LEXINGTON, Ky. — For two decades, Lighthouse Ministries has been a beacon of hope in Lexington and a path to recovery and redemption.

What You Need To Know

  • The KFC Foundation is giving the Lighthouse Ministries $10,000 through its Kentucky Fried Wishes initiative

  • Each year, Kentucky Fried Wishes gives grants to  10 nonprofits around the country
  • Lighthouse Ministries is open nearly every day of the week, serving those in need of a meal around the clock

Volunteer Frank Abbott has been a part of that journey since its start.

“From being just the ordinary feeding place to a full-time ministry, not only to feed people but to minister to them,” Abbott explained. “People that need something to eat come in here sometimes six, seven days a week.”

Abbott says Lighthouse is open nearly every day of the week, serving those in need of a meal around the clock.

Through partnerships with organizations like God’s Pantry food bank, Lighthouse collects, stores and prepares food that he says makes a real impact. He shared he’s witnessed people in dire situations seek help and find refuge at the center.

The life-changing work just got a major boost of support. Aside from a $20,000 grant from the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, Lighthouse Ministries received an additional $10,000 from the KFC Foundation’s Kentucky Fried Wishes. These funds will help replace their industrial fridge.

Since 2020, the KFC Foundation has gifted $1 million in grants annually to 10 groups around the country making a difference.

“We do have organizations that apply without a restaurant connection, but we look for those restaurant connections. Lighthouse Ministries are one of those groups that we got connected with without a restaurant.” KFC Foundation Executive Director Emma Horn said. “And we were so excited to hear about their Kentucky Colonel’s connection, which hearkens back to our legacy with Colonel Sanders as well because his colonel designation was from Kentucky Colonels.”

“I mean, we’re feeding people that would go hungry. And so when we need this and for somebody to reach out and say, hey, we see that what you’re doing is worthy and we don’t want your refrigerator and freezer to go out and we don’t want you to go out of business for like a week and then people have nowhere to eat,” explained Lighthouse Ministries founder Tay Henderson.

Henderson says that at their latest celebration, she shared her humble beginnings and how giving back and getting a team to do so is ingrained in her. 

“When you know where you came from, you know where you’re going. And people want to help — they might not be able to come down here, but they can give their money or their time,” she said.

Henderson says she likes to tell folks, “People follow motion,” meaning — one good deed can influence others and create a chain reaction.

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