Awake Ministries

$31,477 raised by 206 donors

63% complete

$50,000 Goal

Awake Ministries is a Christ-based residential addiction recovery center and food bank in Shelby County, KY.

We know our work goes beyond the individual.
Healthy people impact their families.
And healthy families impact our communities.

The Need

Families across Kentucky, and especially those in Shelby County, are facing a growing and interconnected crisis of addiction, hunger, and economic instability. These challenges are compounded by poverty, unemployment, and rising living costs, leaving many with limited access to the support they need to rebuild their lives.

Kentucky ranks 7th in the nation for overdose deaths, with more than 2,300 lives lost each year. Addiction continues to devastate families, particularly in rural communities where long-term, faith-centered recovery options are limited. And yet, recovery is possible: 92% of Kentuckians who complete treatment programs remain in stable housing a year later. Access to practical skills, secure employment, and ongoing support are critical to sustaining that success and restoring hope.

At the same time, food insecurity across Kentuckiana has risen by 33% since 2021. In Shelby County, 11.3% of residents, including 13.5% of children, struggle to afford nutritious meals. Kentucky also faces the nation’s highest hunger rate among adults ages 50–59. Too many families are forced to make impossible choices between groceries, medication, and rent.

How We Help

Awake Ministries empowers individuals and families to overcome addiction, hunger, and hardship through three core programs - recovery, food distribution, and workforce development, each grounded in faith and offered at no cost.

Recovery

Awake’s residential and transitional recovery programs for men and women provide long-term, Christ-centered support focused on connection, healing, and purpose.

Phase 1 is a five-month residential program that offers counseling, case management, adult education, and discipleship. Phase 2 is a seven-month transitional housing phase that includes full-time employment, continued recovery programming, leadership development, financial literacy, and creative expression. Awake also hosts meetings for the community and averages 40 participants weekly.

In 2025, Awake served 58 residents, achieving a 61% graduation rate. Most graduates found employment, stable housing, and lasting sobriety, demonstrating the transformative power of faith-based, non-medical recovery.

Food Distribution

Awake operates the largest Dare to Care Food Bank in Kentucky, feeding approximately 8,500 people each month, which is about 15% of Shelby County’s population. In 2025, the program distributed more than 108,000 food boxes, valued at over $2 million, through the efforts of one staff member and over 40 dedicated volunteers. Clients receive not only food but also care and a reminder that they are not alone while they are treated with dignity.

Workforce Development

Through its social enterprise, The Paddock Coffee Shop, Awake Ministries offers residents real-world job training in food, hospitality, and customer service. Residents also take part in a 16-week career readiness course which equips participants with essential job and life skills, ensuring long-term independence and confidence. Residents also volunteer in the community. In 2025, residents completed 1,900 hours of workforce training, 575 hours of service at the Food Bank, and 315 hours of volunteer work with community partners. 24 clients were placed in full-time employment

Learn More at: AwakeKY.org or call 502-647-5555.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”. John 10:10