Staff report
The Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky recently held its annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner honoring the hundreds who give of their time, talent and treasure to help provide services, donations and meals at the shelter.
Volunteers, board members and ESNKY staff gathered at the Florence Nature Park Event Center to celebrate the individuals and organizationsw ho make possible ESNKY’s mission of providing shelter and services year-round to adults experiencing homelessness in the Northern Kentucky community.
“At ESNKY, we get to see the best of humanity every day – from the guests finding dignity, stability and housing, to the volunteers giving of their time, talent and treasure to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors,” said ESNKY Chief Executive Officer Kim M. Webb. “From serving meals to organizing donation drives, our volunteers directly impact the lives of our guests. We’re so pleased to set aside a night to honor their contributions.”
In the last fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, 977 volunteers gave nearly 12,000 hours of volunteer service to ESNKY totaling nearly $430,000 in value. From cooking and serving the evening meal, to organizing and passing out clothing in the donation room, to folding and sorting laundry and more, volunteers are critical to ensuring the shelter operates smoothly and with dignity. In 2025, college and high school students accounted for 38% of all volunteers, and more than 50 churches, companies, families, restaurants and food rescues donated healthy meals for the shelter guests.
ESNKY’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Awards include the Ralph Drees Impact Award, named for former Kenton County Judge-Executive Ralph Drees and given to an individual or group that has had a lasting impact on ESNKY; the Beyond the Call of Duty Awards, which recognize individual volunteers who go above and beyond; and the Leroy Collins Award, which recognizes individuals who have experienced homelessness, and after working to overcome their own circumstances, choose to give back just as Leroy did.
2026 award winners:
• ESNKY honored Cavaliers Care Ministry from St. Joseph School with the Ralph Drees Impact Award for their continuous meal service, connecting students and their families with ESNKY’s mission, as well as their Christmas party initiative where students were able to greet and provide table service to the guests, providing a sense of normalcy during the holidays.
• ESNKY Daytime Navigation Coordinator Aleisha Loy received the Leroy Collins Award for exceptional performance on the job and her continual efforts to give back to ESNKY.
• The Beyond the Call of Duty Award went to Sam Phillips, Jamie Reaver, Derek and Linda Wendelken, and Bonnie Hugus for their dedication, generously contributing over 13,000 collective hours to the organization to ensure crucial tasks such as meal prep, laundry and donation organization were completed.
• Guests also heard from Jill Puckett and Riley Smith, Ignite student interns, and University of Kentucky College of Medicine students Armin Razavi and Kathryn Zalla, who provide services at the onsite clinic. Additionally, Webb honored outgoing board member Tricia Watts for her leadership, vision and dedication to the mission over the years.
As the weather warms up, ESNKY is still in need of volunteers. Whether it’s bingo, cornhole or cards, there are many ways to get involved beyond the meal and clothing donations. Those interested in volunteering at ESNKY should contact Maya Mintu at maya.mintu@esnky.net.