About Us

MISSION:  To end hunger in our community through partnerships, innovative programs, and community engagement.

Dare to Care Food Bank is an independent, nonprofit, Kentucky corporation with  501(C)(3) tax-exempt status.

FACILITIES:  55,000 square foot warehouse equipped to store and inventory food at the highest commercial food safety standards.  Storage area includes 100,000 cubic foot freezer and 72,000 cubic foot cooler.

FLEET:  Ten transport trucks and vans, seven of which are refrigerated.

VOLUNTEERS:  Over 2,000 volunteers support the Food Bank’s mission each year, contributing over 20,000 hours.

FOOD:  Dare to Care procured and distributed 13.1 million pounds of food in 2009, including 3.5 million pounds of fresh produce.  Of this food, 75% came from the food industry, 15% came from USDA commodities, 5% came from community food drives, and 5% was purchased by the Food Bank to assure balanced diets are available to people in need.

NETWORK:  Food is distributed through a network of 320 independent food pantries, emergency kitchens, and shelters.

PROGRAMS:  Gaps in service delivery are filled with special programs like Kids Cafe, Backpack Buddy, and Patrol Against Hunger, Mobile Pantry, and Produce Program.

NEED:  Over 192,000 different people received emergency food assistance last year, over 40,000 of whom were children.  It is estimated by the US Government that 175,000 people in Dare to Care’s service area are at risk of hunger.

SERVICE AREA (PDF):  To avoid duplication of services, Dare to Care belongs to a network of 200 other food banks called Feeding America.  Dare to Care is obligated to serve the following Kentucky counties:  Jefferson, Bullitt, Spencer, Shelby, Henry, Oldham, Trimble, and Carroll; and the following Indiana counties:  Floyd, Clark, Harrison, Crawford, and Washington.

HISTORY:  Dare to Care Food Bank was founded in 1971, when a stunned Louisville community was confronted with the horrifying news that right in their own city, on Thanksgiving Day, a nine year old boy had died of starvation. The name Dare to Care became the rallying cry of people throughout the area as they joined together to attack the very real problem of hunger in many of their neighborhoods.

SUPPORT:  Dare to Care’s funding support comes from the community:  individuals, businesses, and foundations.

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