HOPKINSVILLE, KY – As the federal government shutdown stretches into its fifth week, The Salvation Army of Hopkinsville reports a continued surge in families seeking help with food and utility assistance.
Now entering the third week of its “Feed Hope. Share Love.” emergency food campaign, the Hopkinsville Corps has seen requests for food boxes, meal service, and grocery support rise three to five times higher than normal levels. With uncertainty surrounding the timing of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) payments, local families are also struggling to keep the heat on as nighttime temperatures drop into the 30s.
“Many of the same households that rely on SNAP benefits for food also depend on LIHEAP to heat their homes,” said Lt. David Donegan, Corps Officer of The Salvation Army of Hopkinsville. “If those programs remain delayed, families could be forced to choose between feeding their children or heating their homes. Our mission is to make sure no one has to make that choice, but we can only do it with the community’s help.”
Across the nation, The Salvation Army continues to experience increased demand as benefit delays and economic strain deepen. While the organization respectfully calls for swift federal resolution, its immediate focus remains on meeting urgent needs right here in Christian County and surrounding communities.
Growing local need
In Hopkinsville and the broader Pennyrile region, The Salvation Army provides daily Soup Kitchen meals, emergency food boxes, grocery gift cards, and utility assistance for families in crisis. Over the past month, the Corps has already distributed hundreds of additional food boxes beyond typical monthly levels, and the demand continues to rise each day.
One local mother, who previously stayed in The Salvation Army’s shelter with her children, had worked her way back to stability after successfully graduating from the Rapid Re-Housing program. She found steady employment and a new home, a story of resilience and hope the Hopkinsville Corps was proud to celebrate.
But with the prolonged shutdown, her hours have been cut, her savings are gone, and she once again finds herself in a difficult situation, this time unable to provide enough food for her children. Now, as the cold weather settles in, she faces the added worry of keeping her home warm. Once again, she has turned to The Salvation Army for help. Volunteers have stepped in with groceries and heating assistance, ensuring her children will have food and warmth while she works to get back on her feet.
“Her story reminds us that hardship doesn’t always disappear, sometimes it circles back,” Lt. Donegan said. “But when it does, The Salvation Army is still here. That’s what community looks like.”
How to Help
The Salvation Army of Hopkinsville continues to serve anyone in need, regardless of background or circumstance, but community support is urgently needed to sustain these efforts.
The most effective way to help right now is through financial contributions, which stay entirely local and allow staff to purchase food and assist families with utilities as needs arise.
Donations can be made in the following ways:
- By mail: The Salvation Army of Hopkinsville, PO Box 427, Hopkinsville, KY 42241
- In person: 313 East 7th Street, Hopkinsville, KY 42240
- Online: The Salvation Army of Hopkinsville website
- Food donations are also gratefully accepted at the Corps office during regular business hours.
“The need in our community continues to grow, but so does the generosity of our neighbors,” Lt. Donegan added. “We are humbled by the support we’ve received so far and know Hopkinsville will continue to come together to care for one another — especially as we approach the holiday season.”
The Salvation Army of Hopkinsville remains steadfast in its mission: to meet human needs in His name without discrimination, serving those struggling to secure life’s essentials — food, warmth, and hope.