A message from our Executive Director
"As I reflect on the incredible journey that AMEN House has taken over the past 34 years, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude. What Scott United Ministries began as a small food pantry in the First Presbyterian Church has grown into a beacon of hope for thousands in Scott County.
Our mission to end hunger has never wavered, and thanks to the unwavering support of our community, we are now poised to take our boldest step yet. The past few years have tested us in ways we could never have imagined. The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, but it also brought out the best in us. We adapted, we persevered, and most importantly, we never closed our doors. The resilience of our volunteers, the generosity of our donors, and the courage of those we serve inspired us to dream bigger.
Our move to 533 East Washington Street marks the beginning of a new chapter for AMEN House. With the construction of our new food pantry, soup kitchen, and culinary school, we are not just building a facility; we are building a future—a future where no one in Scott County goes to bed hungry. But we cannot do this alone. We need your help to turn these dreams into reality. Your support will not only help us complete this project, but it will also ensure that we can continue to serve our community for generations to come. Thank you for standing with us.
Together, we can end hunger in Scott County.”
With heartfelt gratitude,
Michele Carlisle
Executive Director, AMEN House
Did you know?
The AMEN in AMEN House is actually an acronym!
It stands for Associated Ministries Easing Need.
We are so blessed to ease the needs of our community members in Scott County.
Groundbreaking Summer 2025
For 34 years the AMEN House has been fighting hunger in Scott County anchored in the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street. But in summer 2025, it was time. Time to turn all of our dreams, all of our plans, all of our prayers into steel and concrete. Our next step in ENDING hunger in Scott County was our move to the corner of Washington and Paris Pike.
Our Board of Directors stepped out in faith and commissioned the completion of both the food pantry and soup kitchen home to our culinary school. This project required a $1.75 million dollar investment to complete. We are so thankful that the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) made it possible to purchase the land and existing buildings, and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded the construction of the food pantry building. That brought our capital campaign to the goal of $1 million. Before our groundbreaking even happened, our goal changed again. A completely unexpected, private, anonymous, and very generous donor, our goal became just $150,000.
How was this move even possible?
Covid was the biggest challenge that the AMEN House has ever faced. One third of our volunteers needed to go home to protect themselves or a family member in their care, and the numbers of our neighbors needing help skyrocketed. The AMEN House stood strong, expanded programming, worked with our local health department to do our best to stay safe and never once closed our doors.
In the aftermath of the pandemic, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was created. The intent of this funding was to give communities the funds to strengthen the infrastructure within their towns so we would be better equipped to face the next challenge. Both the City ($200,000) and the County ($500,000) agreed that if the AMEN House is stronger then Scott County is stronger.
At the same time, Senator Daymon Thayer was instrumental in securing $500,000 in the Commonwealth's Budget earmarked for building the new food distribution center. With $1.2 million dollars, we were able to purchase 1030 Paris Pike, giving the AMEN House all of the existing structures on the site plus room for expansion.
With this purchase in place, the AMEN House partnered with Judge Executive Joe Pat Covington and Scott County Fiscal Court to apply for a Community Development Block Grant. Ultimately we were awarded $750,000 in CDBG funding to construct Phase One of our new facility.
With the BOLD mission of ENDING hunger in Scott County the AMEN House is always looking for creative solutions with that goal in mind. From the beginning the designs for this building had next steps in mind. Phase Two includes an expansion that will house our Soup Kitchen and Culinary School.
In late June 2025, we officially moved our food pantry program from 319 E. Main to 533 E. Washington
