The need for emergency food relief has increased dramatically in southern Madison County. Decreases in some federal funding, as well as limited job availability and the current economic situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, place a proportionally higher burden on lower income households. In response to this need, CELTS sponsors an annual community-wide food drive to benefit the Berea Food Bank.

The Berea Food Bank is sponsored by the Berea Faith Community Outreach. Local churches, individuals and regional food distribution agencies are tapped to provide staple groceries for a full week, in proportion to the size of the family. Clients may receive food up to three times in a six month period. Over 600 families are served each year.

Each year in late October or early November, teams of volunteers have distributed grocery bags to the majority of households in the Berea community. Volunteers then gathered on the following Saturday to collect filled bags, as well as to sort and shelve the food. Donors have helped those in need in their own community by contributing over 8,500 pounds of nonperishable food items to stock the Food Bank shelves for winter and to help out local families over the holidays.

CELTS sponsors a Berea-city-wide “Hunger Hurts” Food Drive

The 2020 Hunger Hurts Food Drive looked different than it did in previous years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Berea Food Bank was unable to accept food donations and became a Fund Drive.

The number of food bank clients doubled, but so did the amount of food supplied to people and the number of times people could get food. Approximately  $12,500 was raised during November for the food bank, which supplied them with food for three months.

Our current Food Drive continues to be a “Fund Drive”.  Help us get the word out.  Donate as you are able and follow #hungerhurts2021.

Donations are always accepted anytime by the Berea Food Bank at their office location: 108 Parkway Avenue, Berea, Kentucky, 40403. You can also make a secure donation here.

For more information about the Annual Hunger Hurts Food Drive, please email us at celts@berea.edu.