GCHS student spearheading effort to raise hunger awareness & highlight need for healthy donations to food pantry

A Grayson County High School student is spearheading a charge to raise awareness about hunger in the community and the need for donations of healthy foods to the Grayson County Alliance (GCA) Food Pantry.

Junior Daniel Ratley is raising hunger awareness and the need for sugar-free and low-sodium donations to GCA. The impetus behind Daniel’s healthy food campaign was a Doctors Mody Service-Learning grant from Western Kentucky University he recently received to promote education and healthy food donations.

Additionally, he is seeking to educate the community in general concerning healthy food options and promote volunteerism among Grayson County youth.

Grayson County Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson signed an official proclamation, authored by Daniel, to support GCA through a Hungry Free Awareness campaign designated for the week of April 14 to 21.

Daniel, along with GCA Executive Director Debbie Childress, is asking Grayson County residents and community leaders to wear orange on April 15 to recognize the serious issue of hunger.

Ratley, a long-time food pantry volunteer, said: “Hunger is a health issue,” as he strongly encourages young people and the community to step up to the plate and donate healthy foods to GCA.

“In 2020, Drs. Bharat and Bharati Mody established The Mody Endowed Fund in Service Learning at The Center for Gifted Studies with the hope of passing on their lifelong commitment to serving their communities and sparking a passion for volunteerism among high-achieving young people,” according to The Center of Gifted Studies at WKU. “As part of this initiative, The Center offers two competitions for young people who wish to develop an original service learning project or to develop and expand an existing project in response to a specific need in their community.”

(Photo l-r: GCA Exec. Director Debbie Childress, Judge-Exec. Kevin Henderson and GCHS junior Daniel Ratley witness Henderson signing a proclamation in support of GCA through a Hungry Awareness campaign)

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com