We have lots of outreach opportunities right here in Central Indiana where people need to see God's love in action. Keep reading to see what tangible help we offer to our neighbors through our local outreach partners.
We rely on volunteers to help behind the scenes and could use your help! Help sorting and distributing food is needed on Thursdays from 10 am until 12 pm and Fridays from 11 am until 2 pm. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Love to shop? Willing to give a few hours to unload donations or organize the pantry? Interested in packing groceries? Maybe you have a group or team looking for a one-time service project. If you have a willing heart and compassionate spirit, join us! Email the Food Pantry Team to get all the details. str8uplife.org Str8Up is a ministry serving urban youth in grades 8-12 on the Northwest side of Indianapolis. The format is club-based, similar to Youth for Christ or CRU, with a major differing factor. Str8Up has a large integrated campus in the 65th and Grandview area near Michigan Road. The campus includes a club house, counseling center, large summer camp, small lake, indoor basketball gym, large garden, a low-ropes course, and other activities. The majority of the students attend either North Central or Pike high schools. Str8Up Ministries is committed to raising a dynamic, disciplined, dedicated, and determined generation who have been changed by their relationship with God and mentors. Through the neighborhood youth lodge, Str8Up provides a local environment with activities to strengthen families and mentor youth in a variety of ways, particularly in the areas of spiritual growth and maturity, life skills training, academic tutoring, and leadership development. They offer these activities at no financial cost to the youth or their families. + Greg Rankin [317.590.6334] Since 1984, Habitat for Humanity of Boone County (HFHBC) has been offering a hand up not a hand out, enabling partner families to achieve pride in home ownership working side-by-side with volunteers to build houses. At the end of 2022, HFHBC will have built 70 homes and helped over 200 hard working adults and children with their dream of housing stability. Habitat’ envisions a world where everyone has a decent place to live. They work toward this by acting as Christ’s hands and feet to build and improve homes in partnership with those in need of decent, affordable homes. HFHBC partners with volunteers, donors, and corporations to break the cycle of poverty. The affiliate maintains a foreclosure rate well below that of a typical lender and selects partner families based on housing need, ability to repay a mortgage, and willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity by earning between 200-400 hours of “sweat equity” or volunteer time. At ReStore, shoppers will find constantly changing inventory, prices well below retail, frequent markdowns, and one-of-kind items. Profits from ReStore go toward building homes for families in need. + Dan Puck [317.796.1976] Sort-Rip-Cut-Design-Sew-Iron-Tie-Knit-Crochet-Pray-Repeat! That's what the ladies of Loose Threads do each Thursday in Room 202 to help make a difference in our community making quilts for the homeless and knitted or crocheted prayer shawls for the sick. Come for an hour or two or four! + Sue Armstrong [317.873.1625] shepherdcommunity.org Serving the Near Eastside of Indianapolis, Shepherd works to build assets into people’s lives so they can break the bonds of generational poverty through creating life-long, relationship-based care. Shepherd seeks to make a difference physically, socially, and spiritually in the main areas of food security, mentoring, education, and advocacy. + Dale Thomas [317.374.6876] kairosprisonministry.org Kairos Prison Ministry International, Inc. (Kairos) is a lay-led, interdenominational Christian ministry in which men and women volunteers bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to prisoners and their families. Kairos takes participants on a journey that demonstrates the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Kairos Prison Ministry is Christian in nature, although no religious affiliation is necessary to be a participant. The programs involve a structured model that includes the weekend experience, followed by guests or participants gathering regularly for accountability, support, and prayer. Kairos Prison Ministry is made up of three programs, which reach over 27,000 people annually: Kairos Inside, Kairos Outside, and Kairos Torch. Members at ZPC have served here in Indiana at the Pendleton Correctional Facility, Pendleton Correctional Industrial Facility, Newcastle Correctional Facility, Indianapolis Women’s Prison, Pendleton Juvenile Facility (Torch) and Kairos Outside of Central Indiana. + Jack Ellett [317.523.5803] The mission of the ZPC Hispanic Ministry is to build relationships, equip leaders, and create communities with excellence in the three areas in which they work - Local Hispanic churches, Mexico,and Dominican Republic. They do this through evangelism/discipleship, church planting, and leadership development. Some of the ways ZPC has supported these missions are Vacation Bible School (all ages), construction trips (youth and adult), supporting new church plants and leadership retreats (adults). We share their passions of disciple making and evangelism. + Larry Larew [317.435.4129] + Val Lindenschmidt [317.509.3449] + Barry Sumner [317.840.5638] Fuller Center for Housing of Central Indiana is a grass roots, faith-driven, all volunteer local chapter of Fuller Center for Housing International. They leverage partnerships with individuals and community groups to build and rehabilitate homes for people in need. Along the way, they help families develop the personal habits necessary to ensure their fiscal accountability and future success. As part of their Christian philosophy, they do not charge interest to the families for which they build. Their total mission is to help those adults in poverty get a “hand up” and not a hand out. All of their homeowners provide over 200 hours of sweat equity. We show the love of God to every person we touch and building homes is a great way to make new friends. + Mike Crabb [317.341.2922] wheelermission.org Wheeler Mission helps the homeless in Indiana. Wheeler is a non-denominational, Christian, social services organization, which provides critically needed goods and services to individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and need in Central and South-Central Indiana, without regard to race, color, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, or religion. Founded in 1893, Wheeler is the oldest continuously operating ministry of its kind in the state of Indiana. Wheeler operates nine locations and dozens of ministries. Their mission is to provide Christ-centered programs and services for individuals experiencing homelessness and those in need. Their vision is to see every man, woman, and child we serve equipped to be productive citizens who enjoy lasting success in Christ. + Fritz Breisch [317.590.2031]Ways to be Involved:
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