Dare to Care: Child's death on Thanksgiving Day ignited decades-long fight against hunger
On Thanksgiving Day 1969, Courier Journal readers picked up their morning paper to learn a young child in our community died of malnutrition. Bobby Ellis was 9 years old and weighed just 30 pounds when police carried him through the doors of General Hospital.
The news echoed through Louisville homes, around Thanksgiving meals, and in the prayers of our congregations. “Unthinkable,” people would say, that a child in our community died of hunger. A child, a symbol of innocence and hope for the future, had been deprived of all he represented.
Kentuckiana decided this would not happen again. People came together from every faith, political party and zip code, calling on their community to “Dare to Care.”
Bobby Ellis’s death cast a light on food insecurity in our communities
Fifty-four years later, Dare to Care Food Bank works tirelessly to illuminate the darkness by empowering, informing, and feeding our neighbors in Kentuckiana. Still, the shadow of Bobby’s would-be future hangs heavy on us all.
The number of people living in food-insecure households in the United States grew drastically in 2022. In the U.S. 1 in 7 people, including 1 in 5 children live in food insecure households, according to USDA.
Everyone must help: Ending food insecurity requires power in numbers
Dare to Care and our partners have witnessed this firsthand. Our community has seen a 30% increase in neighbors seeking food assistance in the past year as public benefits declined and food prices increased.
Acting as a community will help ensure our neighbors, our loved ones and all who face hunger have access to nutritious food.
Check in on friends and family this holiday season
Entering the holiday season, you’ll have more opportunities to check in with family and friends. The underlying causes of food insecurity – unemployment, poverty and inconsistent access to food – are often difficult to address alone. Making a connection and sharing a resource can be an easy first step.
Grow your knowledge of Louisville's resources and solutions
More than 300 partners in Kentuckiana are on a zero-hunger mission. They are strategically located to engage every corner of our communities, from English Indiana to Carlton Kentucky. Dare to Care offers an interactive map to find local resources and its Facebook page also offers consistent updates.
Advocate for government programs to help feed your neighbors
Federal lawmakers are empowered with the ability to support and expand government programs that supply your neighbors with healthy food. Help them see the united voice in our community that is working to end hunger.
Looking to give back? Here are 22 places to donate in Louisville
Become a Dare to Care Ambassador
Dare to Care and its partners work to empower people to share their collective mission and educate others on food insecurity in our communities. You can attend an event, volunteer with your friends and family, host a food or fund drive, host your own event and get your business involved to offer additional support to your neighbors.
Donate to a Dare to Care Food Bank
This is one of the most needed sources of support. When you donate, you’re giving Dare to Care the ability to purchase the most needed items to support the nutritional needs of our communities. A donation to Dare to Care, no matter the size, is a commitment to a healthier, stronger community. Donate today.
Vincent James, Sr. is the President and CEO of Dare to Care Food Bank. He joined the team in October 2021, having previously served as Louisville Metro’s Chief of Community Building. James has a strong background and history of leadership experience in the private, faith and public sectors. To learn more about Dare to Care visit daretocare.org.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Thanksgiving tragedy led to Dare to Care. We need it more than ever
