Kentucky State Police food drive combats hunger

The Kentucky State Police’s (KSP) annual statewide “Cram the Cruiser” food drive collected 204,262 pounds of food for families in need, over 42,000 more pounds than the previous year.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced the news Thursday and thanked Kentuckians for their generosity.

“Team Kentucky knows how to come together to care for their neighbors, and the amount of food collected through this event is a testament to the love our people have for each other,” Gov. Beshear said. “Through your donations, so many Kentucky families will have a brighter holiday season, and for that, I am thankful.”

The campaign, hosted by all 16 KSP posts, collected essential non-perishable food items to brighten the holiday season for those in need. These items included canned fruit and vegetables, canned meat, macaroni and cheese, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, canned soups, chili or spaghetti sauce, brownie and cake mixes, coffee, water, powdered milk and juices.

“Every donation stays in the community where it was collected,” said KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. “This year’s drive once again highlights the generosity of Kentuckians and the collective effort to fight hunger. I’m honored to see such a strong response.”

Post 16 collected the most donations for the second year in a row, gathering 115,348 pounds of food this year. Post 16 Captain Brenton Ford credited the generous contributions of local citizens, businesses and manufacturers.

“Their efforts foster a spirit of collaboration that enhances the quality of life for residents in the area,” said Capt. Ford. “We are proud to work alongside these individuals to achieve a common goal.”

In 2023, KSP collected 162,047 pounds of food. Since launching “Cram the Cruiser” in 2010, the agency has donated nearly 3 million pounds of food to shelters, food banks and churches across the state, making a substantial impact on families in need.