When the Safety Net Changes, JFCS Is Here.
When the Safety Net Changes, JFCS Is Here
Across our community, many of our neighbors are facing new uncertainty around the programs they rely on for food, healthcare and financial stability. Many of these changes begin today, October 1st.
As of June 2026, nearly 44,000 Kentuckians have lost SNAP food assistance, including more than 10,000 children. Changes to SNAP eligibility may affect even more families, older adults and immigrants.
Beginning October 1st, some immigrants in Kentucky, including refugees, asylees and certain survivors of trafficking and domestic violence, will also face changes to Medicaid eligibility.
We are already seeing the need grow
At JFCS, these challenges are not just numbers. We are seeing the impact in our own community.
Over the past few months, the Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry has seen a 25% increase in the pounds of food distributed to our neighbors. As more families face changes to benefits and rising household expenses, we expect that need to continue.
And our community has already shown what is possible when we respond together.
During this year’s High Holiday Food Drive, local synagogues and community members donated an incredible 8,700 pounds of food to the Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry. We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming response. Those donations are already helping JFCS meet the growing need.
But this cannot be a one-time response.
As the needs of our neighbors continue to grow, this same spirit of community action will be essential. We will need food donations, financial support, volunteers and people willing to share JFCS resources with neighbors who may need them.
And because food insecurity is often connected to other challenges, JFCS is here with more than groceries. Our wraparound services help individuals and families address financial instability, employment, mental health, aging, transportation, and the challenges immigrants and refugees may face as they build stability in our community.
At JFCS, we believe our neighbors should have somewhere to turn when life becomes difficult.
That is why we look at the whole person and the whole family, not simply the immediate need that first brings someone to us.
Every day, JFCS helps people throughout our community through Family Stability, including emergency assistance, financial coaching and the Sonny & Janet Meyer Food Pantry; Clinical Services, including counseling, psychiatry and support groups; Career & Economic Opportunity, helping people find employment and build financial stability; Immigrant & Refugee Services, helping newcomers build stable lives in our community; Klein Older Adult Services, providing care navigation, transportation, social connection, caregiver support and nonmedical homecare; and Jewish Life & Volunteerism, creating opportunities for connection, service and community.
Someone may first come to us because they need groceries. Someone else may need a therapist, assistance finding a job, transportation to an appointment or guidance caring for an aging parent.
Whatever brings someone to JFCS, they do not have to figure out what comes next alone.
One Place to Turn. At Every Step.
As the needs of our community grow and change, JFCS is committed to being here.
If you need support, JFCS is here. Start with us, and we’ll help you find the next step.
If you can help, we need YOU. Your support ensures our neighbors continue to have one place to turn at every step.
Life’s challenges rarely happen one at a time. Neither should the support we provide.