AMERICA IS one of the most food-abundant countries in the world. However, according to a 2023 Gallup survey, the U.S. scored at the top of the Group of Seven countries with the highest rate of people struggling to afford enough food to feed themselves and their families. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that 47.4 million people lived in food-insecure households in 2023. This issue affects millions of Americans who don’t have enough food to eat or lack access to healthy food.
Despite the uphill battle against hunger in America, nonprofits like Bowling Green’s House on the Hill (HOTH) are fighting tirelessly to ensure their community is well-fed.
Along with food, HOTH helps provide affordable housing for low- to moderate-income individuals and families in need within the community. The organization’s website states that each HOTH initiative is designed to help families and individuals on a path to self-sustainability by giving them the tools and opportunities to get there.
HOTH is board-directed and volunteer-run and operates through the generosity of others and the partnerships they build within the communities they serve. THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX HOTH Executive Director Joel Hawkins said that, initially, the organization had been helping with food insecurity by providing food boxes each month. While this was helpful and well received by the community, they felt that they could reach more people by literally thinking outside of the boxes of the food they were distributing.
“We realized that in the area of Richardsville, where the grocery store is located, there were a large number of clients that were spread out,” he explained. “It took those delivering the boxes a long time to drop them off. So, we talked about what it would look like if they had a shopping experience where they would still receive food, but they’d have the opportunity to choose what they wanted instead of getting a prescribed food box. So, we acquired our little store space. We have a produce and dairy section and provide staples like flour, sugar, rice, and oats — pretty much anything you’d get in a grocery store. They come and choose what they need or want based on the size of their family.”
Hawkins said the program kicked off in October and was piloted for 60 days to see what the response would be from recipients. While they accomplished their mission of feeding those in need, they also realized that the small grocery store was becoming a beacon for the community.
“We began to see that the community was gathering around the grocery store. Locals would drop off farm-fresh eggs,” he explained. “A pork farmer in the area brought us packaged pork products such as sausage, pork chops, and bacon. We’ve really seen the community, outside of our clients, coming together and supporting what we’re doing.”
Hawkins added that the strong sense of community around the grocery store is building stronger relationships.
“We’ve had more time for conversations with those that come in,” he said. “We get to know them, and they get to know us. We’ve also realized in those conversations what their needs are and what they’re going through. Through these conversations, we can get a better understanding of where our clients are in their [lives] and what needs they may have other than food, such as housing and utilities.” THE MISSION GROWS While thrilled with the grocery store’s success, Hawkins said the organization wanted to benefit the community more than just by giving food; it wanted to teach them how to grow it.
Following the 60-day pilot of the grocery store, HOTH took a leap and purchased the land on which it sits.
They will use the 1.4 acres of land for numerous community benefits. “Once we finished the pilot, we decided that if we’re going to do this, we need to do it long term,” said Hawkins. “We started discussing what would be helpful in the community and how [we] could partner more with the school when it comes to food and access to food for families.”
Since purchasing the property, HOTH has begun installing raised garden beds. They are also working to start a 4-H club that will be able to take part in outdoor gardening classes and offer additional opportunities for the public to enjoy the land.
“We have plans to build a pavilion for outdoor classes,” said Hawkins. “But the extra benefit is that the community could come for a family gathering or event. We also have plans to make community garden plots that people can register for.” MORE LAND, MORE FOOD, MORE OPPORTUNITY Riding the excitement of the success of the grocery store and the possibilities of the organization’s recently purchased land, HOTH is already looking to spread the benefit of a community garden.
“We’re already looking at our next location so we can replicate this in another part of our community where we have a concentration of our clients,” explained Hawkins. “We’d love for every store to have the garden aspect [and] some kind of community spot. Whether it’s a pavilion or a place for gathering as a part of that property, our goal is to have five of those within our community over the next couple of years.”
Hawkins added that they will continue to offer food boxes to the disabled or elderly. The mission is still to feed as many as HOTH is able.
Those looking to lend a helping hand to HOTH’s work can do so in several ways. In addition to volunteering, the organization offers a household sponsorship campaign. “Anyone can sponsor a household for $300 a year,” Hawkins explained. “That’s $25 a month — less than a dollar a day. It’s actually about 82 cents a day. That money, or household sponsorship, provides the food box or access to the free grocery store in their area. It also assists with housing.” GN
