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Lexington chef lobbies D.C. lawmakers for federal food programs
By John McGary
July 15, 2025 at 11:32 AM EDT
A Lexington chef traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to ask Kentucky lawmakers to restore funding to federal nutrition programs. Sam Fore of Lexington’s Tuk Tuk Snack Shop was one of 20 chefs from 14 states who made the trip to the nation’s capital for the “No Kid Hungry” campaign. She said she met with staffers for Senator Rand Paul and Congressman Andy Barr.
“Congressman Barr’s team said that they would speak with Congressman Comer and see what they could do to protect what is left of SNAP in the appropriations process. But out of the two meetings, I actually came out a little bit more hopeful from the meeting with Senator Paul's team.”
SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy estimates cuts approved by Congress put 50,000 Kentuckians at risk of losing benefits. Fore said her parents taught her the importance of volunteering – and making sure people have enough to eat.
“But then as a chef, as you see the reach of food insecurity and the relationships that people have with food and how we cannot leverage, you know, these incredible farms and things that we have in our state, despite the need, it becomes very frustrating.”
Fore said she left D.C. feeling slightly encouraged – and that it's critical for all Kentuckians to keep voicing their opinions.
“Congressman Barr’s team said that they would speak with Congressman Comer and see what they could do to protect what is left of SNAP in the appropriations process. But out of the two meetings, I actually came out a little bit more hopeful from the meeting with Senator Paul's team.”
SNAP is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. The Kentucky Center for Economic Policy estimates cuts approved by Congress put 50,000 Kentuckians at risk of losing benefits. Fore said her parents taught her the importance of volunteering – and making sure people have enough to eat.
“But then as a chef, as you see the reach of food insecurity and the relationships that people have with food and how we cannot leverage, you know, these incredible farms and things that we have in our state, despite the need, it becomes very frustrating.”
Fore said she left D.C. feeling slightly encouraged – and that it's critical for all Kentuckians to keep voicing their opinions.