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Catholic Action Center's 'Compassionate Caravan' delivers weather warning, winter supplies to homeless in Lexington

In the winter, the Catholic Action Center's Compassionate Caravan delivers winter supplies — and warnings of impending inclement weather — to the homeless in Lexington.
CAC
In the winter, the Catholic Action Center's Compassionate Caravan delivers winter supplies — and warnings of impending inclement weather — to the homeless in Lexington.

Volunteers at a Lexington nonprofit spent part of Monday letting homeless people know a winter storm is hours away, courtesy of their Compassionate Caravan. Ginny Ramsey is the director of the Catholic Action Center.

“We started going out warning the folks checking on people in camps, letting them know that it's coming, and also distributing warm supplies.”

Those supplies include NASA-type blankets. Ramsey said they’ll also encourage homeless folks to get to the Hope Center or to Salvation Army where even if there aren’t open beds, they can get out of the snow and rain forecast through the weekend. As for the caravan, as of Monday, it’s being driven by Benjie Dunaway, a longtime outreach worker for the Lexington Rescue Mission.

“Benjie knows the streets and he knows the camps, so his expertise, his heart, his love of the people, will make a big difference in how we're able to assist those who are left in this critical weather without a home.

The Compassionate Caravan was formerly driven by Thomas Caudill, who died January 18. Ramsey said Dunaway has the same spirit as the man affectionately known as “Brother Thomas.”

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John McGary is a Lexington native and Navy veteran with three decades of radio, television and newspaper experience.
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