Program created to help reduce poverty in Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Leaders from across Bowling Green are examining how the city and local non-profits can better serve those experiencing material poverty.

Material poverty includes food insecurity, homelessness, and hunger.

The effort to help those in need is underway in Bowling Green to align many different groups under one goal.

One in four people living in Bowling Green in material poverty according Karen Foley, the neighborhood services coordinator for the city of Bowling Green.

“We are studying material poverty here in Bowling Green and as part of that study we are trying to evaluate what we are doing well and we are trying to, as we go along, we are going to figure out what are the best practices, what are the best ways that we can align our efforts so that we can make really positive impacts on addressing material poverty here in Bowling Green,” said Foley.

Over the past few months, leaders from Bowling Green’s city government, nonprofits, businesses, and faith communities have participated in an assessment process that looks at the health and effectiveness of how poverty is being addressed in Bowling Green.

The goal is for the organizations within the city to help people in need and give all people a chance to flourish in a campaign called Flourish BG.

Steve Pankey, the Rector for Christ Episcopal Church in Bowling Green has noticed a growth in poverty in the area recently and is one of the leaders involved in Flourish BG.

“Those who are hungry, food insecure, experiencing homelessness – we just think that we can have an impact on not only those downtown but in the wider city of Bowling Green if we work together,” said Pankey.

Pankey said the program is coming in three phases.

“The three phases are assessment, alignment and activation. This is the end of the assessment phase so that we can all align around the same goals and then begin to activate and work in that direction,” said Pankey.

In the direction where everyone has a chance to flourish in Bowling Green.

Over 60 organizations in Bowling Green participated in the assessment facilitated by a cohort called City Shapers, a group made up of 45 leaders from the city.