[Call to Order]
          [Roll Call]
          [2.
 R-032-25     A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ACCEPT $40,500 OF FUNDING FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE THROUGH THE SUMMER FEEDING SERVICE GRANT PROGRAM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
Action Required By September 27, 2025 
Sponsors: Barbara Shanklin (D-2) ]
          [00:02:45]
          NOW, AS YOU CAN SEE, THIS, THIS WORK IS CRITICAL. YOU KNOW, I'VE I'VE SEEN THIS VIDEO A HUNDRED TIMES AT LEAST, AND EVERY TIME IT IMPACTS ME IN A WAY THAT I SEE PEOPLE THAT I SEE AND TALK WITH EVERY DAY THAT ARE IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY, THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD. BUT THE FACT THAT DARE TO CARE IS IN EXISTENCE. WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE HIM WITH THE GENEROSITY OF METRO COUNCIL. WHAT YOU ALL PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE YEARS HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS ASSET. CURRENTLY IN METRO LOUISVILLE, WE'RE SEEING A DRASTIC INCREASE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY AND THE NUMBERS THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW, WE'RE SEEING NUMBERS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN IN THE PAST 20 TO 30 YEARS AT THE RATE OF INCREASE THAT WE'RE SEEING SINCE 2023, FOOD INSECURITY HAS BEEN STEADILY INCREASING. VISITS TO OUR FOOD PANTRIES AND OUR PARTNERS HAVE CONTINUED TO 
          [1.
 ID 25-0125     ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN LOUISVILLE  -  Vincent James and Daniel Frockt , Dare to Care]
INCREASE, AND IT'S INCREASING AT A TROUBLING RATE. THIS IS REALLY DEEPLY CONCERNING WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT THAT IT'S LITERALLY HAVING IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH REAL PEOPLE, THESE NUMBERS BEHIND EACH NUMBER IS A REAL PERSON BEHIND THAT. AND THE QUESTION MAY COME, WHY ARE WE SEEING THIS NOW? WHAT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS? AND WE UNDERSTAND IT TO KNOW THIS, THIS RISE IN INFLATION AND CUTS TO SNAP BENEFITS THAT WE UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZE. AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS, WHEN WE SEE THE EXPIRATION OF THE POST COVID BENEFITS, WHEN THE NET THAT WAS REALLY A SAFETY NET FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES, AS WELL AS THE LACK OF AND THE LACK OF EXPANDED RESOURCES THROUGH SNAP BENEFITS, AS WELL AS SEEING CHILD TAX CREDIT CREDITS CUT. WHEN THOSE ENDED, FAMILIES WERE STARTING TO EXPERIENCE EVEN MORE FOOD INSECURITY BECAUSE THEY HAD FEWER RESOURCES, AND MANY TURNED TO DARE TO CARE FOR HELP. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE INFLATION, STRUGGLING FAMILIES ARE REALLY HAVING TO MAKE A DECISION. WHEN THEY GO INTO THINKING ABOUT GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE. DO I REALLY GET GROCERIES FOR MY FAMILY? DO I PUT GAS IN MY CAR? OR DO I GET DO I PROVIDE MYSELF WITH THE HEALTH BENEFITS I NEED FOR MEDICATION TO CONTINUE TO LIVE A QUALITY LIFE? AND THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE. DARE TO CARE IS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE THAT WE CAN DO TO MEET THIS RISING DEMAND. EVEN THOUGH THIS DEMAND IS CONTINUING TO INCREASE. YOU KNOW, OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE HELP TO FILL MANY OF THE GAPS 
          [00:05:02]
THAT OUR NEIGHBORS ARE FACING. AND LAST YEAR ALONE, WE DISTRIBUTE OVER 17 MILLION POUNDS IN LOUISVILLE METRO AREA. BUT THE RISING NEED IS CONTINUING TO HAPPEN IN SPITE OF THAT, KEY SUPPORT AT THE SAME TIME IS CONTINUING TO DECREASE. WE'VE SEEN DECREASE IN TERMS OF FUNDERS AND SUPPORTERS, THE NUMBER OF SUPPORTERS AS WELL AS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'RE SEEING THESE NUMBERS IN KEY SUPPORTERS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO DWINDLE. KAREN SPENDING PROPOSAL, THE CURRENT SPENDING PROPOSAL, THAT'S BEFORE CONGRESS NOW IS GOING TO DRAMATICALLY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS THROUGH THE USDA COMMODITY PROGRAMS. THOSE BEING CUT TAKE UP ABOUT 20% OF THE FOOD THAT WE GIVE OUT EVERY DAY. THESE CUTS ARE NOT JUST GOING TO AFFECT US, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO AFFECT OVER 300 COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER WITH TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S GOING TO IMPACT SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE SCHOOL PANTRIES. IT'S GOING TO IMPACT OUR AREA MINISTRIES. ANY OF THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT WE PROVIDE THROUGH OUR KIDS CAFE PROGRAM. SO TODAY I'M JOINED BY SHANE SLATER. HE'S THE CHAIR OF OUR AGENCY PARTNER ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHO CAN SPEAK TO THE REAL WORLD APPLICATION IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING AND THE IMPACT THAT THESE CHALLENGES ARE HAVING. SO I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE SHANE IF HE WOULD COME UP. HE'S ALSO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR EXODUS FAMILY MINISTRY. THANK YOU, VINCENT JAMES, AND THANK YOU ALL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP HERE BEFORE AND SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO WE SEE? WE'RE A PANTRY. WE'RE ON THE GROUND. WE SEE REAL LIFE PEOPLE COME, COME IN THE DOOR RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE SEEN THE BIGGEST INCREASE IN MESSAGES THROUGH OUR EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS, VOICEMAILS LEFT FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF FOOD. LAST SPRING BREAK. 
