Representatives from the St. Joseph Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul accept $67,000 in total World Food Day of Giving support from St. Teresa Ministries on Oct. 16, 2026. COURTESY OF SABRINA NERO
St. Teresa Ministries awards $156,000 to support food access
BY JENNIFER BAILEY, ST. TERESA MINISTRIES
St. Teresa Ministries marked World Food Day on Oct. 16 by awarding $156,000 to five local organizations working to improve food access in Bowling Green and Warren County.
Held at St. Teresa Thrift Store, the event brought together nonprofit partners, volunteers, board members, community leaders, elected officials, donors, shoppers and friends of the ministry to celebrate the organizations serving neighbors across our community.
The Holy Spirit Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul received $75,000 in total support, while the St. Joseph Conference of St. Vincent de Paul received $67,000. MEALS, Inc. received $10,000, Christ Episcopal Church’s Wednesday Community Lunch Program received $2,000, and the WKU Student Government Association received $2,000 in support of the WKU Student Food Pantry.
Guest speaker Dave Miner, producer and director of Learning Hungry: Food Insecurity on Campus, spoke about food insecurity among college students and the importance of helping students access basic needs.
St. Teresa Ministries does not operate a food pantry of its own. Instead, funds generated through St. Teresa Thrift Store are used to support local organizations already serving neighbors in need.
“Sometimes people don’t realize how much good starts right here in the thrift store,” said Patty Polston, store manager. “Every time someone donates an item, shops with us or volunteers their time, they are helping us give back to people in our own community.”
Learn more at www.stteresaministries.org.
Originally printed in the November 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
