LEXINGTON, Ky. — Freezing rain brought dangerously cold temperatures across the Commonwealth. Many shelters in Lexington kept unhoused people warm and their bellies full. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Hope Center collaborates with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and various other local shelters during severe weather events to ensure safety of unhoused people

  • Dolphus Price is a part of the kitchen staff at the Jacobs Hope Cafeteria who helps serve meals to shelter clients

  • Katie Vogel serves as the Hope Center’s director of development

The freezing rain and sleet isn’t stopping the Hope Center from filling people’s bellies and keeping the unhoused Lexington community warm and safe. Dolphus Price is a part of the Jacobs Hope Cafeteria kitchen staff that serves hundreds of meals 365 days a year to the various locations on their campus, including their emergency shelter, which can house 200 people on average. 

Dolphus Price, kitchen staff prepare to-go boxes for Hope Center shelter clients. (Spectrum News 1/Diamond Palmer)

“My mom always taught me, you know, don’t let anyone go hungry,” said Price.

That’s exactly what Price will not do because he’s serving up hot meals to people in shelter at the Hope Center. Price has been doing this job for three years after deciding to get his own life on track. He’s five years into his sober journey and loves helping the people near and dear to his heart. When severe weather comes, that means Price over prepares in case of an influx of people need shelter.

“So what we got here is soup and beans for tomorrow, but this will feed everybody here in the building. I try to fix more in severe weather, especially when it snows and stuff,” said Price. 

Dolphus Price, smiles near assembled to-go boxes at Jacobs Hope Cafeteria. (Spectrum News 1/Diamond Palmer)

Katie Vogel, the director of development of the Hope Center, says planning is crucial for severe weather and it begins days before storms.

“We start to gear up knowing that we are going to have extra individuals who are in need, who may not see a meal or shelter on a different day and may be in a position where they need that,” said Vogel.

Temperatures will continue to fall in Lexington and throughout the Commonwealth for the next several days. There’s a risk of hypothermia if unhoused people stay on the streets. Price wants to make sure everybody in his community is taken care of.

“Give them two [biscuits] if we run out, we’ll go to bread,” said Price.

If people see someone that needs shelter, call the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency line at 859-259-0973. They can contact the Hope Center at 859-252-7881 for shelter intake. 

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