In September 2020, Gabriel graduated from Owensboro Community & Technical College with certificates in production line welding, gas welding, welding helper, and exploratory machinery.

Soon after, he earned a job at Metalsa, a manufacturing facility.

Gabriel, 46, lives in St. Benedict’s transitional housing. The low rent has allowed him to pay off some former debts, which he calls “the wreckage of my past.”

Also, living at St. Benedict’s enables him to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The shelter’s rules would allow him to live in transitional housing for up to two years, but he hopes to find his own place sometime this summer.

“St. Benedict’s has given me a second chance on life,” he said. “It has given me time to grow and rebuild my life. … It gives a man a chance to get back on his feet.”

Gabriel has lived at St. Benedict’s shelter or its transitional home about 1-1/2 years off and on.

“St. Benedict’s gave me food and shelter when I needed it,” he said. “Every resource I needed was readily available.”

He also applauded the men’s shelter for providing life-skills training. From assistance with income taxes to writing resumes to balancing a checkbook, St. Benedict’s helps clients achieve independence.

“St. Benedict’s networks with other agencies in the community,” Gabriel said. “It’s a community hub that helps a lot of guys out there.”

Jada Massey expects the next few weeks to be “scary but exciting.”

Massey and her 3-month-old daughter, Rhylee, are making a big move.

They are set to leave the safety of St. Gerard Maternal Home and become self-sufficient with a home of their own.

Massey, 24, came to St. Gerard in early September. The nonprofit supports moms experiencing crisis pregnancies.

About a month later, Massey gave birth to Rhylee.

Massey grew up in Bowling Green. “I needed a new start, a place where I didn’t know anybody and nobody knew me.”

St. Gerard provided the ability to begin life anew.

Massey has been sober since she moved into St. Gerard, a division of St. Benedict’s Shelter for Men that can house up to six moms and their babies.

“(St. Gerard) has helped me so much with staying sober,” Massey said. “They are very friendly, and they actually care about helping you get better. It changed my life.”

Since first moving into St. Gerard, Massey has worked as a receptionist at Counseling Connections. She plans to continue that job.

In addition to Rhylee, Massey’s family includes a 4-year-old daughter who lives in Bowling Green. Massey plans to start the process of regaining custody of her older child.

St. Gerard played a key role in Massey’s life during a critical time.

“I really appreciate (St. Gerard),” Massey said. “Without that place, I would not be where I am today.”

 

 

Ami Hunt recently joined St. Benedict’s as the volunteer outreach coordinator.

Hunt started volunteering at the men’s shelter last year. Before that, she had volunteered with Crossroads for Hope women’s shelter.

Hunt, who grew up in Hancock County, works at U.S. Bank Home Mortgage as a quality control auditor.

She earned an associate’s degree from Owensboro Community & Technical College.

St. Benedict’s is in the process of restarting its outreach program, which had been put on hold due to COVID-19.  Hunt will work to re-establish that program, which reaches out to people living on the street or panhandling across Owensboro.

“We are so excited to get the outreach program started again,” Hunt said, “and would love for those interested in volunteering to contact me or the shelter.”

For more information, call St. Benedict’s at 270-541-1003.

First, we thank our supporters, volunteers, and community partners for walking with us during this time. We pray God will show His mercy and grace through this worldwide crisis.

Community support is vital to St. Benedict’s. Without our army of faithful volunteers and donors, the nonprofit wouldn’t exist.

We have a financial need at this time.  Extra expenses during COVID-19 have nearly wiped out the shelter’s reserve fund.

First, the virus forces the shelter to take extra precautions, such as deep cleaning, providing masks and hand sanitizers, and hand washing. Also, we have had to temporarily suspend volunteer hours to keep our army of volunteers safe during the pandemic.

Because our volunteers can’t perform their normal duties, our staff is working overtime to cover shifts, and that is taking a toll on our operating budget. 

In addition, we use the Women and Families Facility as a “sick room” for all our shelters. This allows each agency to quarantine those who become infected and lowers the risk of transmitting COVID and other illnesses to clients and staff.

However, this action plan requires St. Benedict’s to fully staff a second facility 24 hours a day, which doubles our operating budget. 

For these reasons, the nonprofit started a COVID Relief Fund. Please consider donating today!

Thank you for your past generosity. Be safe, practice social distancing, and keep following us for more updates. 

Meet Ronnie and Darrell! 

These men once needed us but quickly learned we needed them, too.

