You can collect food items in your own boxes or pick up Dare to Care boxes at our main warehouse on Fern Valley Road between 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Boxes should be durable and a reasonable size so we can sort the donated food when delivered to our Dare to Care distribution center.
Leadership
Meet the people who help make hunger relief possible in Kentuckiana.
Leadership Team
Vincent James
President and CEO
Jackie Richardson
Director of Programs and Services
Brandon Hall
Chief Operating Officer
Jackie Keating
Chief Development Officer
Dr. Ursula Mullins
Chief Impact Officer
Stan Siegwald
Chief of Strategic Initiatives
Daniel Frockt
Chief Financial Officer
Ann Brown
Chief People Officer
Alexus Richardson
Director of Communications
Board of Directors
Al Cornish, Chair
Closing the Gap, LLC
Nick Clifton, Treasurer
Volunteers of America
Carly Lanius
Brown-Forman
Jerry Abramson
Spalding University
Dr. Muhammad Babar
KentuckyOne Health
Shane Schlatter
Exodus Family Ministries
Dr. Erin Frazier
Norton Healthcare
Dr. Sarah Moyer
Humana Healthy Horizons in Kentucky
Michael Leland
PNC Wealth Management
Dave Russell
Yum! Brands
Michael Sadofsky
Retired – Republic Bank & Trust
Nemish Shah
Walmart
Dr. Val Slayton
Humana
Corenza Townsend
Norton West Louisville Hospital
Rev. Matthew Smyzer
Baptist Fellowship Center
Bill Summers
Retired
Suzanne Wright
JCPS
Nicole Yates
Molina Healthcare
Jake Cannon
Kroger
Attend an Event
Calling all walkers, runners, foodies, builders and socializers!
Dare to Care Food Bank hosts several events each year to help raise awareness and funds to fight hunger in our community. Get involved by volunteering on an event committee, attending an event or becoming a sponsor. Check out our upcoming Taste of Derby Festival, Hunger Action Month, Bobby Ellis Memorial Vigil and more.
Have an idea for an event? Host your own!
Host a Food/Fund Drive
You can make a difference in the lives of people today!
Food Drives, accompanied by a fund drive, are a great way to supply food and resources to neighbors in need and to gather friends and colleagues for a great cause!
When you sign up using the link below, you will receive a virtual food drive page. While many people like the option to donate funds, you do not have to use this page, and can enter $0 for your monetary goal.
Please note: We consider your pickup of boxes and delivery of your food part of your donation. Dare to Care’s Warehouse is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 5803 Fern Valley Roads, Louisville, KY 40228.
Click the link below to get started
Questions? Contact Anna Foshee at anna.foshee@daretocare.org
Food/Fund Drive FAQS
To make sure that your food drive provides the most nutritious food possible, our Nutrition Services Department recommends that you apply these guidelines:
Use the MyPlate nutrition guide to select nutritious, nonperishable foods. These items are most useful to our member agencies in meeting the nutritional needs of their clients.
For the safety of those we serve, we do not accept opened items, items with expired dates and homemade items.
Please view our Most Needed Items list.
Individuals who donate online will receive an automated receipt via email.
Individuals who send monetary donations to Dare to Care Food Bank will receive a receipt by mail.
People usually want to give money if they cannot give food items and that is wonderful! Please encourage monetary donations as well. Due to our positive relationships with food industry donors and our large volunteer base, $1 provides a full day of meals.
Please reference your group/organization on the check or envelope and send all donations via FedEx, mail, or messenger to:
Dare to Care Food Bank
Please note, if you are sending cash, we recommend that you send it via FedEx or messenger.
Your donations will make a great impact. Their first stop is in our warehouse where we sort, inspect and clean the items donated. Next, donations are packaged for distribution and will help ensure children, families and seniors in our community have the food they need.
Please do NOT donate glass items.
About Us
Our Mission: To lead our community to feed the hungry and conquer the cycle of need
On Thanksgiving Eve in 1969, nine-year-old Bobby Ellis died of malnutrition in his Louisville home. Our stunned Kentuckiana community took action and created Dare to Care Food Bank, to ensure that no one in our community lacks enough food to live an active, healthy life.
