How Kirksey United Methodist Church Is Fighting Food Insecurity in Rural Kentucky
On a chilly Sunday morning in Calloway County, Kentucky, the sanctuary of Kirksey United Methodist Church hums with quiet activity. About 25 people gather for worship, but once a month the church transforms. Volunteers set up tables, organize baskets, and prepare breakfast while cars line up outside for drive-through food distribution. A blessing box stands ready for anyone in need.
Through these efforts, Kirksey feeds more than bodies—it strengthens community, offering connection, dignity, and support in a region where food insecurity is real. This growth has been made possible through the support of ENCORE Ministry Foundation.
“There’s just a huge need in our county for food,” says Michael Kemp, the church’s program contact. “A lot of people simply don’t have enough money to pay for it.”
From Breakfast to Full-Service Ministry
Kirksey’s food ministry began simply. About a decade ago, the church started hosting a community breakfast inspired by similar efforts in nearby towns. Eggs, biscuits, and coffee brought people together around a shared table.
Over time, volunteers began noticing deeper needs. Donations of canned goods and dry staples filled the church’s blessing box. The ministry gradually expanded into a monthly drive-through food distribution held alongside the breakfast. Families could pick up groceries without leaving their cars and stay for a meal and fellowship if they wished.
Before receiving grant support, however, the program had limits. Donations and leftover breakfast funds supported only 25 baskets per month. Providing consistent, high-protein foods like meat and eggs was difficult, and homebound seniors could not be served regularly.
“When a church our size gets a grant that large, it’s like the Super Bowl for us,” Kemp says, describing the $5,000 Food Security Grant from ENCORE Ministry Foundation.
A Game-Changer for Nutrition and Reach
The grant allowed Kirksey to expand intentionally and sustainably. The church can now provide nutritionally balanced baskets that include higher-protein items. Just as important, volunteers can deliver food directly to seniors who cannot drive.
“Without this grant, we couldn’t provide consistent, nutritious food or reach homebound seniors,” Kemp says. “It allowed us to turn a small breakfast into a ministry that can serve our community for years to come.”
The results are measurable. In December 2025, Kirksey served 22 families, including 15 seniors and two home deliveries. By January 2026, that number rose to 26 families, including 21 seniors and four home deliveries. Over the past year, more than 250 individuals across 100 families received support.
Behind each number is a neighbor—someone living on a fixed income, choosing between groceries and other essential expenses. Most recipients are older adults.
“We’re really supporting a senior ministry,” Kemp explains. “They just don’t have enough money for food.”
Serving Seniors with Dignity
Kirksey does not require income verification. If someone lives in the county and needs food, they are served. This approach preserves dignity and reduces barriers.
For many seniors, the monthly breakfast and distribution provide more than nutrition. They offer conversation, prayer, and human connection. Volunteers build relationships with neighbors who might otherwise experience isolation.
This relational foundation makes the ministry sustainable. What began as a meal has become a trusted network of care—one rooted in presence as much as provision.
Looking Ahead
Kirksey’s next goal is to serve 40 households each month while maintaining the nutritional quality of its baskets and building additional community support beyond the grant period.
Kemp offers simple advice to other congregations considering similar work: start small.
“Start with the breakfast. Gather people around a table. Connection reveals need. From that need, sustainable ministry can grow.”
In a town of only a few hundred residents, Kirksey United Methodist Church demonstrates that impact is not measured by size. Through steady commitment and careful stewardship, this small congregation strengthens food security—one breakfast, one basket, and one neighbor at a time.
At the heart of that growth stands ENCORE Ministry Foundation, whose investment has transformed a modest outreach into a sustainable food ministry serving older adults with dignity and care.
About ENCORE Ministry Foundation
ENCORE Ministry Foundation equips congregations to serve older adults through grants, partnerships, leadership development, and age-friendly church certifications. In 2026, the foundation awarded $100,000 to 20 churches through the Kent and Ellen McNish Food Security Grant, supporting food distribution ministries for older adults facing hunger.
To learn more or support the Food Security Fund, visit encoreministry.org or contact Executive Director John Rivas at .