          IN THIS SPRING BREAK, WE WERE BERATED WITH CALLS FROM MOTHERS SPECIFICALLY THAT WERE IN TEARS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR KIDS DURING SPRING BREAK. AND SO WE GO OUT AND WE DELIVER FOOD BOXES, AND MY KIDS ARE NOT VERY EXCITED WHEN I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR ALL'S. THEY KIND OF TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, BUT WHEN YOU WALK IN THE DOOR AND KIDS ACT LIKE IT'S CHRISTMAS BECAUSE THEY HAVE FOOD, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT A LOT OF US TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT WE SEE REAL TIME AS WE TAKE FOOD BOXES TO THESE KIDS AND TO THESE FAMILIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING. OUR OUR FOOD PANTRY, WHICH IS LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY, WE'VE WENT FROM SERVING ABOUT MAYBE A THOUSAND PEOPLE A MONTH TO RIGHT NOW WE'RE AVERAGING 2100 PEOPLE A MONTH, SERVED JUST IN THE DIFFERENCE OF A YEAR. AND IT'S PRETTY OVERWHELMING TO THINK ABOUT THE NEED THAT JUST CONTINUES TO RISE. WE ARE SEEING MORE FAMILIES THAT HAVE NEVER HAD TO USE A FOOD PANTRY BEFORE. A LOT OF THEM DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. 
          THEY'RE ASHAMED OF THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TO SHOW UP, BUT THEY'RE SHOWING UP BECAUSE THEY'RE SO DESPERATE. THEY DON'T HAVE ANOTHER OPTION. WE'RE SEEING MORE SENIORS THAN WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE. SINCE WE'VE BEEN OPEN AS A FOOD PANTRY SINCE 2021, WE ARE ALSO DOING MORE DELIVERIES THAN WE'VE EVER HAD TO DO. LAST YEAR, WE WERE DOING ABOUT 90 DELIVERIES TO HOMES PER MONTH RIGHT NOW. LAST MONTH WE DELIVERED 323 FOOD BOXES TO HOMES BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T EVEN HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION RIGHT NOW TO BE ABLE TO GET TO A FOOD PANTRY, TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS FOOD. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SENIORS WITH NO TRANSPORTATION, TRYING TO USE OUR OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, HOW MANY BAGS OF GROCERIES DO YOU THINK A SENIOR CAN CARRY WITH THEM AND TAKE TO THEIR HOME? OR A SINGLE MOM WITH KIDS? HOW MANY BAGS CAN SHE HOLD IN HER HANDS AFTER LEAVING A GROCERY STORE TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK TO HER HOUSE? WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE THAT THAT DO HAVE SNAP BENEFITS BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A GROCERY STORE IN THEIR AREA. 
          THEY'RE HAVING TO USE THOSE SNAP BENEFITS AT GROCERY AT AND I'M SORRY, GAS STATIONS. AND SO YOU'RE NOT GETTING QUALITY FOOD. YOU'RE GETTING WHATEVER YOU CAN TO SUSTAIN YOUR FAMILY. IT'S NOT HEALTHY. I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT WE'RE GETTING MORE MESSAGES THAN WE'VE EVER GOTTEN, AND I WANT TO SHARE A COUPLE OF THOSE REAL MESSAGES. THIS IS FROM THE LAST WEEK THAT OUR MINISTRIES GOTTEN. HELLO, MY NAME IS I'M NOT GOING TO MENTION THE NAME. I AM NEW TO THE STATE. I HAVE FIVE SMALL CHILDREN AND I AM IN NEED OF FOOD. I HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION OR FAMILY HERE TO HELP. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO. PLEASE. WE DESPERATELY NEED HELP. THANK YOU. ANOTHER MESSAGE WE GOT THIS WEEK. I HAVE TWO ELDERLY AND SICK PARENTS THAT ARE IN NEED OF FOOD, 74 AND 77 YEARS OF AGE. I DON'T HAVE A CAR AND I CAN'T GO TO THE STORE. THEY'RE ON A FIXED 
          [00:10:03]
INCOME SO THE FUNDS THEY HAVE LEFT OVER ARE GONE, AND THEY'VE EATEN ANY OF THE FOOD THEY HAD FOR THE MONTH. IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN GET FOOD ASSISTANCE? I WILL BE VERY APPRECIATIVE. 
          THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE HAVE A LOCAL PANTRY, BUT WE'RE NOT ABLE TO GET THERE. WE SEE PEOPLE WITH HEALTH CONCERNS, DIABETES THAT SHOULD BE EATING A CERTAIN DIET, THAT BECAUSE ALL THEY CAN AFFORD IS TO GO OUT AND BUY CHIPS AND PEANUT BUTTER. I MEAN, WE HAVE ONE GENTLEMAN WITH NEUROPATHY THAT COULD BARELY MAKE IT TO THE DOOR. AND AS A DIABETIC WAS SURVIVING ON PEANUT BUTTER BECAUSE THAT'S ALL HE COULD DO. SO THESE ARE VERY REAL THINGS THAT WE SEE WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT. WE DELIVERED A FOOD BOX LAST WEEK TO SENIORS AND TOOK THEM FOOD, AND THE ONLY PLACE THEY HAD TO STORE THAT FOOD WAS WAS A COOLER. AND THE HUSBAND, WHO'S IN HIS 70S, WAS WALKING TO THE GAS STATION TO GET ICE EVERY DAY TO PUT ICE IN THE COOLER. SO THESE ARE REAL CONDITIONS THAT PEOPLE IN OUR CITY ARE LIVING IN. AND, AND THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE FOOD THEY NEED. 
          DARE TO CARE. DID NOT ASK ME TO DO THIS, BUT I DO WANT TO THANK THEM FOR STANDING IN THE GAP FOR PARTNERS LIKE US THAT THAT WE'RE NOT BIG ENOUGH SOMETIMES TO GET THE VOICE WE NEED. BUT THE ADVOCACY WORK THAT THEY DO GOES A LONG WAY FOR US, SO THAT THEY CAN RELAY WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE STREETS. YOU KNOW, THEY'VE OFFERED US A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO BE ABLE TO VOICE WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THEY'VE GIVEN US THE DATA THAT WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO AFTER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND GRANTS. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET GRANTS THROUGH, DARE TO CARE FOR THINGS LIKE SHELVES SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE FOOD. THEY'VE DONATED ONE OF THEIR OLD REFRIGERATED BOX TRUCKS SO THAT WE COULD TRANSPORT MOVE MORE FOOD TO OUR PANTRY, TO OFFER MORE FOOD TO OUR GUESTS. AND THEN ALSO, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET FUNDING THROUGH DARE TO CARE, THANKS TO THE FUNDING THEY RECEIVED TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE OUR STORAGE SPACE. SO WE NOW HAVE A COMBO WALK IN FREEZER AND REFRIGERATOR SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY ACCESS OR HAVE ACCESS FOR OUR CLIENTS BETTER DAIRY, EGGS, PRODUCE. SO ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE ARE THANKS TO SOME OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING THAT SOMETIMES DOESN'T GET ACKNOWLEDGED OR OR MENTIONED. 