Dare to Care partners with local social service agencies, such as food pantries, shelters and emergency kitchens to distribute food to our community. In the past year, Dare to Care and our partners provided 19.6 million meals to our community.
Redefining What it Means to be a Food Bank
We believe access to nutritious food is a basic human right but at Dare to Care it means more than just getting food out to the masses. Dare to Care is committed to fighting hunger in a way that acknowledges dignity, equity and purpose.
Stay connected as we redefine food banking through the following initiatives:
- Listening to our neighbors – There’s power in the stories and experiences of our neighbors impacted by hunger. We must listen to the needs and concerns of those experiencing hunger in our community.
- Advocating together – We recognize that hunger is linked to inequitable systems that harm vulnerable populations. This is why we must advocate for policies that support our community. These policies include the Farm Bill, less restrictions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and advocating for a livable wage for all.
- Equitable approach – Equity acknowledges hunger is not a one-size fits all scenario. Everyone has a unique story and experience as it relates to hunger. This means we must look at potential barriers or gaps in the ways we serve. We’re moving towards a more inclusive approach that looks at dates and hours of operations for food assistance, geographical locations of food pantries, language translations, and dietary restrictions such as diabetic friendly foods, Kosher and Halal options to ensure everyone is served in a way that meets their needs.
Dare to Care Food Bank is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the Internal Revenue Service. View a copy of our IRS Form 990 and Audited Financial Statements.
View a copy of our most recent annual report and newsletter.
Government shutdown updates.
Programs
In addition to providing food to hundreds of emergency kitchens, shelters and food pantries, Dare to Care operates several programs targeting the most vulnerable in our community.
These programs include:
Kids Cafe
Delivers hot nutritious meals, prepared by our team, to after-school sites in our community to ensure children have the fuel they need to learn and thrive
School Programs
Connects students at risk of hunger with healthy, family-friendly foods in a school setting.
Summer Meals for Kids
Delivers breakfast, lunch and dinner to children across our community during the summer months, when access to nutritious food is more difficult for food insecure families
Cooking Matters
Empowers families with the skills, knowledge and confidence to prepare healthy and affordable meals
Prescriptive Pantry
Offers nutritious food to families visiting medical clinics to impact patients’ overall health
Mobile Pantry
Brings a pantry directly to a neighborhood, and provides fresh produce and other nutritious food items for our neighbors, in isolated pockets of need
Senior Outreach
Provides nutritionally-balanced food to seniors through mobile pantries and the Commodities Supplemental Food Program.
Zero Hunger Mobile Market
Brings a grocery store on wheels to neighborhoods that have limited or no access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutiritous foods.
Hunger 101
Hunger in our community
Dare to Care Food Bank leads our community to feed the hungry and conquer the cycle of need. We fulfill this mission through innovative programs, efficient operations and by partnering with local food pantries, shelters and kitchens to get food to people in need.
Kentucky
- Bullitt County
- Carroll County
- Henry County
- Jefferson County
- Olham County
- Shelby County
- Spencer County
- Trimble County
Indiana
Fact Sheets
- Hunger in KY Study
- Hunger in IN Study
- Child Food Insecurity Implications (PDF)
- Senior Hunger Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Map the Meal Gap Executive Summary (PDF)
- Childhood Hunger Newsletter: Indiana Youth Institute (PDF)
Web Resources
- Map the Meal Gap
- Feeding America
- United States Department of Agriculture
- Food Resource Action Center
- Kentucky Farms to Food Banks Program
- Kentucky Association of Food Banks
- Feeding Indiana’s Hungry
- World Food Programme
- Congressional Hunger Center
- Share Our Strength
- National Council for Aging Care – Senior Hunger
- RECALL: Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil
- RECALL: Product Removal Information – Yogi Echinacea Immune Support – 16 Tea Bags
- RECALL: Abdallah Candies-Sea Salt Almond Alligators
- RECALL: Tropicale Foods Recalls Helados Mexico Mini Cream Variety Pack Because of Possible Health Risk
- RECALL: Product Removal Information – True Goodness Organic Instant Oatmeal Variety Pack
Contact Us
Community Feedback
Thank you for contacting Dare to Care Food Bank! Share your feedback with us by submitting the form below or by emailing feedback@daretocare.org. Your response to this form will remain anonymous unless you would like a representative of Dare to Care to contact you.
