LEXINGTON, Ky. — A resource center for homeless people in Lexington was open on Independence Day celebrating the community.

With fresh water sitting in coolers, hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill, and a crowd outside the Lighthouse Ministries on Independence Day.

Executive director and founder, Tay Henderson, said they helped their community celebrate the occasion like others around the nation.

“Be open on the fourth, especially for lunch, and have a cookout. A lot of the people can’t go down to, you know, downtown to the parade and stuff like that and be able to get to buy food. So we decided to go ahead,” Henderson said.

The 20-year-old center provides wrap-around services from food, hygiene care, and mental and general health and is a temporary shelter during seasonal changes. 

“I guess it’s almost like a lifestyle, you know? That’s just what we do. And, you know, I want to help the community as much as you know, especially the city. Whatever they need for us to do. I’m more than happy to do it.” Henderson said. “And, you know, I guess you knew we were going to do the cooling center, which we’ve done a few times. And they didn’t have anybody to do it.”   

Henderson thanked her team and donors who she says care about comfortability and giving this group normalcy.

“They were willing to come in and nobody was complaining. And, you know, it is a holiday, but I figured, you know, we can come here and serve meals to people and, you know, and all the food, I think almost every bit of this food was donated.” Henderson also said several major grocery store chains and other facilities helped with the food.

Henderson says they hope to feed over 100 people while giving them space to cool down.