VISION

Improve the well-being of impoverished children and families in Martin County, KY through community outreach and hunger relief programs with the ultimate goal of empowering them to lift themselves out of poverty.

RAMP is a non-profit organization founded in 2009 by Amy Guerreri, a mother of 4 and entrepreneur, who wanted to make a difference in the lives of hungry children living in what is often known as "Hidden America." Since 2009, RAMP has been working with the Martin County Public Schools and the Martin County community at large. RAMP has become one of the most relied upon resources in Martin County, Kentucky.  

Why Martin County?

  • 12,800 people in the county, 
  • One of the poorest counties in the US, 
  • 33% of people live below the poverty line (2x the national average of 15.3%) , 
  • 45% of families with kids live below the poverty line,
  •  73% of the children are on free or government subsidized lunch programs, 
  • Some families have no electricity or plumbing in their homes
  • Limited safety nets for the county - no homeless shelters, large food pantries, job training centers, etc
  • Parents are unable to buy healthy, fresh food for their children - packaged, fast food and soda are more affordable therefore childhood obesity is an ever-expanding problem

All of RAMPS efforts are focused on Martin County kids and their families. Funds raised go directly to operating hunger relief programs including:

  • Backpack Program, which sends fresh produce, healthy snacks and nutritious foods home with food-insecure public schoolchildren (kids whose main meals are eaten only when they’re at school).
  • Community Food Pantry, which provides fresh produce, food and commodities to anywhere from 200-500 families-in-need every month.
  • Summer Mobile Feeding Program, which RAMP helps the Martin County Public School Board of Education to operate for students who may not have any access to food at home during summer vacation 

In addition, RAMP works with the Martin County community to identify critical needs and create solutions in the areas of nutrition and emergency relief intervention.

RAMP Fights Poverty in America

46.2 million Americans live in poverty - the largest statistic since the U.S. government began tracking poverty figures in 1959. 

RAMP is a Unique, Innovative Non-profit Model

We give a hand up, not a hand out.  Families who receive assistance from RAMP, in turn work in our food pantry, pack backpacks, and contribute to the community.  Our aim is to facilitate sustainable change in one of the most impoverished rural regions in America. 

RAMP is Strategic

 In an area that has historically suffered from isolation and lack of services, RAMP is the only strategic resource that identifies needs, mobilizes resources, and crafts solutions on a local level. 

RAMP Brings Solutions to Scale

Our goal is to recreate this successful program and combat poverty throughout the Appalachia region.

CONNECT

Connect people and resources to address the basic human needs of food, shelter and education.

BUILD

Build relationships with the community, schools,  business leaders, and local government to mobilize volunteers and facilitate the efficient delivery of resources and services.  We believe in a “hand up, not hand out” operating model that invests in the community from the ground up.

EMPOWER

Empower the families, schools, and organizations of Martin County to take ownership of the programs, get involved, and volunteer to help bring about positive change.

ENVISION

Envision a poverty-free Appalachia, by replicating RAMP's model throughout the Appalachian region.