Louisville leaders are calling for federal action as food insecurity reaches record levels in the city. Mayor Craig Greenberg stated that more than 10,000 Louisville residents’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits have been cut since last October, including 3,000 children.
Local Food Banks Feel the Strain
Dare to Care, a local food bank, is now serving 203,770 food-insecure individuals — the largest number in its history. This equates to one in six Louisville residents. Additionally, Dare to Care has received 3 million pounds less food assistance from the federal government.
According to Vincent James, the president and CEO of Dare to Care, ‘Food banks exist to respond to moments of crises, but we were never intended and never designed to be able to replace programs like SNAP.’ James emphasized that the current situation is a ‘perfect storm’ due to decreasing supply and increasing demand.
Mayor Greenberg and James agree that federal assistance and community support are critical to addressing the crisis. Greenberg is one of 200 mayors who signed a letter asking the federal government to restore SNAP benefits, which were cut by the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ last summer.
In the meantime, the city is doing all it can to supplement Dare to Care’s efforts, including providing funding for food assistance in its most recent budget. Eight neighborhood places across the city are available to assist residents in need of food assistance, and these locations can also help individuals complete paperwork to apply for SNAP benefits.
Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.
