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Destination Community Church Steps Up in Completing the Funding for the 2023 School Year
Destination Community Church donates $5000.00 to the Soul Food program.
For more information on Soul Food visit www.soulfoodkentucky.com or www.facebook.com/soulfoodkentucky
People's Bank Awards $2,500 to Soul Food and Joins in the Packing
Soul Food was awarded $2,500 from People's Bank for its backpack program. Nikki Shepherd, branch manager in Prestonsburg, presented the check. After presenting the check Nikki and her children went to work in helping pack the bags.
People's Bank provides charitable giving to the communities they serve to assist organizations that are seeking to improve the quality of life for individuals and families.
For more information on Soul Food visit www.soulfoodkentucky.com or www.facebook.com/soulfoodkentucky
Floyd County Community Foundation Awards $7,000 to Soul Food
Soul Food was awarded $5,000 for their school backpack food program. The program is 100 percent volunteer-led and incurs no administrative costs. Volunteers are responsible for ordering food, picking up food, packing food, and delivering food to the Family Resource Departments at Floyd County schools.
“Food insecurity is a problem that is consistently front-of-mind for our region,” said Floyd County Foundation Chair Ellen Harris. “We are proud to support an organization that is ensuring our children are not going hungry on the weekends.”
For more information on Soul Food visit www.soulfoodkentucky.com or www.facebook.com/soulfoodkentucky
ARH gives to Soul Food
April 20, 2022 By Trevor Thacker
Staff Writer Floyd Chronicle and Times
Appalachian Regional Healthcare recently made a donation in the amount of $3,000 to Soul Food, a non-profit organization located in Prestonsburg, which helps feed children in Floyd and Johnson counties while sharing a Christian message.
According to the organization’s website, 22 percent or (222,380) of Kentucky’s children face hunger and go without adequate amounts of food. Hunger can affect children physically, emotionally and socially.
Many children in Eastern Kentucky rely on the meals they receive at school as their main source of nutrition. However, according to Soul Food officials, on weekends, students don’t receive those meals. That’s where Soul Food comes in — Citing a lack of collaboration between outreach programs and schools, Soul Food works with schools to provide food for students on weekends to make sure they don’t go hungry, all while spreading the message of Christ.
For more information on Soul Food visit www.soulfoodkentucky.com or www.facebook.com/soulfoodkentucky
Floyd Chamber holds awards banquet
Nov 10, 2021 By Trevor Thacker
News Editor, Floyd Chronicle and Times
The Floyd County Chamber of Commerce held it awards banquet Thursday night on the campus of Big Sandy Community and Technical College.
Not only were awards presented, the new officers for the upcoming year were also announced.
The following recipients won awards:
• Chamber Excellence Award was presented to Phillip Ramey of Signature Healthcare.
• Community Service Award was presented to Soul Food, award accepted by Susan Holderby.
• MVP Award was presented to Ellen Harris owner of Century 21, Prestonsburg, Ky.
• Horizon Award was presented to Alexis Reed of Sugar Magnolias.
• Chamber Partner in Education award was presented to Gearheart Communications, accepted by Heath Wiley and Heather Gearheart.
• Floyd County Hall of Fame award was presented to John and Jean Rosenberg
• Floyd Countian of the Year award was presented to Floyd County Judge Executive Robbie Williams.
was Business Person of The year award was presented to Thursa Sloan, Director of the Floyd County Health Department.
• Business of The Year award was presented to People’s Bank, award accepted by: Nikki Shepherd, Robert Allen and Heather Wilder.
Peoples bank donates to Soul Food
Dec 30, 2020 By Austin Blankenship
Staff Writer, Floyd Chronicle and Times
On Dec. 21, Soul Food, a local non-profit, received a donation from the Prestonsburg People's Bank for more than $800 to help combat hunger for children in the area who would otherwise go hungry on the weekends.
According to branch manager for the Prestonsburg Peoples Bank Nikki Shepherd, one of the focuses for Peoples Bank and its community outreach is hunger awareness. Because of that and knowing hunger has been a huge need during this time, and throughout 2020, the bank has been making donations to local food banks.
"This just our way of trying to give back," Shepherd said. "We do fundraising throughout the year and a lot of the funds have actually been raised by our employees themselves."
According to her, employees at the bank pay money in order to be allowed to wear jeans to work and all of that money she added, goes towards raising hungry awareness.
Soul Food founder Alisa Gound said she is very honored and appreciative for Peoples Bank's donation of approximately $825 which will help kids in the area have food on the weekends.
According to her, Soul Food is a non-profit organization that provides food for children throughout the weekends. This process, Gound said, is accomplished by working with the area schools, which distribute those meals to children who would normally go hungry during the weekends.
