Kentucky Association of Food Banks

BEREA, Ky. (February 19, 2018) — The Kentucky Association of Food Banks (KAFB) was recently awarded a $10,000 grant which was made possible by the S.L. Gimbel Foundation, a component fund at The Community Foundation, Strengthening Inland Southern California through Philanthropy, to support their Farms to Food Banks Program.

The intent of the Farms to Food Banks program is to distribute as much healthful fresh produce to less-fortunate Kentuckians as possible while at the same time benefiting farmers and reducing the amount of food that goes to waste. Farms to Food Banks funds are used to help Kentucky farmers recoup losses for produce that would otherwise not be sold due to cosmetic imperfections or overproduction.

Since the program was first implemented statewide in 2011, over 15 million pounds of fresh produce from more than 800 farmers in 85 counties has been distributed to people facing hunger in all 120 Kentucky counties. Twenty-eight different types of fruits and vegetables are accepted through the Farms to Food Banks program.

“This grant will provide crucial finances for us at the start of the growing season,” said Sarah Vaughn, programs coordinator for the KAFB. “One hundred percent of the funds from this grant will go directly to Kentucky farmers to help offset the costs associated with picking, packing, and transporting their produce to one of our member food banks.”

For more information about the Farms to Food Banks program, visit kafb.org, call the association at (859) 986-7422 or email produce@kafb.org.