          BUT WE'RE SO GRATEFUL. AND I REALLY JUST WANT TO EXPRESS AS SOMEONE THAT HAS TO SEE THESE FACES, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE PROPOSED IF WE TAKE A HIT LIKE WE POTENTIALLY COULD WITH FOOD, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM AREN'T GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT PEOPLE AND SAY, WE DON'T HAVE FOOD FOR YOU TODAY, BUT I DO, AND I DON'T WANT TO LOOK THESE KIDS IN THE FACE AND HAVE TO TELL THEM, YOU CAN'T EAT. WE HAVE NOTHING FOR YOU. AND SO I JUST ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS AND HELP SO THAT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT NEED IT THE MOST CAN GET SERVED AND GET SERVED WITH DIGNITY. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, SHANE, AND THANK YOU TO THIS COMMITTEE. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, AS YOU CAN SEE, I MEAN REAL WORLD APPLICATION IN TERMS OF WHAT WE GET TO DO ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS. BOTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR JOY BECAUSE YOU'RE ABLE TO HELP SOMEONE, BUT IT ALSO IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE EXPERIENCE SADNESS BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO MAKE THOSE TOUGH DECISIONS. AND YET THEY DO. BUT WE WANT TO BE THERE. AND BECAUSE OF THE RESOURCES THAT YOU ALL HAVE PROVIDED FOR US, WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES ALL ACROSS ALL 26 METRO COUNCIL DISTRICTS. WE IMPACTED EACH DISTRICT ACROSS THIS CITY, AND SO WE ARE ENCOURAGED AND EXCITED. AND I PERSONALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN SHANKLIN, CHAIR SHANKLIN, AND THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR BENSON AND ALL OF YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE WORK THAT IS SO CRITICAL, CRITICAL FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO THANK YOU, SHANE, FOR COMING AND SHARING. AND I HAVE A COUPLE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS HERE TOO. WE WANT TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE FOR US. IF YOU DO. SO I WANT TO OPEN THAT OPPORTUNITY UP. NOW. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT. I DID A DIRTY CARD YESTERDAY AND I STARTED OUT WITH 30 PEOPLE, AND NOW I HAVE OVER 100. AND WITH OUR. MEDICARE DOESN'T OPEN TO TEN. WHEN I GET THERE AT 730 TO GET IT STARTED, THEY'RE ALREADY IN THE LINE AND THE LINE GOES ALL THE WAY OUT ACROSS POPLAR LEVEL ROAD. WE BLOCK UP THE TRAFFIC EVERY TIME. AND I KNOW YOU GUYS DO TOO. YES. SO BUT YESTERDAY THE THING THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME THE MOST WAS ONE OF THE SCHOOLS CALLED AND SAID THEY HAD A KID THAT NEEDED SOME FOOD AND THEY WOULD SEND SOMEBODY OVER. AND SO WE MADE A LARGE BOX FOR HIM BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE WAS THE ONLY CHILD, BUT THE MOTHER CAN'T WALK, CAN'T GET OUT THERE TO HELP HER ANYTHING. AND SO WE MADE A LOT OF FOOD FOR HIM. AND HE WAS WHEN THE TEACHERS CALLED US BACK, THEY WERE SO EXCITED. AND THEN I HAD A KID AT NEWBURY MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE COUNSELOR CALLED AND SAID, 
          [00:15:06]
AND IT WASN'T ONE OF OUR DAYS. AND OF COURSE, I HAVE A KEY TO EVERYTHING. AND SO I SHE SAID, THIS KID WON'T GO HOME. HE'S STANDING OUT IN THE PARKING LOT, AND HE DOESN'T GO HOME EVERY DAY AND GET IN TROUBLE. AND SO THEY TOOK HIM IN AND ASKED HIM, WHY DON'T YOU GO HOME? AND HE SAID, BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING TO EAT AT HOME. AND SO WE MADE A BIG BOX OF FOOD. I NEVER SAW THE KID TOOK IT DOWN TO NEWBURY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND GAVE IT TO HIM. BUT THE PROGRAM IN NEWBURY HAS GROWN SO MUCH THAT I'VE GOTTEN TO THE PLACE THAT I GO OVER TO THE OTHER ONE AND LOAD UP MY CAR AND GO TO MY SOME OF MY SENIORS, AND THEY THINK I'M CRAZY BECAUSE I HAVE ALL OF THIS FOOD. I CAN'T EVEN SEE OUT THE WINDOW. BUT CALEB, MY AIDE, AND I, WE DO THAT ONCE A MONTH AND WE FINALLY GOT OUR FREEZERS PULLED UP, FILLED UP, AND IT'S JUST A REALLY NICE THING TO SEE ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE. WHEN I COME OUT, EVERYBODY IN THAT LINE IS SAYING, THANK YOU, MICHELLE, THANK YOU. AND EVERYBODY THERE KNOWS WHO I AM BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS DELIVERING SOMEBODY'S FOOD OR WHATEVER. BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE THE FOOD. WE HAVE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, OF COURSE I HAVE A LOT OF SENIORS. I THINK I'VE HAD EIGHT THE PAST SINCE I STARTED DOING