Snack cakes are seen on a table as Diocese of Owensboro staff members package individual paper bags of meals for the Feeding Our Friends meetup at English Park on Jan. 22, 2026. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

In the late morning of Jan. 22, the lower level of the McRaith Catholic Center in Owensboro was abuzz with people filling disposable cups with hot soup and packing peanut butter sandwiches.

At a long table, Catholic Charities administrative assistant Tina Hawley worked with safe environment coordinator Janice Hendricks to place fruit cups, chopped raw vegetables, snack cakes, and sandwiches into individual paper bags.

In the kitchen, tribunal staff members Louanne Seibert, Patti Bartley and Rachael McFadden packed the single-serve soup containers inside an insulated container to keep everything hot.

Sr. Jacinta Powers, OSU – running back and forth to the different stations in a purple Catholic Charities sweatshirt – made note that everyone had washed their hands before preparations began.

The food would be distributed to members of the homeless community at the picnic shelter at English Park in Owensboro, many of whom reside at a nearby encampment known as Tent City.

This initiative, referred to as “Feeding Our Friends,” has been a monthly project since fall 2025, coordinated by several staff of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Owensboro with assistance from other diocesan staff members.

Hawley said that it is common to see familiar faces when she and other staff distribute the meals.

She said they package about 40 meals, even if not that many people show up: “That’s the number we go with.”

Hendricks pointed out that this project is one of the Church’s corporal works of mercy: feed the hungry.

This is initiative is also in line with Catholic Social Teaching (CST), such as its pillar known as the Option for the Poor and Vulnerable. In the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ overview of CST, it states: “A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.”

Diocesan tribunal staff members Louanne Seibert, Patti Bartley and Rachael McFadden package individual containers of hot soup on Jan. 22, 2026, in preparation for the Feeding Our Friends meetup at English Park in Owensboro. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC

Later that day, amid the dipping temperatures as the region braced for a winter storm, the staff drove to English Park to share food with their friends. They met up with several other Owensboro community members, who helped distribute the food and other items like individual hand warmers.

“Betty,” who resides at Tent City with her brother and her sister, as well as her partner, “Billy,” came to the distribution at the picnic shelter that day. She told The Western Kentucky Catholic she has been at the encampment since July.

“I like it because they don’t make me feel less-than,” said Betty, who said she was named after her grandmother and that she has been with Billy for almost five years. “I really appreciate these people. We’re happy when they come here.”

“A lot of people are down here because they don’t have a choice,” she said, adding that she has been unable to obtain social services because she lacks a permanent address.

“And because we don’t have a permanent address, people assume we are addicts or trying to steal from somebody,” she said, explaining that Tent City residents care for their fellow residents. “We’re ‘just’ a homeless community… but we’re a community.”

Young adults “Savannah” and “R.J.” also came to the distribution at English Park that day.

“I’m from Madisonville, but my mom moved us here when I was three,” said Savannah, who is now experiencing homelessness.

R.J. said he was born in Owensboro, “and I grew up in Ohio County in foster care.” He, too, is currently experiencing homelessness.

The two said that times have been difficult, but Savannah said she tries to get through her present challenges by praying and reading scripture.

“I haven’t been able to read scripture as much lately, but it’s ok, God knows you’re trying,” she said, offering the advice that “love is the way, and no matter the circumstances, never let your love die.”

“Kevin,” who said he had served in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army as a chaplain because he did not want to carry a weapon, led a prayer over the gathering that day.

Kevin is originally from California, and said he was sent by God to minister to the people of Tent City. He has resided there for about two and a half months.

“Tent City always needs resources,” he said, “these church groups do a lot to help people get resources.”

Working in the lower level of the McRaith Catholic Center in Owensboro, (left to right) Tina Hawley; Sr. Jacinta Powers, OSU; and Janice Hendricks package meals to share at the Feeding Our Friends meetup at English Park on Jan. 22, 2026. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC

Deborah Ryan, who goes to Owensboro Christian Church, came with her husband to assist with distribution that day.

The Ryans had moved to Owensboro specifically to help the local homeless population and minister with the local organization Just People, a mobile outreach.

“I believe Owensboro and other communities could do more (for those experiencing homelessness), especially for the population here in Tent City,” she said. “And I hope to be a part of that. Because no one should have to live outside.”

That morning, numbers were down at the English Park distribution, which some attributed to the coming winter storm. With the remaining meals, Sr. Jacinta and her colleagues drove to the nearby Cadillac Motel, where many people lacking permanent housing reside.

They shared the rest of the food there.

To learn how you can assist Catholic Charities’ mission to the marginalized, visit https://owensborodiocese.org/catholic-charities.

Originally printed in the February 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.