It's estimated that 700,000 Kentuckians are food insecure, meaning they don't always know where their next meal will come from.

That's something state lawmakers and anti-hunger advocates hope to change with the help from everyday citizens.

We're here today united with the mission of ending hunger so no child, senior or other Kentuckian will ever have to experience hunger no matter their situation.

And while we would like to say that the demand for food assistance is declining, the truth is it's not.

Kentucky has the highest rate in the entire nation of food insecurity.

Kentucky's at 17%.

The National average is 10%.

One in every seven Kentuckians don't always have enough food or enough nutritious food.

Week to week, nearly 700,000 Kentuckians.

That means we all know not just one, but many people who are food insecure or that go hungry.

Sadly, this epidemic doesn't spare our children either.

About 200,000 or one in six of Kentucky's children lack access to enough food to live an active and healthy life.

We can do better.

We have to work together to end hunger.

Hunger doesn't have boundaries.

It doesn't care what your political party is.

It doesn't care what your zip code is.

And it affects every single community across Kentucky.

With tornadoes and floods and now inflation.

Kentuckians sometimes for the first time in their life, are going to food pantries because they need a little extra help.

They're not always that person holding a sign asking for food.

Most often, they're people who go to work every day.

The face of hunger isn't easily identified just by some how someone looks.

The charitable food system can, in hunger alone.

This is something we have to rise up against.

Donate food to local pantry.

You can't donate food.

Maybe donate some money as well.

If you can't donate food or money, consider donating your time.

Let's take.

Action.

Let's use every resource available to us to fight hunger because it is truly more blessed to give than receive.

According to Feeding America, Kentucky counties with the highest rate of food insecurity include Clay, Buffett, Magoffin, Harlan and Wolfe Counties.