THIS, BUT I'M STILL MY AIDE. HE'S PACKING BOXES TO PEOPLE'S HOUSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. BUT WE LOVE DOING THAT BECAUSE ONE DAY IT'S GOING TO BE US. AND SO WE GOTTA LOOK OUT FOR THE PEOPLE THERE, AND WE'RE NOT DOING IT JUST TO LOOK OUT FOR OURSELVES LATER ON. BUT WE SEE THE HUNGER IN THESE PEOPLE'S HEART, IN THEIR EYES, AND THEY GET SO EXCITED. IF IT'S A PASTRY OR SOMETHING LIKE LIKE THAT LEFT OVER AND CAKES AND STUFF, YOU TALK ABOUT SOMEBODY GETTING HAPPY. HAPPY BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY GET THOSE CAKES AND THINGS. SO AND I KNOW TAMMY DOES THE SAME THING AND I KNOW SHE'S ON THE LIST, BUT I INVITE EVERY ONE OF MY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO COME OUT ON MY SECOND ON SECOND MONDAY OF THE MONTH AND JUST SEE WHAT WE, THE MAYOR. THEY'RE THROWING TURKEY TURKEYS IN AT IN THANKSGIVING IN THE BACK WINDOWS OF THE CARS. AND I SAID, MR. MAYOR, COME ON OUT AND SEE WHAT WE DO. AND HE REALLY ENJOYED HIMSELF OUT THERE PUTTING TURKEYS IN THE CARS AND TALKING TO THE PEOPLE. AND SO AND I INVITE, LIKE I SAID, EVERY COUNCIL PERSON JUST TO COME OUT AND SEE WHAT WE DO AND HOW MANY PEOPLE SHOW UP. AND LIKE I SAID, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE AT 730 IN THE MORNING WAITING, YOU NEED THE FOOD. AND WE DON'T EVEN OPEN TILL TEN. SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT. AND I'M GOING TO ASK SOME OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MAKE SURE THEY GO THE NEXT TIME SO THEY CAN SEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SO AND NEXT I HAVE MARCUS WINKLER, COUNCILMAN WINKLER. THANK YOU, CHAIR SHANKLIN. AND VINCENT, THANK YOU TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR BEING HERE AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOUR PRESENTATION. IT'S REALLY SHOCKING TO SEE THE NUMBERS. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE THAT 1 IN 5 KIDS IS FOOD INSECURE IN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY DEPRESSING AND HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A COUNTRY AS RICH AS OURS THAT, YOU KNOW, FULLY 20% OF OUR CHILDREN ARE FOOD INSECURE. AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, FOOD INSECURITY IS INSECURITY, GENERALLY SPEAKING. AND, YOU KNOW, HARD TO HAVE GOOD OUTCOMES AT SCHOOL, GOOD SOCIAL BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES WHEN YOU'RE HUNGRY. AND SO I APPLAUD YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR, FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO THERE. YOU KNOW, I ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT HELP PROVIDE FOOD TO YOU, BE IT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR GROCERY STORES OR OTHER NONPROFITS THAT HELP PROVIDE FUNDING AND INPUTS THAT YOU USE TO THEN DISTRIBUTE TO THE VARIOUS AGENCIES ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, I WOULD ALSO BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T CALL OUT DOCTOR SHANKLIN, WHO I THINK YOU HAVE NO BIGGER SUPPORTER ON COUNCIL THAN THAN DOCTOR SHANKLIN. AND HAVING BEEN AT HER FOOD HANDOUTS, YOU KNOW, I CAN ATTEST THAT THE LINE IS DOWN THE STREET BEFORE THEY OPEN UP. AND I THINK THAT'S TRUE, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST IN NEWBERG OR IN WEST LOUISVILLE. IT'S TRUE IN MY DISTRICT. I MEAN, WHEN WE HAVE FOOD HANDOUTS AT THE BARRYTOWN SENIOR CENTER, YOU KNOW, THAT LINE IS 40 CARS DEEP WELL BEFORE THE HANDOUT STARTED. AND AGAIN, SORT OF SPEAKS TO THE NEED ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. THE I GUESS THE ONE THING THAT I WOULD ASK YOU IS, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY WATCHING, ANYBODY PAYING ATTENTION TODAY THAT WONDERS HOW THEY CAN HELP. CAN YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ACTION THE PUBLIC CAN TAKE IN TERMS OF PROVIDING SUPPORT TO YOU, WHETHER IT'S, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL DONATIONS, EXTRA FOOD THAT THEY'VE GOT IN THEIR PANTRY, WHERE ARE SOME DROPOUT SITES THAT THEY CAN USE? YOU KNOW, I KNOW WHEN YOU'RE CHECKING OUT AT KROGER, THEY HAVE THOSE BROWN BAGS THAT YOU CAN BUY THAT. CAN YOU SPEAK TO ALL OF THE WAYS THAT THE PUBLIC CAN GET INVOLVED TO HELP MEET THIS NEED ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY? THANK YOU. DEFINITELY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN WINKLER. AND ABSOLUTELY, THERE ARE MULTIPLE 
          [00:20:01]
WAYS THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN GET INVOLVED. ONE, SIMPLY GOING TO DARE TO CARE.ORG OUR WEBSITE. 
