OK, Lexington, it’s time to do that thing you do. People need help | Opinion
OK, Lexington, I know you’re bored and stir-crazy and tired of this very long stretch of cold.
And I know this city will always rise to the occasion.
Lexington shelters and day centers are overflowing with people who need your help. The helpers need your help, too, everything from making sandwiches, to buying socks and blankets, to hitting submit on that donation button.
“It’s one of those crazy times, but people will come forth, they always do,” said Ginny Ramsey, director of the Catholic Action Center on Industry Road. “We work out of our faith, so we have faith in our community, as well as the good Lord.”
Ramsey is, as always, on the front lines of helping people. When the full extent of the weather forecast became clear, she and others turned one of their storage areas into a warming center, now called the Mother Teresa Shelter. They’re using it for triage. As of Saturday, police and sheriff’s officers who found people living in camps or in their cars would bring them to the center for aid.
“It’s heart-wrenching stories, like an 82-year-old woman who was living in a car with her 62-year-old daughter,” Ramsey said. “Does this make sense in Lexington, Kentucky, in 2026?”
Because there was no place else for them to go, Ramsey placed most of the people into hotel rooms. Right now, there are about 178 people living in hotels to avoid the extreme cold. The cold is not supposed to break until Tuesday, so Ramsey is conservatively estimating a bill of $87,000 to $92,000 she will need to fundraise.
“People can donate — it doesn’t matter how small or large, when the whole community comes together, we can get it done,” she said.
The center could also use individual sandwiches, snacks and drinks that can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Lexington restaurants are helping, but the center can always use more food for people there and in hotels.
The Salvation Army is also full, with women, children and families who are staying, plus folks who come in during the day to get warm and a meal.
Operations director Danielle Thompson said the shelter needs all kinds of cold weather gear: hats, gloves, socks, handwarmers. Donations don’t hurt either.
The Hope Center usually has about 200 residents; it’s now at 230. Chris Peck, the director of advancement, said the center needs toiletries, like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, shampoos and razors, as well as towels, socks, hates gloves, hand warmers, blankets or sleeping bags.
When it finally warms up, they will also need volunteers to help clean, organize and get ready for the next round of weather.
Coordinating all the civic organizations helping the unhoused is Jeff Herron, Lexington’s homelessness prevention manager.
“At any given time with this weather event, our shelter can be at capacity or full, so we’re asking people to check on bed availability before they direct someone to a shelter,” Herron said.
The Mother Teresa center is closing Wednesday morning, so folks will be directed to the New Life Day Center on MLK Jr. Boulevard, while the Light House Ministries will be open from Wednesday to Sunday at night until 7 a.m.
The winter emergency shelter set up by the city on Versailles Road is almost full, with about four beds left, Herron said.
“A lot of our providers just need winter weather gear, coats, hats, scarves and warm winter socks,” he said.
Places to donate amid extreme cold weather
Community Action Street Team: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., though hours vary based on weather and client needs. Call 859-693-5334, 859-880-1555 or 859-576-4194.
HopeMobile: Monday to Friday, services include referrals for transportation to emergency shelters, blankets, food, water and other supplies. Call 859-252-7881.
Hope Center Street Outreach Team: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., though hours vary based on weather and client needs. Services include referrals and transportation to shelter, providing supplies and connecting with community and housing resources. Call 859-556-1870 or 859-551-8053.
This story was originally published January 28, 2026 at 5:20 AM.