They stayed at St. Benedict’s shelter for men for a brief period of time. Then, Darrell and Ronnie entered the nonprofit’s Transitional Housing Program.

Through case management and self determination, these men chose to give back to the place that freely gave to them. Their motivation inspires others, and their dedication to giving back motivates everyone who comes into contact with them. 

Everyday, these men come to St. Benedict’s to clean, prepare snacks, organize, and stock supplies. They set an example for all of us, and we have learned so much from their demonstration of gratitude.

When Ronnie and Darrell come in, we grin and give thanks to God. We can truly see and feel the Holy Spirit working within their hearts and through their actions. The time they spend here has deepened our fellowship with them and gives meaning to our efforts. 

When we grow up, we want to be just like Darrell and Ronnie!

“My name is Robert and I’m a 46-year-old veteran.

“I had a situation that placed me where there was a difficult choice to make. I loved Kentucky, wanting to stay here instead of relocating to another state and beginning all over once again I had no one to turn towards for help.

“After explaining my situation to someone, they directed me towards Saint Benedict’s Homeless Shelter for Men. A good man welcomed me in, gave me a bed, and hope for a future.

“It’s been a great experience so far, living in Owensboro and growing to love this town more each day. Just as a family loves one another, we’ve had our high points and low points.

“Thank God that when I was low there were friends who lifted me up.

“The shelter was a godsend! During the low points, I knew that there would be a great dinner and a warm bed waiting for me each night. That thought alone was a great comfort, and I share this very thought for others to consider when it seems no one cares.

“I’m glad the staff was there to oversee us, and it was a great pleasure working with the other men in the shelter. 

“Loving our neighbor as ourselves and looking out for each other to create an environment to be as safe as it possibly can be was challenging and rewarding considering that there are men from all walks of life living together there.

“Eventually, the staff convinced me to take advantage of living in (St. Benedict’s) Honor Home for Veterans. I’m glad to have the opportunity to work my way from the bottom up in Owensboro. Thank you, for loving me.”

Robert

“My name is Wendall Hallam, and I am a 21-year-old Christian male pursuing a bachelors degree in social work at Western Kentucky University. I am currently serving my internship at St. Benedict’s and would like to share my experience thus far.

“Since starting here in January, my experience has allowed me to embrace a lot of the things that I have never been exposed to. I had no idea what St. Benedict’s had to offer these men or what exactly they did here. My knowledge of St. Benedict’s was that it was just a place for homeless men to come eat and sleep. Since being here, I have learned how much  St. Benedict’s does for the men and how big of an asset this organization is for the community.

“St. Benedict’s has helped me as an individual and a professional by teaching me about tough love and how to appropriately give it, why you shouldn’t base your success off the success of others, and the importance of knowing what is actually helpful and what is not.

“While being at St. Benedict’s my perception of homeless men is one that has become more real and personalized. Before St. Benedict’s, I knew homelessness obviously existed, but it wasn’t real to me and it wasn’t something that truly broke my heart.

“Now, after spending a few months here, I can say my heart does break for these men and others who suffer from homelessness.

“I think an organization like St. Benedict’s does need more support from the community because of what they are truly doing for the community and for the well being of others. The best kind of support though is knowing what it really needed.

“I believe the only way to know what is really needed is to become educated. I highly recommend for any individual to come to St. Benedict’s or at least give the shelter a call and just learn as much as they can.

“St. Benedict’s is an organization that is helping making a legitimate difference in the lives of others. I’m not sure what your beliefs are, but I think we can all agree that we are supposed to help and love others, and that is exactly what is happening here at St. Benedict’s.”

My name is Lewis! 

I am a 46-year-old male from Owensboro, Kentucky.

I am single with two daughters, and I am the youngest of three siblings.

I am blessed to be a grandfather-to-be to a little boy. I am currently in remission from lymphoma cancer and a person in long-term recovery from substance use. Since staying here at St. Benedict’s Shelter, I have been able to string together a year of sobriety. 

I want people to know that I am not the man I used to be.

I started my recovery by talking with the staff at St. Benedict’s. Their experience and compassion gave me hope. This is where my journey to recovery began.

Today, I find I can be more honest and open with people. I have truly been able to be myself, make new friends, be a friend and build a foundation in my recovery, while staying at St. Benedict’s. It keeps me accountable and gives me structure. 

My goals — now that my health is under control and my recovery is getting stronger — is to find a job and a home. I want to be a better father than I have been and hopefully have a healthy relationship with my children.

I see all these things coming soon as a result of sobriety and perseverance.