Dare to Care Food Bank Honors Legacy of Bobby Ellis with Food Giveaway and Health Fair

LOUISVILLE, KY (November 13, 2025) — Dare to Care Food Bank honored the legacy of nine-year-old Bobby Ellis — whose tragic passing from malnutrition inspired the organization’s founding more than 50 years ago — by hosting its Second Annual Bobby Ellis Food Giveaway and first-ever Community Health Fair at Historic Calvary Baptist Church.

Hundreds of families came together Thursday for the drive-thru food giveaway and on-site health fair, where community partners offered flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, blood pressure and glucose screenings, financial coaching, and more. The event reflected Dare to Care’s belief that food is health — and that both are essential for a thriving community.

This year’s event came at a moment of cautious relief for many families following the end of the federal government shutdown. Most states, including Kentucky, have reported the release of SNAP benefits within 24 hours of the government reopening — uplifting news for neighbors who rely on this vital program to keep food on the table.

“While we’re grateful that SNAP benefits are once again being distributed, we know uncertainty remains,” said Vincent James, CEO of Dare to Care Food Bank. “Our food bank and our partner pantries were already seeing increased demand — and that need will not disappear overnight. Events like this help bridge the gap and remind our community that no one stands alone in the fight against hunger.”

Mayor Craig Greenberg joined the event, along with representatives from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Norton Healthcare, the Louisville Water Company, and numerous local agencies who came together to support the event. BJ’s Wholesale Club also donated backpacks filled with essential items for participating families.

Hosted in partnership with Historic Calvary Baptist Church, the event served as both a celebration of Bobby Ellis’s enduring legacy and a reminder that compassion in action continues to shape our community’s story of hope.

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