In early December 2021, just two weeks before Christmas, a wave of tornadoes tore through the midwestern and southern states of Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky. More than 90 lives were lost due to the onslaught of the storms, which now ranks December of 2021 as the 10th-deadliest month for tornadoes since the modern keeping of records began in 1950.
Between the negative impact COVID has had on food insecure communities, with nearly 15 percent of households reporting food insecurity (a 3% rise prior to the pandemic), and the recent natural disasters,
food was at a higher demand than ever. With this in mind, the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation and Sodexo Live! knew something had to be done. They reached out to Move For Hunger to help transport their donations to Feeding America Kentucky's Heartland for the tornado victims, and we happily obliged!
“With so many in the local community still struggling with food insecurity, especially in the wake of the recent natural disasters, we were happy to pitch in and do our part,” said Sodexo Live! District Manager Brian Gaskill. “Our locally-based team always jumps at any chance we get to do something positive like this, and we’re thrilled to make these donations on behalf of our venue partners in Louisville.”
In early January, Armstrong Relocation volunteered their time and resources to pick up more than 3,500lbs, equivalent to nearly 3,000 meals, of donated food. They had three pickups scheduled from sites managed by Sodexo Live! - Slugger Field, KFC Yum! Center, and the University of Louisville’s Cardinal Stadium. Then, their next step was to deliver to Kentucky’s Heartland Food Bank, which is several miles outside their delivery area.
However, once all of the donations were loaded onto the delivery truck, a snowstorm prematurely blew through the tri-state area, leaving a downfall of 1-4 inches across western Kentucky - interrupting the delivery.
Armstrong Relocation secured the food back at their warehouse until the storm passed and reattempted delivering the donations. But disaster had struck (again)!
The morning of delivery the food bank employees arrived to find the water pipes above their offices had burst during the freeze and their desks were covered with pieces of the ceiling and water.
Despite these setbacks, the mover’s perseverance and food bank employee’s determination ensured the donations found their way to Kentucky’s Heartland Food Bank to support the tornado victims. We’re wholeheartedly grateful for everyone involved in this transport and their dedication to fighting hunger.
“The recent tornado disaster in Kentucky is a reminder that none of us are immune to food insecurity,” said Jackie Godlewski, Fresh Food Program Manager at Move For Hunger. “We love partnering with organizations like Sodexo, Armstrong Relocation, and Feeding America who understand the issues related to hunger and food waste and are doing something about it, right there in their own communities.”
Nationally, more than 42 million people face hunger every day. In Kentucky alone, almost 650,000 individuals are food insecure. With the recent natural disasters that impacted thousands of Kentucky residents, your help is needed now more than ever. If you’d like to do your part to end hunger, become a monthly donor to Move For Hunger!
