A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Master Provisions celebrates 25 Years of giving back in NKY — and around the globe 


This year marks the 25th anniversary for Master Provisions, a nonprofit focused on food, clothing, and care of aspiring young people locally and around the world. A celebration event hosted at the organization’s headquarters highlighted the work Master Provisions has done in the past and looked to the future. 

 In 1994, Master Provisions started when a group saw a need for clothing in the Ukraine. Through sponsorships with local churches, Master Provisions was able to fulfill that need. However, people still required help all over the world. Master Provisions worked to provide clothing to these people and shipped 48 containers between 1994 and 2000. 

Master Provisions began supporting youth across the world by providing supplies and support to our overseas mission partners to help them flourish from childhood to adulthood. In 2008, Master Provisions began sending aid to West Africa to create clothing shops and other sustainability projects.

A shopper at the Isaiah House Mobile Food Pantry (provided photos).

Since Master Provisions founding, they have provided clothing and care of children around the globe in Europe, Africa, and South America with a goal of connecting resources to needs until every physical and spiritual need is fulfilled. 

2011 was a game changing year for the organization. Through a donation from the Clifford R. Borland Sr. family, Master Provisions was able to open its 17,500 square foot warehouse and headquarters in Florence, Kentucky. 

In 2013, Master Provisions saw a need in the local area. As many as 1 in 6 people in the tri-state live day to day with food insecurity (not having access to adequate nutritious food.) When people have to focus on affording to put food on the table, it prevents them from improving their lives through education, careers, etc. 

Master Provisions and its team has a calling to help these individuals and families by providing food to the local community through a partnership with the Isaiah House. Through this partnership, Master Provisions and Isaiah house bring fresh food to locations in Covington and Ludlow. These mobile food pantries are held on the last Saturday monthly and serve about 600 households. 

A rack of bread at the Isaiah House June Mobile Food Pantry where people can come and shop for free monthly in Covington and Ludlow.

Since Master Provisions began its food program, it has expanded its partnership to connect resources to needs, so that it now serves over 150 nonprofit partners and continues to expand its food ministry. Many of these nonprofit partners would not be able to serve as many people without Master Provisions. Many have limited resources to purchase and store the food they directly give to those who need it to improve their lives. 

In 2018, Master Provisions was able to distribute over 3.9 million pounds of food. Today, Master Provisions helps to feed 42,000 people in 19 counties across Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Virginia. 

Using its fleet of trucks, Master Provisions created its social enterprise in 2015 which provides trucking for its food donors and mission partners. This allows the organization to receive and provide more resources than ever before. 

“I am excited to share with our community the progress we have made during our first 25 years, and where we are going in the future” stated Roger Babik, the organization’s founder and president.

Hunger is still a huge issue in the areas that Master Provisions supports. In 2018 100,000 children in the tri-state were living below the poverty line, which is about 19.4 percent.

The Master Provisions mission team in Togo, Africa. June 2019.

“Master Provisions groups report in total they feed up to 16,000 people each month,” stated Babik, “The number of people we support is expected to grow in the future. “

Also, Master Provisions’ international mission partners often see needs where they can help. Recently, a team returned from Togo in West Africa teaching farming skills and other techniques that will help the people of Togo become more self-sustainable. 

With all of the needs locally and internationally, Master Provisions constantly works to fulfill them. “The future has a lot in store for Master Provisions,” stated Guy Domec, Operations Director, “We plan on working to help more people in more places than ever before.”

Master Provisions uses funds from its donors to be able to provide these resources. As a part of the 25th year anniversary, the organization is passing out water bottles created to collect change and receiving the bottles back when they are filled. 

For more information on Master Provisions, click here.

Master Provisions


Related Posts

Leave a Comment