Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Father Frederick Klotter, rector of the Cathedral of the Assumption, blessed the farmland and staff of Gallrein Farms in Shelbyville, Ky., on Aug. 14.

Father Klotter also expressed gratitude to Bill Gallrein Jr., owner and operator of the farm. For the past decade, Gallrein has donated fresh produce to the cathedral’s lunch program every week during the growing season.

The produce, including corn, tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, squash, zucchini, peppers, and eggplant, is served daily in the cathedral’s Sandefur Dining Hall. "The food nourishes the hungry individuals who come to the hall every day looking for a meal," said Angela Wiggins, an executive assistant at the cathedral.

Volunteer Rita Owens drives to the farm weekly during warm months to collect a carload of fresh produce and delivers it to the cathedral. There, other volunteers clean and prepare it for lunches. "The remainder is frozen to be used during the lean winter months," Wiggins added, noting that the partnership between the cathedral and the farm is a blessing.