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Feed the Need

March is known for many things, the introduction of springtime, the beginning of spring sports, and for Feed the Need, which is a popular food drive in Butler County. Several volunteers helped to make the annual affair a huge success.  

United Way of Southern Kentucky (UWSK) heads up the collection and then partners with area agencies to make the collaboration a reality for families in need. As of March 20, the region-wide food drive has collected more than 100,000 items. Areas who participate in Feed the Need are Allen, Barren, Butler, Hart, Logan, Simpson, and Warren Counties. This brings the 10-year total of collected items to more than 675,000 items.  

According to UWSK Marketing and Communications Senior Director Mandy Hicks, in its first year of inception (2009), Feed the Need collected a little more than 43,000 items. “Feed the Need” was originally created 10 years ago in response to the increased need in our communities for access to basic needs including food. After speaking with the local food pantries that have benefited from the drives in previous years, it was made clear that assistance in providing a Safety Net of services like access to food was greatly needed once again this year. 

Ms. Cindy’s class all smiled at how much non-perishable food they were able to collect for individuals who needed it.

She added, “this year, more than 70 companies and organizations in Allen, Barren, Butler, Hart, Logan, Simpson, and Warren Counties participated by holding internal food drives.  

Butler County Family Resource Center Coordinator Melissa Glass added, “in this time when the news isn’t always positive and we face budget uncertainty it is so inspiring to see where our county ranked in this food drive.” 

2018 collection totals: 

Butler County: (11,450 items) 

Allen County: (1,033 items) 

Barren County: (3,796 items) 

Hart County: (1,184 items) 

Simpson County: (3,214 items) 

Logan County: (7,979 items) 

Warren County: (more than 72,000 items) 

Butler County Family Resource Center coordinated a food drive for both of the elementary schools in Butler County. 

Classroom Winners: 

North Butler Elementary School collected 1390 cans: Cindy Embry’s students chose a pizza party. 

Morgantown Elementary School collected 1343 cans: Sarah Ingram’s students chose a recess pack. 

There were 2,733 food items that were donated from Butler County Elementary Schools. 

Glass said, “WRECC stepped in and doubled everything we collected to equal 5,466 food items.” 

Sarah Ingram’s class had something to celebrate about. Their class collected the most items for Morgantown Elementary School’s Feed the Need drive.

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