COVINGTON, Ky. — The Parish Kitchen, established by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Covington, celebrated its 50th anniversary this month.
Gary Enzweiler, who bakes a lot of food for many people, has volunteered with the Parish Kitchen for the past eight years and estimates he has fed 10,000 people.
For the past 50 years, Parish Kitchen has been open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., providing lunch to anyone in need of a hot meal, and Enzweiler said his favorite part is the people.
“People come here and they really appreciate it,” Enzweiler said, “and they get to enjoy a good meal and fellowship with other people.”
The parish also offers other services, such as distributing fresh fruits and vegetables grown in the garden.
“We use some of it in the cooking, and what's not, we put it on the table for customers to take away,” says kitchen manager James Wendeln.
The parish also offers free on-site health screenings by St. Elizabeth nurses.
A 2023 survey by Feeding America found that Kentucky has the fourth-highest rate of food insecurity among seniors in the U.S., with 14.6% of adults ages 50 to 59 not regularly getting enough food or being forced to compromise between food and other basic needs. The report added that about 7% of adults ages 60 and older face the same challenge.
Parish Kitchen Executive Director Chris Goddard said that's why volunteers and staff are working to create a space that's part restaurant and part shopping center.
“We want to provide a space where people, regardless of income, can be proud to say, 'This is where I eat,'” Goddard said.
Reflecting on his eight years there and the recent celebration of the kitchen's 50th anniversary, Enzweiler said he's proud of his work.
“They're serving a lot more customers now than they did when they first opened, so it's really nice to be a part of that,” he said.
For more information about Parish Kitchen, visit their website
