Kenton County Circuit Court Clerk John Middleton’s office took second place statewide in the second annual Commonwealth of Kentucky Bowl conducted last month.
The second annual food drive was sponsored by Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Kentucky Association of Food Banks (KAFB) and the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo).
Scott County Magistrate David Livingston took the overall award, raising the equivalent of 20,125 pounds of food. Third-place winners was Jefferson County Circuit Court Clerk David Nicholson’s office.
“Far too many Kentuckians face hunger daily. The need is great, and it continues to persist,” said Grimes. “But, thanks to our local county officials and KACo, more than 71,000 pounds of food will help provide a lot of relief this holiday season through Kentucky’s food banks and their incredible teams.”
Counties and their elected officials across Kentucky collected food and monetary donations in the campaign from Oct. 15 through Oct. 31.
The 71,423 pounds collected is enough food for 721 people served by KAFB for an entire year or 59,519 meals, according to the food bank association. Food banks can distribute 8 pounds of food for every $1 donated.
Proceeds and goods generated from the competition will directly aid the members of the KAFB – an organization that distributes over 63 million meals to 1 in 7 Kentuckians annually in partnership with a network of 800 local charitable feeding organizations. Its members serve all 120 counties in Kentucky.
“We are so grateful for the elected officials and Secretary Grimes for taking action against hunger,” said Tamara Sandberg, executive director of KAFB, upon the announcement of the results. “The Commonwealth of Kentucky Bowl will help at a really important time for Kentucky families – just before the holidays.”
Grimes has been a champion for solving Kentucky’s hunger issues since she took office in 2012, including being instrumental in the Farms to Food Banks tax credits legislation, and before she was elected to public office. She is a longtime volunteer at the Salvation Army, serving the Thanksgiving meal at her local service center for more than 30 years. She also has served on the board of God’s Pantry Food Bank in Lexington.