          YOU CAN VOLUNTEER. WE HAVE THREE LOCATIONS THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN VOLUNTEER AT FERN VALLEY WHICH IS OUR LARGE WAREHOUSE. IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO DATA WAREHOUSE, IT'S MUCH LIKE IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN TO A COSTCO OR SAM'S CLUB. IT'S A WAREHOUSE FILLED WITH FOOD THAT WE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE 13 COUNTIES, AND 65% OF WHAT WE DO IS RIGHT HERE IN METRO LOUISVILLE. YOU CAN ALSO NOT ONLY VOLUNTEER, BUT YOU CAN ALSO DONATE. FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT'S DONATED. WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH TWO MEALS. AND SO THAT'S AN AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FRESH AND NUTRITIOUS MEALS TO FAMILIES WHO OTHERWISE WOULDN'T DO GET IT. SO THEY CAN GO ON TO OUR WEBSITE AND ALSO DIRECTLY CAN DONATE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. THE OTHER ASPECT, IN TERMS OF THE WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN DO IS REALLY JUST ADVOCATE, TALK WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS, CHECK IN ON THEIR NEIGHBORS, YOU KNOW, DARE TO CARE WAS STARTED IN 1969 AS A TRAGIC RESULT OF THE DEATH OF BOBBY ELLIS, WHO PASSED AWAY ON THANKSGIVING EVE, AND HIS FAITH LEADERS CAME TOGETHER AND SAID, THIS CAN'T HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY AGAIN AND STARTED DARE TO CARE, AND I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH BOBBY ELLIS'S SISTER, AND I JUST CALLED HER JUST TO CHECK ON HER, AND SHE SAID, YOU KNOW, VINCENT, IF SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE CHECKED ON US SOME 50 PLUS YEARS AGO, WE, MY BROTHER COULD STILL BE ALIVE. AND SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE JUST NEIGHBORS, CHECK ON NEIGHBORS, MAKING SURE. ALL RIGHT. ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SENIORS IN THE COMMUNITY AND YOU KNOW THAT THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, HELP THEM OUT. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED. THANK YOU. AND IF I COULD JUST HAVE ONE FOLLOW UP JUST TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE YOU A GOOD PLUG HERE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU SAID IT'S DARE TO CARE ORG WHERE PEOPLE DARE TO CARE.ORG YES DARE TO CARE.ORG. OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN ELKINS THANK YOU CHAIR. FIRST I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. ALL MY PRAISE GO TO MEDICARE. SO I WANT TO KNOW WHO AIN'T SUPPORTING THEM. THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO KNOW. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WHAT YOU NEED, THAT YOU GET IT. YOU PARTNERING WITH SHAME. I KNOW THE WORK THAT SHAME DOES PERSONALLY. YOU KNOW HE'S BEEN IN MY DISTRICT. WORKS REALLY HARD. I DEFINITELY SUPPORT HIM. 
          YOU KNOW, I SUPPORT A LOT OF ENTITIES, BUT YOU JUST GRABBING ON AND JUST GIVING THEM A SEAT AT THAT TABLE, YOU KNOW, THAT SPEAKS EVEN MORE VOLUME. I WENT OUT TO COUNCILWOMAN SHANKLIN'S DISTRICT, AND I'VE BEEN WANTING TO COPY HER SUCCESS. YOU KNOW, IN MY DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT THERE AT WORK, YOUR OFFICE IS AT. RIGHT? RIGHT. AS YOU KNOW, WHEN I DO, THE FOOD DRIVES. 
          PEOPLE COME FROM EVERYWHERE. AND IT'S LONG LINES, BUT JUST BEING ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO, TO COPY WHAT SHE DOES IS, IS, IS JUST SOMETHING IT'S, IT'S, IT'S THE TRUTH TO SEE THE SMILES ON THOSE PEOPLE'S FACES. IT TAKES YOU A LONG WAY. YES. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CAN PUT A SMILE ON OTHER PEOPLE'S FACES, JUST BEING ABLE TO DO THAT. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING EXACTLY EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. NOT IN EVERY DISTRICT, BECAUSE, I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT THE WEST END HAS A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, FOOD BARRIERS. BUT ALSO, I KNOW MY COLLEAGUE OVER THERE IN FERN CREEK AND FERNDALE, I'M SORRY. 
