Kentucky Power’s sixth annual Power Up the Pantry food drive brought in more than a ton of food and tens of thousands of dollars to help families struggling with hunger across eastern Kentucky.
The event, held Sept. 25 in Ashland, Hazard and Pikeville, included $25,000 in grants from the Kentucky Power Foundation awarded directly to the participating food banks. According to Kentucky Power, the drive helps provide thousands of meals for families facing food insecurity in the company’s 20-county service area.
Donations collected through Power Up the Pantry directly benefit God’s Pantry Food Bank, which serves southeastern Kentucky, and Facing Hunger Food Bank, which supports pantries in the northeastern part of Kentucky Power’s territory.
Kentucky Power External Affairs Manager Ryan Lake said the event’s success depended on the support of community partners, local businesses and schools that worked together to make the effort possible.
“Power Up the Pantry participation is an important way we can all show up for our communities,” Lake said. “Hunger is a significant global challenge that impacts countless individuals and families. We are proud to take action that brings our communities together and offers support to those in need throughout our service area.”
Bettina Hazlett, community relations officer for Facing Hunger Food Bank, said food insecurity continues to affect many Kentucky families.
“Power Up the Pantry is a vital lifeline for Kentucky neighbors in need, enabling us to secure the resources necessary to support them,” Hazlett said. “We are grateful for this impactful partnership and its positive effects on our community. The generosity we witnessed during this event reflects the very best of eastern Kentucky.”
Since the launch of Power Up the Pantry in 2019, the initiative has collected 28,593 pounds of food and more than $170,000 in donations—enough to provide an estimated 1.5 million meals, helping to stock regional food bank shelves and give relief to families in need.
“We are committed to giving back and actively engaging in what matters to our customers,” Lake said. “This is why Kentucky Power plays an essential role in the communities we serve.”
The Kentucky Power Foundation, part of the American Electric Power Foundation, awards grants within communities served by Kentucky Power. The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) and its operating subsidiaries, including Kentucky Power. The foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives both within AEP’s 11-state service area and beyond.
As an independent, nonprofit philanthropic organization funded solely through shareholder dollars, the foundation supports initiatives that improve lives through education—particularly in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)—and by meeting basic needs such as emergency shelter, affordable housing and hunger relief. Additional support may also be provided for environmental protection, healthcare and safety, and the arts.