On this episode of the "Blac Re-Membering" podcast, guest John Cain, the Kentucky Kids Eat program director for Feeding Kentucky, shares his experiences growing up in rural Appalachia and his work in addressing child hunger. John's personal background and professional role provide an insightful perspective on the impact of poverty and federal aid programs on the Appalachian community. His emphasis on the prevalence of child food insecurity in Kentucky, the significance of federal nutrition programs, and the strategies for expanding access to school breakfast programs makes this episode essential for community advocates and educators working with children in Appalachia. Additionally, John's advocacy for equitable access to affordable and healthy food in rural areas, especially during the summer months, offers valuable insights for combating child hunger. The episode's focus on addressing food insecurity and promoting equity in access to essential resources makes it a compelling resource for those dedicated to improving the well-being of children in Appalachia.

Meet John Cain

John is the Program Director for Kentucky Kids Eat, the statewide child hunger relief program of Feeding Kentucky. As the KKE Program Director, he manages No Kid Hungry Kentucky, a partnership campaign between Share Our Strength and Feeding Kentucky to end child hunger in the state. Aligned with Feeding Kentucky's mission to create a hunger-free Commonwealth, John's work focuses on connecting kids to healthy foods 365 days a year using KKE's signature 4P's to Hunger Free Approach: publicize the problem of child food insecurity and hunger among KY kids; promote evidence-based strategies that reduce child food insecurity including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, the Community Eligibility Provision, SNAP, and the USDA Summer Nutrition Programs from Kids, partner with the private-public section to put those strategies into practice, and push for federal and state policies that reduce child food insecurity.  

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Explore the vital strategies for ending child hunger in Kentucky. 
• Discover the impactful ways summer meal programs improve child food security. 
• Uncover the crucial role of federal nutrition programs in reducing food insecurity. 
• Learn about effective strategies for expanding access to school breakfast. 
• Understand the importance of community support in fighting child hunger. 

Resources:

• For more information on Summer EBT and Summer Meal programs, visit the Feeding Kentucky website and click on the Programs tab, then select Child Hunger Relief for eligibility screening and application links. 
• Access the USDA Hunger Hotline for live assistance from 8am to 8pm Monday through Friday Eastern time by calling the telephone number provided on the Feeding Kentucky website. 
• Utilize the USDA site Finder tool available on the Feeding Kentucky website to locate summer meal sites in your community. 

The mission of the Black Appalachian Coalition (BLAC) is to build a multi-state campaign that amplifies black voices, dismantles the colonized narrative of Appalachia, and uses story-based strategies and solutions that center the voices and lived experiences of Black Appalachians.

For more stories and information about The Black Appalachian Coalition please visit www.blackappalachiancoalition.org.