Four Hunger Walk events across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Kentucky come together to tackle food insecurity.
APPALACHIA (September 23, 2025) – This past week, the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) organized its 14th annual Hunger Walk and gathered an impressive 14,184 pounds of food. These donations will serve communities in Rockcastle, McCreary, Jackson, and Magoffin counties through CAP’s pantry network.
Bob Hutchison, chair of CAP’s Board of Directors, shared, “Hunger and poverty take away hope for many in Appalachia. It’s tough for families to thrive when they’re constantly worried about their next meal. CAP aims to change that.” The organization offers fresh produce, ready-made meals, and dairy products to help families in need.
This year, hundreds of community members came together to participate in the Hunger Walks. Notable sponsors included Texas Roadhouse and Hunt Brothers Pizza, with Traditional Bank collecting food at 11 locations to support CAP during the colder months and holiday season.
CAP’s Eagle Food Pantry assists around 375 families each month in McCreary County. A community event in Whitley City helped spread awareness, while Johnson County held its first Hunger Walk at Johnson Central High School, aiming to expand next year. In Fayette County, students from Lexington Christian Academy joined the effort, with approximately 3,225 walkers participating across all events.
Jessie Isaacs, a student speaker at Rockcastle County’s event, highlighted a significant issue: “Many families, especially children and older adults, struggle to find nutritious food. Today, we showed our collective strength. Together, we can combat hunger in our community.”
As September closes, food donations will continue. This movement reflects a growing awareness and response to food insecurity in the region, with numerous organizations and volunteers making a positive impact. According to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, over 10% of households in rural areas face food insecurity, emphasizing the ongoing need for community efforts like these.
To learn more or support the cause, you can visit christianapp.org/hungerwalk.