          YOU KNOW, HE HAS A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT IN THAT AREA, YOU KNOW, THAT HAS A LOT OF FOOD INSECURITIES, YOU KNOW, JUST ALL OVER THE CITY. YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF, IF YOU ALL COULD JUST TAP IN OR, YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST SO MANY ENTITIES THAT ARE TRYING TO DO THE WORK ALL OVER THIS CITY. I JUST, YOU KNOW, I, I GET SPEECHLESS A LOT OF TIMES BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE JUST DOING AWESOME WORK. AND I REALLY THINK THAT THE AMOUNT THAT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT YOU ALL ASKED FOR LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, IF THE GREAT IF, IF, IF THAT NEEDS TO BE LARGER, YOU KNOW, LIKE WE NEED TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, SO WE CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE IT THAT RESOURCE HAS TO STAY IN PLACE. AND I THINK IT'S SO GREAT FOR USE FOR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS BECAUSE YOU TOUCH PRETTY MUCH, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE. AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS GOING OVER AND BEYOND, NOT JUST THE BRAND THAT OCCUR, BUT YOU PERSONALLY. YOU KNOW, YOU STAND, YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT DATA, YOU LOOK AT WHO'S THE REPRESENTATIVE, RIGHT, RIGHT. AND IT'S YOU ALL. AND I WANT TO 
          [00:25:04]
SAY, I KNOW IT'S NOT EASY, YOU KNOW, AND I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT YOU ALL IN THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING. AND YOU ALSO MAKE US LOOK GOOD. YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCILWOMAN SHANKLIN COULD DO THIS. YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE US LOOK GOOD AS COUNCIL MEMBERS PROVIDING THIS SERVICE, YOU KNOW? SO WE DEFINITELY WANT TO STAY IN TUNE. AND WE DEFINITELY WANT TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT WHATEVER THE NEEDS IS THAT YOU ALL HAVE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN HAWKINS. AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT WE ASKED FOR? WE DEFINITELY THAT NUMBER COULD BE DOUBLED. AND, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE THAT THAT THOSE RESOURCES GO DIRECTLY RIGHT BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY TAKING CARE OF FAMILIES ACROSS ALL 26 METRO COUNCIL DISTRICTS. AND SO WE ARE VERY PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAND IN THE GAP, BUT WE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THE RESOURCES AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE FEDERAL CUTS THAT WE ARE EVEN BEGINNING TO THINK ABOUT SEEING. BUT WHAT WE'VE ALREADY EXPERIENCED, WE JUST GOT AN EMAIL TWO WEEKS AGO AT 3:00 IN THE MORNING, THAT OUR FEDERAL FUNDING HAS BEEN CUT. SO THAT'S FOOD THAT'S ALREADY BEEN CUT. 
          THE, YOU KNOW, THE RECONCILIATION BUDGET HAS NOT PASSED, BUT THOSE THOSE IMPACTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO THE RESOURCES THAT THE CITY HAS THAT CAN PROVIDE US TO BE ABLE TO REDISTRIBUTE THAT RIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY, WE CAN DO IT AT A MUCH LOWER COST THAN ANYONE IN THIS CITY CAN DO, AND WE DO IT IN A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT WAY BECAUSE WE NEED THE VOLUNTEERS AS WELL, SO FOLKS CAN COME IN BECAUSE VOLUNTEERS HELP TO KEEP COSTS DOWN. WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THE OVERHEAD IN PERSONNEL. WE CAN MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY THROUGH VOLUNTEERS. MUCH LIKE WHAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT TODAY, DOCTOR SHANKLIN AND WHAT SHE SHARED. WE COULDN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU ALL. YEAH, I KNOW I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ANYBODY OUT, BUT DAN, COUNCILMAN SAM, I NEEDED SOMETHING. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS. AND I TALKED TO DAN ABOUT IT, AND HE HAD A TRUCK THAT CAME TO OUT TO NEWBERG, A BIG TRUCK, AND HE BROUGHT ALL KIND OF FOOD FOR THE KIDS. I THINK IT WAS DURING THE TIME THE KIDS WERE OUT OF SCHOOL, AND HE BROUGHT ALL KIND OF BOXES AND THINGS THAT THEY COULD EAT SNACKS AND WOULDN'T HAVE TO COOK ANYTHING IF MOM WASN'T HOME. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, DAN, BECAUSE YOU DID COME OUT DURING THE SUMMER WHEN IT WASN'T SUMMER. I DON'T THINK IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WHEN SCHOOL WAS OUT, YOU KNOW, SPRING BREAK. AND I ALSO WANTED TO THANK SECOND PRESS. WE HAVE SO MANY VOLUNTEERS. YESTERDAY THEY WERE ALL WALKING ON TOP OF EACH OTHER AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD FRUIT AND ALL KIND OF STUFF. AND THEY WERE ACTUALLY IT WAS I KNOW WE HAD ABOUT 20 VOLUNTEERS ALL IN THAT ONE LITTLE SPOT GIVING OUT FOOD, AND THEY WERE ALWAYS THERE FOR US. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS MAYBE GET SOME DONUTS OR SOMETHING AND STAY THERE. SO WE JUST APPRECIATE THE PEOPLE THAT COME OUT AND HELP US. AND THEY ALSO COME ON SATURDAYS SECOND BREAKFAST. AND THEY THEY HAVE WE FILLED THE BOXES AND WITH CANNED GOODS AND ALL OF THAT ON SATURDAY. AND WE JUST WAIT TILL THAT MONDAY AND THEN WE PUT THE MEAT IN IT. SO ON MONDAY MORNING WE SAW EVERYTHING'S ALREADY PACKED AND ON THE TABLE WHEN THEY GET THERE. SO WHEN THEIR CAR COME THROUGH, WE'D HAVE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, THEY OPEN THE TRUNK AND JUST PUT THE BOX IN THERE WITH ALL THE STUFF ALREADY. SO WE MOVED PRETTY FAST AND LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GETTING MORE AND MORE PEOPLE COMING. SO I APPRECIATE THAT. AND THEN I WANT TO GET COUNCILMAN DAMIEN DAN SIGN. THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. 
