Dozens of city officials assembled senior meal boxes for the Tri-State Food Bank as part of the 2022 KLC Conference & Expo at the Owensboro Convention Center. The Kentucky League of Cities has partnered with Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Hunger Initiative to host a food packing event over the course of his two terms in office.

Commissioner Quarles thanked city officials for volunteering and stressed that food insecurity reaches every corner of the state. “Hunger exists in every city, county, and community in Kentucky,” he said. One in seven Kentuckians and one in five school children are food insecure. Quarles told city officials that events like the one held on Thursday help tackle the problem. “We want to make sure every Kentuckian has access to food, and the same quality of food that many of us take for granted.”

“We’ve never had a Department of Agriculture that has connected with city officials as well as Commissioner Quarles has over the past several years,” KLC Executive Director|CEO James D. Chaney said. “Hunger touches every corner of the commonwealth, every single community. City officials look forward to this event every year so they can give back in some small way to the city that so graciously hosts our annual convention.”

KLC President and Versailles Mayor Brian Traugott said the event is one of the week’s highlights. “I don’t think there’s a better activity at the conference to get everyone together doing something they feel good about when they go home,” he stated.

City leaders assembled 500 senior meal boxes that the Tri-State Food Bank immediately distributed to seniors in the area. Tri-State Food Bank Executive Director Glenn Roberts thanked city officials for volunteering and the League for a $7,500 donation which will provide an additional 45,000 meals. “With one dollar, we can help provide six meals,” Roberts explained. He stressed that food, friends, and funds are the top needs of food banks across the state. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization,” he remarked.

Each food box assembled on Thursday contained 30 pounds of food, including cereal, juice, canned fruits and vegetables, beans, rice, and pasta.