Missions at St. Mark’s

September Mission Focus

East 10th Street

SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL HUNGER ACTION MONTH!

Over 70 million people in the U.S. today are food insecure. We throw away billions of pounds of good food each year. Formed in 1979 Society of St. Andrew (SoSA) brings people together to harvest and share healthy food, reduce food waste, and build caring communities by offering nourishment to hungry neighbors.

Monthly In-Kind Donation –
Instant Food Cups for the Homeless

This September we are specifically collecting non-perishable INSTANT FOOD CUPS to help those currently experiencing homelessness. When food pantries can offer instant food cups in convenient disposable containers, this best helps the homeless who thus only need a microwave and/or water to make it a meal- both of which are accessible to them at gas stations!

Requested items may be dropped off in our donation bins, inside Door #2, Monday-Friday, between 9-4.
Thank you for supporting this essential mission!

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. 

Mission Trip Interest Survey

St. Mark’s is gathering info to guide our planning for the next mission trip. Please take a few minutes to complete the 6-question survey so we can learn more about how our members would like to serve.

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

Hamilton County Kids Coats is a collaborative effort between many churches & community partners whose goal is to make sure all Hamilton Co. families stay warm in winter. St. Mark’s collects winter coats and winter-wear (hats, mittens, gloves, snow pants, boots) for HCKC.
Find out more by visiting their website.

Soup’s On At Roberts Park

The Roberts Park United Methodist Church Soup’s On ministry began in 1999, to provide meals on Sundays, for neighbors in need. Soup’s On offers a wonderful opportunity for us to carry out Jesus’ command to “feed the hungry.” Each Sunday, volunteers at Roberts Park serve lunch to hundreds of homeless guests in downtown Indianapolis. St. Mark’s UMC has long been a supporter of this ministry, sending volunteers to provide a meal. St. Mark’s 2023 serving dates: 2/26, 6/4, 8/20, 10/22. Contact Trisha Staneart at tstaneart@frontier.com for more info.

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 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 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.

Please contact Stephanie Cohen if you would like to know more.