnerable among us,” said Commissioner Allen-Bryant. “The ‘Lexington’s Big Give’ initiative is not just about collecting donations … it’s about restoring dignity, stability, and hope.”

Food Insecurity Challenges

Kentucky faces significant hunger challenges, with 19 of the nation’s most food-insecure counties located in Central and Eastern Kentucky. Food insecurity, defined as a household’s inability to provide enough food for each member to live an active, healthy life, affects nearly 280,000 people in Central and Eastern Kentucky. Statewide, 753,410 people in Kentucky are experiencing hunger.

Additionally, 1 in 6 children in Central and Eastern Kentucky are at risk of going hungry, and 1 in 12 Kentucky seniors lack regular access to enough food.

“We are thrilled to partner with God’s Pantry Food Bank and the Family Care Center for Lexington’s Big Give,” said WKYT President and General Manager Jaime Kawaja. “Food insecurity is a pressing issue in our community, and we believe that by working together, we can make a significant impact. We encourage everyone to join us in this effort to ensure our neighbors have access to the food they need.”

About the Organizations

God’s Pantry Food Bank provides food for nearly 280,000 people in 50 counties in Central and Eastern Kentucky, including Fayette County. The organization began operations in Lexington in 1955 and opened its first pantry in 1959.

“Lexington has always shown what it means to be a community that cares,” said Danielle Bozarth, Vice President, Operations & Philanthropy at God’s Pantry Food Bank. “‘Lexington’s Big Give’ is a powerful reminder that when we come together, we can make sure no one goes without food during this time. We’re deeply grateful to the City of Lexington for their leadership and partnership, and to WKYT for helping share this important message across Central and Eastern Kentucky.”

The Family Care Center, located at 1135 Harry Sykes Way, provides various programs to support families with young children. These include family service coordination, an intensive case management program for families with young children; early childhood care offering full-day, quality childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 4 years; HANDS, a home visitation program for expecting or new parents focusing on health, pregnancy, home safety, bonding, and infant development; and parent education, a high school education program that helps young parents develop parenting and life skills while working towards their high school diploma.

How to Donate

Residents can drop off non-perishable food items at designated blue barrels at various locations throughout the month during regular business hours.

Requested Items

• Proteins such as canned tuna, chicken, and peanut butter
• Vegetables including tomato products, peas, and green beans
• Fruits like canned apples and peaches
• Starches including pasta and rice
• Pantry items such as powdered milk and seasonings
• Breakfast foods including cereal and oatmeal

Drop-off Locations

Address	City	ZIP Code
Family Care Center	Lexington	40504
Fayette Co. Clerk’s Office	Lexington	40507
Fayette Co. Sheriff Office	Lexington	40507
Fire Station #1	Lexington	40508
Fire Station #10	Lexington	40511
Fire Station #11	Lexington	40504
Fire Station #12	Lexington	40503
Fire Station #13	Lexington	40511
Fire Station #14	Lexington	40504
Fire Station #15	Lexington	40503
Fire Station #16	Lexington	40515
Fire Station #17	Lexington	40516
Fire Station #18	Lexington	40515
Fire Station #19	Lexington	40511
Fire Station #2	Lexington	40505
Fire Station #20	Lexington	40503
Fire Station #21	Lexington	40509
Fire Station #22	Lexington	40515
Fire Station #23	Lexington	40516
Fire Station #24	Lexington	40511
Fire Station #3	Lexington	40508
Fire Station #4	Lexington	40508
Fire Station #5	Lexington	40508
Fire Station #6	Lexington	40506
Fire Station #7	Lexington	40502
Fire Station #8	Lexington	40505
Fire Station #9	Lexington	40502
God’s Pantry Food Bank	Lexington	40511
God’s Pantry Food Bank	Lexington	40505
Government Center	Lexington	40507
Lexington Police Dept. Cent. Sector Roll Call	Lexington	40505
Lexington Police Dept. East Sector Roll Call	Lexington	40515
Lexington Police Dept. West Sector Roll Call	Lexington	40504
Lexington Police Headquarters	Lexington	40507
Lexington Senior Center	Lexington	40502
Phoenix Building	Lexington	40507

Monetary donations can be made online by clicking on this link.

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