HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Connor Brown is a proud Christian County High School alumnus, recently receiving his diploma in May. Unlike a lot of other teenagers his age, he is spending his summer focusing on distributing food and essential supplies to people in need throughout Hopkinsville.

“I’ve always loved helping people,” Brown told Christian County Now when asked about his inspiration. He said the idea for this kind of outreach came to him during a church revival in November. By January, he had recruited some of his friends to help him make a few bags to distribute with sandwiches, snacks, drinks, and hygiene items. He hit the streets, passing them out to people he encountered, quickly realizing he was going to have to make a lot more.

Food for people in need prepared by volunteers with Connor Brown. (Contributed by Connor Brown)
Food for people in need prepared by volunteers with Connor Brown. (Contributed by Connor Brown)

In the last 6 months, Brown estimates he has fed about 450 people in Hopkinsville. In that time, he has recruited increasing numbers of friends, people on social media, and volunteers from his church to help raise money and distribute items. On June 10, they fed 25 people and distributed 10 bibles, and after setting up at the Famers Market in March, they were able to feed 75 people in one day.

Continuing to grow and future goals

“Right now, we have stayed pretty small because we are just now getting out here like this. We want to get our name out and show people what we are doing and that we are legit,” Brown explained modestly. Right now, Missions Hopkinsville is fully funded from ongoing donations from the community. With this, he’s able to purchase things like tents, clothes, blankets, and toiletries along with food and water.

Brown explained that he likes to make a connection with the individuals he meets, offering to purchase other necessary items if they need it, and praying with them. “They need love more than anything else,” Brown said.

Although this venture is new, he has big dreams for the future. He described his vision for a homeless shelter that could provide longer term housing for people, distribute scholarships, and provide transportation to jobs. But, for now he is content building things slowly and learning more every day.

He encourages other young people who have a desire to better their community to take the initiative and start small. People who want to get involved can visit the Missions Hopkinsville Facebook page.

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