For more information on Soul Food visit www.facebook.com/soulfoodkentucky or www.soulfoodkentucky.com
Prestonsburg, Car Guys for Life donate to Soul Food
Dec 2, 2020 Floyd Chronicle and Times
On Tuesday, Nov. 24, the City of Prestonsburg and representatives from Car Guys for Life donated a check to Soul Food, a nonprofit organization which helps feed hungry children in Floyd and Johnson counties. Pictured, from left to right, are Jenny Wiley Festival Chair James Allen, Ronald Garret and Shawn Woods from Car Guys for Life, and Alisa Gound from Soul Food. The check was for monies raised during a recent car show, which was rescheduled from its original date during the Jenny Wiley Festival, and was for more than $1,000. According to Gound, that donation will help the organization feed nine children, every weekend, throughout the school year. Gound said Soul Food works with the school district to identify those children with the most need so they can help provide meals to those children who would normally go hungry. In Floyd County alone, Gound said the organization helps feed nearly 200 children. For information on Soul Food, or how you can help, visit, www.soulfoodkentucky.com or www.facebook.com/soulfoodkentucky
Helping children in need
Nov 26, 2019 by Mary Meadows, Appalachian Newspapers
Nikki Shepherd, assistant vice president/branch manager of People’s in Prestonsburg, presents a $750 donation to Brian Conn, a volunteer at Soul Food, a nonprofit organization that provides food to students in need in Floyd and Johnson counties. Shepherd said the donation is part of a larger community service effort of People’s Bank to help food pantries in the area. Conn, the regional director of digital sales for Appalachian Newspapers, said it will help Soul Food continue its mission. “Soul Food appreciates Peoples Bank for their dedication to the community in recognizing our food ministry and what we do for the children of Floyd and Johnson counties,” he said in an email. “Their donation will help further our cause of feeding children in Eastern Kentucky on the weekends that might otherwise go hungry.”
For more information visit www.soulfoodkentucky.com or www.facebook.com/soulfoodkentucky
Appalachian Newspapers photo by Mary Meadows
Race raises $2,500 for children in need
November 7, 2018 A Floyd Chronicle
and Times Staff Report
Soul Food, an organization that provides food to children in need in Floyd and Johnson counties, raised $2,500 during its “Climb Your Mountain” 5K/14K. More than 30 people participated in the race, held at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park and the Sugarcamp Mountain Trails on Stonecrest on Oct. 27. All proceeds will benefit Soul Food, a nonprofit organization that provides food to children enrolled in schools in Floyd and Johnson counties.
Soul Food works to “share the love of Christ and feed children in Eastern Kentucky who would otherwise go hungry on weekends.”
It was founded in 2014 by Alisa and Bob Gound of Johnson County and it expanded to Floyd County in 2016.
Students at several Floyd County schools receive free food to take home every weekend because of Soul Food.
The food is bought with donations and packed by volunteers. Last year, Soul Food provided nearly 18,000 food and drink items to children in need.
Tax-deductible donations may be mailed to Soul Food at, P.O. Box 927, Staffordsville, KY 41265. For more information, visit the Soul Food Facebook www.facebook/soulfoodkentucky page or website at www.soulfoodkentucky.com
‘Climb Your Mountain’ to benefit Soul Food this weekend
October 24, 2018 A Floyd Chronicle and Times Staff Report
An organization that provides food to children in need in Floyd and Johnson counties is asking local residents to “Climb Your Mountain” this weekend.
The “Climb Your Mountain 5K/14K & Trail Hike” will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27, at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park.
The races start at the Stratton boat ramp, where the old swimming pool is located at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park and the hike will begin at the Sugar Camp Mountain Trailhead.
The 5K and 14K include races treks up the mountain. The trail hike will start at the Sugar Camp Mountain Trail Head and descend down to the mountain and participants will receive a shuttle back to their car.
Registration begins at 7 a.m. for the hike at the trail head, and the hike will start at 8 a.m.
Registration will begin at 7 a.m. for the races at the old pool and those races will begin at 9 a.m.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in male and female categories, and age division medals will also be awarded.
All proceeds will benefit Soul Food, a nonprofit organization that provides food to children enrolled in schools in Floyd and Johnson counties. The organization provided nearly 18,000 food and drink items to children in need last year.
For more information, search for “Climb Your Mountain” at, tristateracer.com, or visit Soul Food on Facebook.
Surprised
Oct 19, 2018 Floyd Chronicle and Times
Karen Paige-Hall, a Family Resource Youth Service Center assistant, shows her surprise when Prestonsburg Mayor Les Stapleton presents a $200 donation from the city to Soul Food.