If you are seeking food assistance, submit a response, call (502)966-3821, or search for a Dare to Care partner near you: https://daretocare.org/need-food/
Main Warehouse
Dare to Care Food Bank
5803 Fern Valley Road
Louisville, Kentucky 40228
Click for Directions
502.966.3821
502.966.3826 fax
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Thursday, 8:30am – 4:30pm
Friday, 8:30am – 1pm
Senior Outreach Warehouse
3360 Commerce Center Place
Louisville, KY 40211
Click for Directions
502.736.9916
Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday, 8:15am – 4:15pm (closed from 12pm – 1pm daily)
Dare to Care Community Kitchen
1200 South 28th Street
Louisville, Kentucky 40211
Click for Directions
Mailing Address
PO Box 35458
Louisville, Kentucky 40232
How can we help you?
Employment opportunities
Need food assistance? | 502.966.3821 | Food Assistance Request Form | |
Media relations | 502.440.3391 | Alexus Richardson | |
Volunteer opportunities | 502.736.9963 | Elaine Banter | |
Make a financial contribution | 502.966.3825 | Tanya Smith | |
Corporate partnerships | 502.736.9965 | Andrea Shepherd | |
Food industry donors | 502-736-9411 | Chad Lockyear | |
Food/fund drives and events | 502-890.5595 | Anna Foshee | |
Partner Development | 502.736.9918 | Trish Tobbe | |
Partner Development | 502.736.9915 | Clifton Griffin | |
Partner Development | 502.736.9423 | Maddie Monahan | |
Nutrition Education | 502.736.9418 | Kimberly Gravley | |
Senior Meals | 502.966.3823 | Sarah Collins | |
Youth Programs | 502.736.9414 | Mary Jo Mullen |
To reach a staff member not listed above, please call 502.966.3821.
Agency Partners
Working together to feed our community.
Dare to Care Food Bank reaches our neighbors experiencing food insecurity through our network of more than 200 dedicated Agency Partners, that are committed to food justice in Kentuckiana.
Agency Partners include food pantries, kitchens, residential facilities and shelters that are made up of nonprofit and faith-based organizations incorporated to serve neighbors in need. Dare to Care provides food from our inventory to these Agency Partners. In turn, these Agency Partners are on the front lines directly providing food assistance to our neighbors.
- Kitchens prepare meals and serve them at their location to anyone who comes to their site.
- Food Pantries serve people in need of food assistance by providing food to take home to prepare. Food pantries also include Distribution Centers or “super pantry” partners that have the capacity to serve neighbors several days a week and offer a variety of support services, in addition to food assistance, to their guests.
- Closed Networks provide food service to a defined group of people, typically individuals who are receiving other critical services and may otherwise have limited to access Dare to Care’s other partners. These partners are often made up of Residential Facilities and Shelters which operate food pantries and/or prepare meals.
Click here to view a list of all of Dare to Care’s public Agency Partners.
Interested in partnering with us?
If you organization is interested in partnering with Dare to Care as a food pantry, kitchen, residential facility, or shelter that operates a pantry or serves meals, please complete the Agency Partner Interest Form below or contact a member of the Partner Development Team for more information.
If you are interested in learning more about Dare to Care’s Programs (School Pantry Program, Kids Cafe, Summer Meals, Cooking Matters, Prescriptive Pantry, Senior Outreach, or Zero Waste Mobile Market) please visit Programs – Dare To Care.
If you are interested in hosting a Mobile Pantry, complete the Mobile Pantry Host Site Interest Form or visit Mobile Pantry – Dare To Care for more information.
Application Review & Onboarding Timeline for Agency Partners
Dare to Care’s fiscal year operates from July 1 – June 30.
July to September: Onboard New Partners
October to December: Interest Form Window Opens October 1 & Closes December 31
January to March: Interest Form Review Period & Organizations Informed of Next Steps
April to June: Formal Application Review Period, Site Visits, & Final Decisions