Missions at St. Mark’s
March Mission Focus
Family Promise
Family Promise is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1994, in response a crisis of family homelessness. While most traditional shelters separate by gender, Family Promise keeps families together, battling homelessness, while they work to get back on their feet. As the gap between housing costs and income continues to widen, more and more families are at risk of homelessness, increasing the likelihood families will separate, children will fall behind in school, and eventually drop out. More than 2.5 million children in America experience homelessness.
Monthly In-Kind Donation –
Family Promise Housewares & Supply Drives
St. Mark’s has a Housewares Drives, collecting donations of kitchen and living items, linens and more, to fully furnish and establish an Apartment Shelter. In an additional Restocking Supply Drive, we collect donations of paper goods and items for frequent replenishing, to support the ongoing apartment needs.
Current Mission Opportunities
Fletcher Place Breakfast
now at 901 S. Shelby Street
We are excited for the return of serving hot meals in person, to the Fletcher Place community, at their new location, which includes new meal schedules.
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. SEEKING REGULAR DELIVERER FOR 2ND WEDNESDAYS to Carmel location.
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. Andrews
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, a nonprofit organization, has been compassionately dedicated to building stronger families and vibrant communities, for over 50 years. Their new location, 2140 N. Arsenal Ave, Indianapolis, offers a “Client Choice” food pantry, where clients are able to select foods that best meet their needs. St. Mark’s volunteers help with stocking and assisting clients with shopping, on varied Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Contact Diane Newton for more information and to sign up at 317-288-4523 or joediane244@att.net.
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 2023 Blood Drives: 1/29, 4/23, 6/25, 9/10, 11/12 Sign up today at stmarkscarmel.org/signups, under “Serving Our Community”.
Outreach Indiana
Outreach Indiana in Indianapolis is an organization that assists homeless youth and young adults with basic personal needs and life skills coaching.
Click here to learn more and see how you can help.
Please contact Stephanie Cohen if you would like to know more.