Missions at St. Mark’s
February Mission Focus – Midwest Mission Distribution Center
Midwest Mission Distribution Center, a ministry ofthe United Methodist Church, provides basicresources around the world and around the cornerto create hope and empowerment for those inneed. MMDC focuses on four main areas: health,education, microbusiness, and disaster relief. Since opening for ministry in 2000, they have been showing God’s Love in practical ways. Midwest Mission transforms the resources of God’s people into humanitarian relief, powered by your prayers and contributions, and connecting with local aid organizations.
St. Mark’s will partner again with Midwest Mission Distribution Center for a Rice Meal Food Pack. All meals go to non-profits internationally. In connecting with “Food for the Poor”, response is given where the need is greatest. Last year St.Mark’s provided and packed 2,400 rice meal bags, totaling 14,400 meals!
Donations can be made online at stmarkscarmel.org/give or by using the offering envelopes in the attendance pads on Sunday morning.
February In-Kind Donations & Kidz Monthly Mission
Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF)
During the month of February, we will be collecting items for Helping Veterans and Families (HVAF) of Indiana. HVAF is a nonprofit in Indianapolis that helps homeless veterans return to self-sufficiency and engages at-risk veterans and their families to prevent them from becoming homeless by providing supportive housing, case management, employment support, therapy, and basic needs including food, hygiene and clothing. Click the link below to go to stmarkscarmel.org/in-kind to find the detailed list and the Amazon Wish List.
Contact Amy Adams for more information at aadams@stmarkscarmel.org.
Current Mission Opportunities
Fletcher Place Breakfast
now at 901 S. Shelby Street
Can you help St. Mark’s provide a monthly breakfast for the Fletcher Place Community Center? More help is needed to cook and serve a hot breakfast for their homeless and low-income population, one Friday per month, 7:15-11:15 AM. Volunteers prepare a greatly appreciated meal while enjoying the reward of fellowship and service. Please sign up at least one month ahead.
Help Deliver Panera Bread
Each week St. Mark’s participates in Panera Bread’s Dough-Nation Program: end of day unused bread and pastries get delivered to food pantries, homeless shelters, and those in need. Food is picked up from a nearby Panera before closing on Wednesday evenings and delivered the next morning. Occasional subs needed-see link below for dates and locations. Contact Amy Adams for questions at aadams@stmarkscarmel.org.
Missions Delivery Team
Help is occasionally needed to deliver collected in-kind donation items to various mission partner locations. Volunteers will be contacted a week prior to the suggested delivery date to ensure your availability. Sign up here to let us know you’re interested.
Please contact Amy Adams at aadams@stmarkscarmel.org for more info.
Mission Guatemala
A United Methodist-related organization that works in the highlands of Guatemala.
Click here to learn more about how you can be involved.
Family Promise
Family Promise of Greater Indy is a partnership of congregations and community organizations responding to the crisis of children and their families who are homeless.
Click here to see how you can make a difference.
Midwest Mission
Midwest Mission, a ministry of the United Methodist Church, distributes kits around the world and around the corner for health, education, and disaster relief supplies.
Click here to see how you can help.
Fletcher Place Community Center
Located in southeast Indianapolis, is dedicated to alleviating poverty & hunger for families, youth and homeless persons in their neighborhood.
Click here to find out how you can help.
East 10th UM Children & Youth Center
Provides quality care and education to children and families on Indianapolis’ Near Eastside, regardless of a parent’s ability to pay.
Click here to learn more.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness and to making adequate affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action.
Click here to find out more.
Good Samaritan Network
The mission of Good Samaritan Network is to serve the physical, financial and emotional needs of under-served people in Hamilton County.
Click here to find out how you can help.
UMCOR (UNITED METHODIST COMMITTEE ON RELIEF)
UMCOR comes alongside those who suffer from natural or human-caused disasters to alleviate suffering and to be a source of help and hope for those left most vulnerable. They provide relief, response, and long-term recovery grants when these events overwhelm a community’s ability to recover on their own.
Click here to find out more.
Society of St. Andrew
The Society of St. Andrew salvages potatoes and other produce that are rejected by commercial markets or potato chip factories that usually end up at local landfills.
Find out how you can help with the distribution.
Operation Classroom
Operation Classroom is in partnership with the Sierra Leone Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Click here to learn more.
Local Food Pantries
St. Mark’s supports several food pantries that are helping feed hungry people in our community.
Click here for more information on what is needed.
Red Bird Mission
Red Bird Mission and Clinic have been providing ministries in the Appalachian Mountains of southeastern Kentucky since 1921.
Click here to find out how you can help.
Hamilton County Kid’s Coats
Soup’s On At Roberts Park
Brightwood Community Center
The Brightwood Community Center is a nonprofit organization, compassionately dedicated to building stronger families and vibrant communities. Click here to learn more about Brightwood Community Center.
Changing Footprints
Changing Footprints is a local non-profit organization that accepts shoes of all kinds and distributes them to individuals and organizations wherever there is a need, whether in Indiana, the United States or overseas. They even accept unwearable shoes—these are recycled, keeping them out of landfills! Changing Footprints operates two warehouses in the Indianapolis area. For more information visit their website.
Check out sorting dates and times needed and sign up directly with Changing Footprints.
Versiti Blood Center of Indiana
Based in Indianapolis, Versiti Blood Center of Indiana supplies blood services, blood products and specialty services to more than 60 hospitals across the state. They collect more than 130,000 units of blood annually. St. Mark’s is a proud host for Blood Drives and open to anyone in the community, as well as our members. Dates for 2025 blood drives at St. Mark’s UMC are 1/26, 4/13, 6/22, 9/7, 11/9. Sign up today at stmarkscarmel.org/signups, under “Serving Our Community”.
Outreach Indiana
Outreach Indiana in Indianapolis is an organization that assists youth and young adults, who are experiencing homelessness, with basic personal needs and life skills coaching.
Click here to learn more and see how you can help.
Ascent 121
Ascent 121 is a non-profit organization committed to helping survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. Their mission is to empower young people and their families through long-term recovery services to position them for their next chapter in life. Built on a foundation of faith, Ascent 121 provides a continuum of care for survivors of human trafficking. Click here to find out more.
Lucille Raines Residence (LRR)
Lucille Raines Residence (LRR) is a facility owned and operated by the United Women in Faith of Indiana (UWF). LRR, located in downtown Indianapolis, was founded in 1977. LRR houses up to 49 individuals recovering from alcohol and drug addiction, giving people a place to rebuild their lives and relationships with God, all while learning how to function independently day-to-day and working on successful recovery. Click here to find out more.
Please contact Missions Coordinator Amy Adams if you would like to know more.