Fighting Hunger Together: How Communities Can Support Food-Insecure Families

Host: Mindy McCulley, MS Extension Specialist for Instructional Support, Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Kentucky Guest: Courtney Luecking, PhD Extension Specialist for Maternal and Child Health Season 8, Episode 20 Welcome to Talking FACS, where host Mindy McCulley is joined by Dr. Courtney Luecking, Extension Specialist for Food and Nutrition, to discuss how communities can respond when families face food insecurity. They cover what immediate support looks like — sharing information about local food banks and pantries, soup kitchens, school breakfast and lunch programs, Meals on Wheels and congregate meals for older adults, WIC, SNAP, and food recovery efforts like Glean Kentucky — and explain how eligibility, schedules, and program changes affect access. The conversation highlights ways neighbors and community members can help: checking in on friends and family, reducing stigma, inviting someone to a shared meal, donating money (which often stretches farther for organizations), volunteering time and other service, They emphasize the importance of coordinating with existing local efforts so help is efficient and sustained.  Also recognizing long-term solutions and practical resources — including the University of Kentucky Extension offices for meal planning, budgeting, gardening, and cooking classes — and encouraging listeners to take one small step this week to support someone in need. Connect with FCS Extension through any of the links below for more information about any of the topics discussed on Talking FACS. Kentucky Extension Offices UK FCS Extension           Website           Facebook           Instagram