Kids in Kentucky are struggling with food insecurity, with one out of every five children experiencing hunger. Congress should take care not to exacerbate this problem.

In the heart of the Bluegrass State, hunger is a pressing issue that affects the health, learning, and opportunities of many residents, particularly children. According to recent statistics, more than 753,000 Kentucky residents, or one-sixth of the population, face hunger.

Food banks in Kentucky are doing their utmost to help, yet systemic hunger cannot be solved solely through charity. The subject of a bill introduced by the Agricultural Selection Committee of the Kentucky House of Representatives, if passed, could potentially worsen the problem of food insecurity.

The proposed plan, details of which are not yet clear, could require funding of over $150 million annually from 2028 to maintain current food aid levels. This is a significant amount, and the implications for the Kentucky budget are yet to be seen.

One of the programmes at risk is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a lifeline for many families struggling to put food on the table. SNAP provides essential assistance, helping to ensure that families can feed their children every night.

During school breaks, the Summer EBT programme provides additional grocery assistance. With food insecurity projected to rise, the cost to maintain SNAP benefits could increase even more. Charitable food assistance, while valuable, provides only one meal for every nine provided by SNAP.

States may not have the resources to handle a surge in SNAP demand without federal funding. Policies are needed to protect families and uphold the principle that access to food is a basic human right.

SNAP works because it can scale up quickly during times of crisis, such as after a natural disaster. Keeping SNAP federally funded is essential to ensure it's there when people need it the most.

The Community Eligibility Provision, which helps high-poverty schools serve free meals to all students, is another programme that could be affected. Anyone can experience hunger due to various circumstances like job loss, medical emergency, or childcare crisis.

Reducing access to SNAP could stretch family budgets to the breaking point. If passed, the proposal could potentially throw the entire SNAP system off without offering a solution.

Food banks and partners in Kentucky provide millions of meals annually and coordinate emergency support. They remain committed to doing their part, but it's clear that charity alone is not enough to solve systemic hunger.

Policies that protect and support food assistance programmes like SNAP are crucial in ensuring that no one goes hungry in Kentucky. As the discussions around the proposed plan continue, it's essential to remember the impact that food insecurity has on the lives of so many Kentuckians and to advocate for policies that prioritise their well-being.

Kids in Kentucky are struggling with food insecurity, with one out of every five children experiencing hunger. Congress should take care not to exacerbate this problem.