A grassroots outreach effort that began in English Park is once again providing meals, connection, and support to those in need across Owensboro.
Food for the Soul, founded by Charisse Varner, started about five years ago as a small volunteer-driven effort to serve hot meals to individuals experiencing homelessness. Varner said the group initially gathered in English Park once a month, offering not only food but also toiletries and clothing.
“We would cook hot food and take it to English Park once a month,” Varner said. “We geared toward the homeless, but we fed anybody. We fed any and everybody until our food ran out.”
After operating for roughly two years, the program paused when Varner faced health challenges. The effort remained inactive for about three years before relaunching in November 2025 with a Thanksgiving Day meal.
Since its return, Food for the Soul has shifted its operations to the Salvation Army, where volunteers prepare meals and coordinate distribution. Varner said the group now offers multiple options — dine-in, delivery, or pickup — though most meals are delivered or picked up.
“We had three people come in and sit down that first day,” Varner said. “Two of them, a mother and daughter, found a home church there at the Salvation Army.”
The group now serves meals once a month, typically on the third Saturday, though scheduling can vary. Volunteers prepare the food at the Salvation Army before delivering it to targeted locations throughout the community, including Tent City and extended-stay housing sites such as the Cadillac Motel.
“Right now, we choose a group each month and go out to them,” Varner said. “But the goal is to get back to English Park and serve people there again until the food runs out.”
Meals are designed to be hearty and comforting. Recent menus have included items such as meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green beans, while an upcoming meal will feature hamburger with gravy over rice, along with sides, water, and a cookie.
“I believe in feeding people,” Varner said. “Food means much more than just eating a meal, especially if you’re in a situation where you don’t always get home-cooked food. I want people to know they are seen and they are loved.”
Varner, a caterer who operates Soul Sisters Catering, said her passion for serving others dates back to childhood.
“I’ve always loved feeding people,” she said. “If I’m not serving or helping someone, I feel like I’m not breathing right.”
She also views the outreach as part of her calling as an ordained pastor, using food as a way to connect with and uplift others.
“I want people to feel like they’re walking into a five-star restaurant,” Varner said.
The program currently relies on a core group of 10 to 15 volunteers, with additional help from community partners. This month, students from Western Academy assisted with meal preparation and distribution.
Varner said the group is in the early stages of becoming a nonprofit organization and recently held a board meeting as part of that process. Once established as a 501(c)(3), Food for the Soul will be able to expand fundraising efforts and accept tax-deductible donations.
In the meantime, the organization is accepting both monetary and food donations, as well as seeking additional volunteers. Varner said she is also searching for a dedicated facility to store supplies and coordinate operations, as much of the current storage is handled out of her home.
Despite its small size, the program has already made a lasting impact. Varner recalled one individual who was once served at English Park, later became incarcerated, turned his life around, and eventually returned to volunteer with the organization.
“He got himself together, got a good job, and started helping us deliver meals,” she said. “He was so instrumental in what we were doing.”
Looking ahead, Varner envisions expanding the program even further, including outdoor cookouts and, eventually, opening a restaurant that would dedicate one day each month to feeding those in need for free.
“We have a big vision,” she said. “And we’re just getting started.”
