On Feb. 15, a volunteer organizes clothing and shoes available for free for the guests who come to Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green as a part of the local Room in the Inn initiative. COURTESY OF CAROL KUNKEL

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

The volunteers at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green who participate in the Room in the Inn initiative “believe in living out the Beatitudes,” according to Carol Kunkel, one of the coordinators.

“Jesus asked us to clothe those without clothing, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless,” said Kunkel.

Room in the Inn provides a space for those without permanent housing to stay somewhere safe overnight and have the opportunity for a hot meal and a shower. It is spearheaded by the local Salvation Army as an ecumenical collaboration among area churches.

Holy Spirit is part of the rotation of host churches and opens its parish hall to welcome up to 14 guests twice a month on Sunday nights.

Kunkel, who works with fellow Room in the Inn parish coordinator Kristen Knutson, said Holy Spirit has been participating in the initiative since 2015.

Kunkel outlined a typical evening at Holy Spirit when hosting overnight guests. First, individuals check-in at the Salvation Army’s Life Navigation Center on West Main Street in Bowling Green, and are then assigned a spot for the night. Then, they are taken by a Salvation Army bus to a host church, such as Holy Spirit.

When guests arrive at the parish, they are served a hot dinner by volunteers.

“They’re encouraged to sit at the table and get to know the guests,” said Kunkel, affirming that many volunteers do so.

Guests are each given a cot, a big blanket, a sheet and a pillow – as well as towels, washcloths, soap and shampoo. Holy Spirit has separate rooms and shower facilities, so that the men and women have plenty of privacy.

“A lot of people appreciate being able to take a shower,” she said.

When it’s time for lights out, two “innkeepers” – one male volunteer and one female volunteer – remain overnight to assist the guests as needed.

Kunkel said all innkeepers are certified according to the Diocese of Owensboro’s Safe Environment guidelines for interacting with vulnerable adults. Room in the Inn also provides an emergency call line in case any issue arises.

At 5 a.m., parish volunteers arrive to assemble breakfasts of coffee, juice, and biscuit sandwiches, as well as to-go bags with snacks, fruit and bottled water. A bus arrives at around 6 a.m. to pick up the guests and take them back to the Life Navigation Center, where they can check out.

Kunkel said their location typically sees more male guests than female, and that in the past she has seen some familiar faces return month after month. Lately, however, she has not.

“I hope that’s a good sign,” she said, hoping and praying that this means the guests have potentially found more stable situations.

“These are really good people; most are (presently) having a hard time and really appreciate the meal and a place to stay” while they figure out their next steps, Kunkel explained. 

She is grateful to Holy Spirit’s parishioners, whom she describes as “very generous with donations” for providing free clothing items for Room in the Inn guests, like underwear, socks, hats, and scarves.

Kunkel has also enjoyed the ecumenical opportunities that come with working with other churches, such as a nearby Christian church that reached out to see if they could provide dinner when Holy Spirit hosts. That church has now served dinner and assembled the to-go bags several times, and their youth group has even gotten involved.

“It’s a wonderful ministry,” said Kunkel. “People want to be a part of this… we know we’re performing the works of mercy.”

Todd Knutson, a volunteer from Holy Spirit, helps set up beds for guests coming to stay the night of Feb. 15, 2026, as a part of the Room in the Inn initiative. COURTESY OF CAROL KUNKEL

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