          I WANTED TO THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU FOR PARTNERING WITH EXODUS MINISTRIES. AND SHANE, I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH SHANE, AND I SEE THE HEART THAT HE HAS. AND JUST RECENTLY WE HAD A WOMAN WITH THREE CHILDREN. THE ROOF IS BLOWN OFF OF HER HOUSE. SHE LEFT WITH ONLY THE CLOTHES ON HER BACK. AND WHEN I GOT AHOLD OF HER, SHE HADN'T. HER KIDS HADN'T ATE FOR A WEEK, AND THEY WERE IN THE SAME CLOTHES FOR A WEEK. AND I MADE ONE CALL AND HE'S ON IT. AND ONE THING ABOUT SHANE IS HE WILL GO OUT INTO A CAMP, INTO THE WOODS AND FEED SOMEBODY. HE'S GOT A HEART TO DO THAT. AND I'M SITTING HERE 225 POUNDS AND I DON'T MISS A MEAL. BUT THESE POOR KIDS, THESE POOR KIDS, AND NOT JUST KIDS, BUT THE ELDERLY THAT WE'RE MINISTERING TO IN IN FAIRDALE, I, I REALLY APPRECIATE 
          [00:30:02]
YOU. WE'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE HAVE TO DO TO FUND FUND THIS. AND I THANK YOU FOR REACHING OUT. PEOPLE LIKE SHIRLEY'S WAY IS THE ONE THAT HELPED BARBARA AND SHIRLEY'S WAY. THEY'RE SO GOOD. AND WHEN THEY WHEN YOU GUYS PARTNER TOGETHER, THEN PEOPLE GET FED AND THEY GET CLOTHED AND THEY GET SHELTER. AND I THANK YOU FOR IT. AND WHATEVER YOU BRING TO THIS COUNCIL, WE'LL MAKE SURE WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FUND IT. BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS OR STORIES? OKAY. COUNCILWOMAN WARD, YES. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU ALL DO. AND I WAS AMAZED BY THE NUMBERS THAT I SAW UP THERE. I KNOW I'VE NOT ONLY SEEN THE SCHOOLS THROUGH THE YEARS OF MY KIDS GROWING UP, BUT I ALSO SEE IT IN THE FOOD PANTRIES THAT YOU SEE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THEM EMPTY ACROSS THE ACROSS THE CITY. SO NOT ONLY THANK YOU TO YOU ALL, BUT THANK YOU TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT CONTINUE TO STOCK THOSE FOOD PANTRIES. YES, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT. ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED FROM ANY OF US, PLEASE CONTINUE TO REACH OUT. KNOW THAT WE'RE THERE TO SUPPORT IN ANY WAY WE CAN ALSO NOT ONLY ON THE FOOD DRIVES, BUT ON VOLUNTEERS. IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED FROM US, WE ALL HAVE WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS, SO LET US GET THE WORD OUT TO THOSE WITHIN OUR DISTRICTS. SO IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON OR YOUR PARTNERS HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON, PLEASE REACH OUT AND LET US KNOW SO WE CAN GET THAT INFORMATION OUT TO THOSE IN OUR DISTRICT. AND FOR DOCTOR SHANKLIN, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. I KNOW THAT I'M RIGHT OUTSIDE OF YOUR DISTRICT. SO I SEE THAT LINE THAT THAT HAPPENS NOT ONLY ON SATURDAYS BUT ON MONDAYS. I MEAN, THAT LINE GOES ON AND ON AND ON. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU CONTINUE TO GIVE TO TAKE CARE. THANK YOU. BUT WITHOUT THERE TO THERE WOULDN'T BE A LINE OUT THERE. SO WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO. AND I IT JUST MEANS A LOT TO GO OVER THERE AND WORK ON THAT MONDAY AND PASS OUT THE FOOD. AND LIKE I SAID, I KNOW COUNCILWOMAN WARD DOES NOT, WHICH WE HAD A WORRIED. THAT'S WHY I REMEMBER I KNOW YOU REMEMBER. YES. HAWKINS. SHE'S DOING A GOOD JOB OVER THERE. AND HERS WILL GET BIGGER AND BIGGER. YOU PROBABLY HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAN I DO ANYWAY. I ONLY HAVE 100. YESTERDAY I HAD 115. I THINK SO, AND LIKE I SAID, I STARTED OUT WITH 30 PEOPLE, SO. OKAY, GOT NO ONE ELSE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, NO ONE ELSE. AND WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. STAND UN
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.