Local Nonprofit Provides 500 Weekend Meal Kits as SNAP Paused

Roscoe’s Daughter assembled and distributed 500 weekend meal kits in less than 24 hours to children in Knott and Perry counties after uncertainty over SNAP benefits left families without a reliable source of groceries. The kits were created through coordination with family resource officials at more than 10 schools and expanded from the nonprofit’s existing grocery voucher and school programs to address an urgent local need.

Kate Clemons, CEO and founder of Roscoe’s Daughter, described the organization’s response, saying, "When the SNAP crisis started, I immediately jumped into place and expanded the programs we already have in place, such as our grocery voucher assistance program, which lets people shop at the grocery store to get what they need and also puts money back into the economy." Clemons said the group focused on children most at risk, working with school staff to identify priority recipients. "We have worked together to focus on the most critical children at each school. These are the children who are at most risk for starvation, not just hunger, starvation," she said.

Each meal kit contains breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks chosen for nutritional value. Clemons emphasized planning and dietary balance, saying, "It’s really important to me not to just throw stuff in a bag. How can we make it nutritional for these kids, because the SNAP crisis has been going on for a while and they probably have been struggling. So, I tried really hard to include fruit in the bag, healthy balance of fat, carbohydrates and protein."

The local mobilization comes amid broader reliance on SNAP nationally and regionally. One in eight Americans receives assistance from SNAP, and Clemons said it is estimated to be one in four in Knott County. When assistance pauses, the interruption is immediate for households that rely on benefits to cover groceries for children and adults alike. Clemons framed the response as community solidarity, saying, "When government assistance is paused, Eastern Kentucky steps up. We will always take care of each other, that’s the Eastern Kentucky way. That’s the story of Roscoe’s Daughter: just lend a hand to your neighbor. We could all be in this situation, it could happen to anyone."

The episode underscores policy and institutional questions for Perry County residents. Temporary pauses in federal or state assistance shift the burden to local nonprofits and schools, which may lack stable funding to respond repeatedly. Roscoe’s Daughter said it will continue to provide support and if SNAP is not restored by next weekend, the organization will again work to deliver as many meal kits as possible. Clemons noted the organization’s broader role, saying, "Roscoe’s Daughter has grown into so many other things. We are so honored to serve all of Eastern Kentucky for various programs, disaster relief, food, school, holiday programs, whatever the need may be. Our start is in food insecurity, that will always be close to my heart."

For residents and civic leaders, the immediate challenge is to support short term relief while advocating for stable program administration that prevents lapses in benefit delivery. The rapid response from Roscoe’s Daughter provided crucial relief this weekend, but raises questions about how local institutions will manage repeated interruptions and how policymakers will address persistent food insecurity in Eastern Kentucky.