Leveraging Community Connections: Collaborative Food Delivery to Appalachian Families In Brief

Save the Children, in partnership with Amazon, Midwest Food Bank, Christ’s Hands, and local school districts, piloted a “last mile” home delivery program to address food insecurity in rural eastern Kentucky. From March 2023 to August 2024, the initiative provided weekly grocery boxes—equivalent to 16 meals—to 1,000 households and 2,700 children across Harlan and Bell Counties, areas of persistent poverty with some of the nation’s highest food insecurity rates. Over 63 deliveries, more than one million meals were distributed, with 97 percent of caregivers reporting the food was healthy. Families reported saving an average of $67 and 78 minutes weekly, alongside reduced stress, greater access to fresh foods, and eased financial strain. Key lessons highlight the importance of strong partnerships with schools for identifying families in need, flexibility in responding to shifting family circumstances, and collaboration among local partners. Families expressed preference for home delivery and perishable foods, underscoring the value of tailoring interventions to community needs. This community-driven model demonstrates how direct food delivery can overcome transportation and access barriers, offering a scalable approach to reducing rural food insecurity.