Festival raises funds for Soul Food
Oct 18, 2018 By Mary Meadows
Staff Writer, Floyd Chronicle and Times
The city of Prestonsburg and the Jenny Wiley Festival Committee raised funds during last week’s festival for Soul Food, a nonprofit organization that provides food to children in need.
During an Oct. 15 Prestonsburg City Council meeting, Mayor Les Stapleton and City Comptroller Michael Ellis presented checks to local Family Resource Youth Service Center officials who receive food from Soul Food and distribute it to Floyd County students in need.
The donation totaled $900, with $700 coming from the Jenny Wiley Festival Car Show and $200 coming from the city.
Soul Food works to “share the love of Christ and feed children in Eastern Kentucky who would otherwise go hungry on weekends.” The organization was founded in 2014 by Alisa and Bob Gound of Johnson County and it expanded into Floyd County in 2016.
Stapleton said Soul Food can purchase enough food to feed one child for an entire school year with every donation of $120.
Karen Paige-Hall, a Family Resource Youth Service Center assistant in Floyd County, became emotional when she talked about how these donations will help children.
“We have 171 children in Floyd County and every Friday they go home with a bag of-I’m going to get emotional because these children,” she said.
“It’s okay,” Stapleton told her.
She continued, “They make sure they come and get their bag of food, and we have children that make sure their little brothers and sisters (get it).They’ll say, ‘Look at your list. Is my little brother in here?’ Because they need this food. They really need this food. This goes so far in helping, and we really appreciate it so much.”
For more information about Soul Food, visit its Facebook page www.facebook.com/soulfoodkentucky or website at www.soulfoodkentucky.com
Appalachian Wireless raises $13K for Soul Food
Jun 19, 2018 An Appalachian Newspapers Staff Report
Appalachian Wireless raised nearly $13,000 to help feed children this month.
The company hosted its 12th annual Community Outreach Golf Benefit at Stonecrest on June 8, raising $12,915 for Soul Food, a nonprofit organization that provides food to children in Floyd and Johnson counties so they don’t go hungry on weekends.
“Appalachian Wireless prides itself on community involvement and helping to ensure those in our coverage area have the same opportunities as people in larger metropolitan areas,” a statement from the company said. “The Annual Community Outreach Golf Benefit is a way for Appalachian Wireless to invite as many of our local businesses customers as possible to an event as a thank you for being our customers. These businesses provide the donations that fund each year’s selected
charity.”
The company reported that it worked with sponsors Samsung, Ingram, LG, Sonim, Transaction Network and Pepsi to secure the donation for Soul Food. The charity was selected after a review process that last several months.
“Appalachian Wireless strives to select a charity that provides service to recipients who live and work in our service area. The selection process is lengthy, and selection is based on factors such as charity size, operating budget, employee/volunteer ratio and the charity’s financial need,” the statement said. “After months of reviewing charities, the management team at Appalachian Wireless chose Soul Food to be the recipient of this year’s charity golf scramble donation. When we heard about Soul Food we knew we wanted to know more about their cause.”
Soul Food works to “share the love of Christ and feed children in Eastern Kentucky who would otherwise go hungry on weekends.”
The organization was founded in 2014 by Alisa and Bob Gound of Johnson County and it expanded into Floyd County in 2016. It now provides food every Friday to 170 students enrolled in all Johnson County schools and at Prestonsburg and Allen elementary schools in Floyd County. The food is made available through donations and is packed by volunteers at Highland Elementary and Prestonsburg Health Care.
Alisa Goud reported that this donation from Appalachian Wireless will feed 108 children every weekend this school year. It costs an average of $120 to give weekend food to one child annually, she reported.
“We are just so grateful and thankful. It would not be possible without donations,” she said. “I know with Appalachian Wireless, there are so many other organizations they could have chosen to give to, and we’re just so thankful they chose Soul Food.”
She said she launched the organization after learning from a Johnson County teacher about a child who was “starving at home.” That child still receives help from Soul Food, she reported.
Appalachian Wireless also gives out $8,000 yearly in academic scholarships to graduating seniors and it supports other nonprofit organizations, charities and schools.
“Appalachian Wireless believes in shop local, live local,” the company said in its statement. “We all succeed when we support each other.”
Donations may be mailed to, Soul Food at 5204 KY Route 321, Prestonsburg, KY 41653
For more information about Soul Food, visit the organization’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/soulfoodkentucky or visit www.soulfoodkentucky.com. For more information about Appalachian Wireless, visit appalachianwireless.com.