x
Breaking News
More () »

REACH! program delivers lunches of love for hungry families

Tracy Patton, founder of Tracy Patton Ministries and the REACH! Food Program, first lent her helping hand in 2015.

SCOTTSBURG, Ind. — A southern Indiana woman is leading the charge this summer in an effort to feed children who depend on free lunch throughout the school year.

Tracy Patton, founder of Tracy Patton Ministries and the REACH! Food Program, first lent her helping hand in 2015.

Since then, she’s recruited nearly 50 volunteers and they deliver to dozens of homes a day across 12 counties in southern Indiana, and two counties in Kentucky.

“Within our own reach are so many people, so many kids going to bed tonight hungry and if one can of food can keep one kid fed tonight, then we've done our job,” she explained.

Patton said she was picking her nephew up from school one Friday when she noticed children going home with backpacks full of food. That’s when she realized how hungry some children are.

She partners with more than 30 schools to identify families that need extra groceries each week, especially while school is out.

“You're so grateful you can feed someone, but on the other hand, you worry about them when you're not there,” she said.

The food comes from donation locations across Kentuckiana.

There are nine locations in southern Indiana, and one in Jefferson County.

BoomBozz on Veterans Parkway, for example, partners with REACH! and offers a discount on meals for bringing in a non-perishable item.

“They set up the bin, they do a lot of the work for you, and it's just.. if you have that spot, you can collect the food and also be a part of the community and the amazing things that they're doing,” said Sienna Palombino, who works at BoomBozz.

REACH! has helped hundreds of kids with food, school supplies, personal hygiene items and Christmas gifts.

It also connects families with other resources like food stamps and employment.

If you would like to get involved, click here.

►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.

 

Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.



Before You Leave, Check This Out