Dear Friends:
Could you describe ESNKY in just one word? Would it come easy or require some thought? We posed that question
to our guests and responses were just as varied as the ways we help them. As I listened to their responses, Hope, Life & Blessing were just a few of the words that stuck with me. I encourage you to listen to a short video (which may be found at the end of this post) where you can see and hear from our guests themselves.
As I reflect on last winter, hope, life and blessing were seen throughout. It was unbelievably challenging, not only were we facing COVID-19, but also a serious reduction in capacity, not to mention we had been sheltering nonstop since March 21, 2020. Staff was tired and facing emotional exhaustion with the thought of only having 24 beds all winter. Thankfully, Campbell County Judge Executive Steve Pendery and Jailer Jim Daley were a blessing and offered us the Restricted Custody Facility for our region’s only cold shelter increasing the number of beds we could offer each night to 55. From November 1 – March 31 we provided beds to 348 adults, daytime showers for 136 adults Jan-March and 9 days of daytime sheltering at Scott Stree
t in February when frigid temperatures and record snowfall made it dangerous to be outside.
This summer, hope, life, and blessing continue to rise to the surface. For the first time in our 14-year history, we decided to offer 10 emergency immediate entrance low barrier summer beds for men. This is in addition to 11 work program beds and 2 mental health court diversion beds that we normally have at this time of year. While we know long term beds are needed, we also saw a grave need for night by night beds and responded. Daytime shower program is in full swing as we know a shower, clean clothes, laundry kits and just the overall feeling that ESNKY is a place that cares can give people hope.
There is no one word to describe shelter just like there is no one way for you to give. Your donation is
tax-deductible and financial contributions can be made using this button, by mail (ESNKY P.O. Box 332, Covington, KY 41012) or call us at (859) 291-4555 for help with a disbursement from your Donor Advised fund, making stock donations or planned gifts.
For the staff and I it is the faces and stories of our guests that keep us holding on to hope, providing life-saving and life changing services and being a blessing in their lives. I hope you see it too.
With hope,
Kim M. Webb
Executive Director
P.S. Share your ‘one’ word on our Facebook page! facebook.com/EmergencyShelterNKY #oneword