Food Assistance and Community Support Available Through FindHelpNow Kentucky

Kentuckians experiencing food insecurity can access immediate, local assistance through FindHelpNow Kentucky, an online tool that helps users quickly locate food, housing and other community resources by ZIP code or city. 

Developed by the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC), FindHelpNow Kentucky was launched in 2018 as a statewide, near‑real‑time resource to connect people to substance use disorder treatment. Since then, it has expanded to include mental health, recovery housing and broader community resource listings. It is maintained in partnership with state agencies and public health partners. The site’s model has been shared with other states and is supported through federal funding and cooperative agreements that enabled expansion.  

FindHelpNow is now a statewide, searchable locator covering all 120 Kentucky counties, providing real-time information on programs currently accepting clients. By entering a ZIP code or city name, users can quickly find nearby food pantries, backpack and after-school meal programs, congregate meal sites, emergency food box locations, affordable housing support, utility assistance, transportation options and related community resources. 

Each community resource listing on FindHelpNow Kentucky includes key details such as the program’s name, address, phone number, website and service category. This structure helps Kentuckians save time by allowing them to confirm location, contact information and service type before reaching out. 

How to use the service 

• Visit FindHelpNow.org and select Kentucky. 

• Select Community Resources at the top, enter a ZIP code or city, and select Basic Needs. 

• Use the Topic filter to narrow results by Food Assistance, Financial Assistance, Clothing or Housing. 

• Listings include contact details to help confirm services, hours and eligibility. 

• Share the link with students, clients and partners to raise awareness of local programs. 

KIPRC, a unique partnership between the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) and CPH, serves both as an academic injury prevention research center and as the DPH’s designee or “bona fide agent” for statewide injury prevention and control, focusing on injury prevention translation and practice. 

This project is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $5.4 million with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit CDC.gov.