Bowling Green empowerment group making a difference and Kentucky steps hosting food drive to benefit disabled, refugees & immigrants

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – One local group of volunteers and a nonprofit are coming together to help those in our community who need food this holiday season.

“The people that we serve often have more barriers to resources. Even when things are available, they may not have transportation or they may have communication issues or they may just be overwhelmed by the changes that are going on and not being able to access resources, so we just want to make sure that they don’t fall through the cracks and that they have what they need,” Debbie Garrett, a volunteer with the Bowling Green Empowerment Group Making a Difference who also works with Kentucky Steps, a local nonprofit that provides help to those with disabilities and refugees or immigrants in our community, says.

The two organizations are coming together to host a food drive to benefit those populations.

“Oftentimes, we can fill in the cracks for those people or they’re not being served with by others. This population being served by Kentucky Steps is perfect. They serve a population that they already know their income, they already know their needs, their challenges… they know the importance of keeping them stable and independent,” Empowerment Group founder Debbie Harwood says.

KY Steps works hands-on with these families, so they see the need firsthand, and stress the importance of donating.

“They have jobs, but sometimes they don’t have enough funds to be able to provide for the children. So it’s very important that they get all the food that they need, especially with the holidays, because the holidays come with happiness. Sometimes, it comes with sadness. So we just want to do anything we can as a community,” Irene Boamah, KY Steps executive director, says.

Garrett says donating will help these families meet their basic needs.

“It’s very important to make sure that they have food and what they need to get by daily and to be able to provide for their children and for their self. Some people are children with disabilities or adults with disabilities, and we just want to make sure they have what they need,” she says.

Harwood doesn’t want things to stack up for those who are already going through so much.

“We don’t want it to be a domino effect where if someone doesn’t get their full SNAP benefits, then they don’t buy medicine, or they don’t buy the proper nutrition they need… which is a domino effect. Some people may buy food instead of paying a utility bill. So anything that we can empower them and to prevent them from having any disruption and independent living and the goals that have been set for them,” she says.

You can drop off any items at Hills Mattress and More at 2539 Mount Victor Lane, or KY Steps’ Bowling Green offices: 2815 Russellville Road or 348 College Street, Suite 200.

They’re looking for items like canned meats (spam, tuna or chicken), canned fruits and veggies, boxed food items and non-perishables like cereals and crackers, peanut butter and jelly, ramen noodles and other dry pastas, canned chili and soups, or toiletries like toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant and lotion.