Cincinnati Bengals player helps combat food insecurity in Ashland

ASHLAND, Ky. (WOWK) — The United Way of Northeast Kentucky partnered with NFL cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt to host Huddle for Hunger on Saturday.

Attendees and donors had the opportunity to meet and greet Taylor-Britt, along with a chance to win raffles.

According to Feeding America, Kentucky is the seventh most food-insecure state in the country.

Marshall Tyson, the CEO of the United Way of Northeast Kentucky, said it’s important to help combat this serious problem.

“We know so many people suffer in silence. And so we want to make sure that we can meet those needs of people in our community,” Tyson said.

That’s why Taylor-Britt came to town to help the 16% of those who live in Boyd County who don’t always get enough to eat.

“We have a lot of food insecurity in our area and having him come out and help raise thousands and thousands of pounds of food for our community,” said Mike Maynard, executive director of Hillcrest Bruce Mission. “That just shows how much other people aside here love, love our community.”

Over 2,000 pounds of food were collected Saturday, all of which will be donated to food banks and distributed.

“So, all of the food collected here today will help us to provide for those needs,” said Brittany Brown, the program coordinator for the Ashland Youth Services Center. “I know just at my school alone, we send 60 bags home and every weekend.”

Tyson said he hopes one-day drives like this will no longer be a necessity and that there will be enough food inside communities.