INDIANAPOLIS — Volunteers pull milk and orange juice from bulk containers and, with gloved hands, slide them into individual bags.
With masked faces, some of them will greet the families who drive by Charles Warren Fairbanks School 105 each week to pick up food for the week for their children. Later in the week, some volunteers will make porch deliveries to families who can’t make it to the food pickup at the elementary, part of Indianapolis Public Schools.
Renewal Neighborhood Ministry is supplying volunteers to help ensure children don’t go hungry while school is closed.
The nonprofit organization, launched several years ago by Outlook Christian Church in McCordsville and the Crossroads Bible Church that is the school’s northern neighbor, seeks to serve the community in the 42nd Street and Post Road area. Over the years Renewal has offered practical help such as visiting tutors, recruitment of people to support a teacher with encouraging notes and/or supplies, and a summer reading club.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Now, in this season of staying home, the ministry is working to make sure food gets to children who need it.
Like many schools that are closed amid the COVID-19 quarantine, staff at Fairbanks knew some families depended on the breakfasts and lunches children were receiving at school. So it organized the weekly pickups and found Renewal willing to help.
“With the recent situation, they have continued to provide support to our community by assisting with meal delivery through IPS and Gleaners, contacting families daily to ensure their needs are met, and helping provide academic support to our families,” Assistant Principal Joshua Halliwell wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter.
The food distribution efforts extend beyond helping with pickups at Fairbanks and the Phalen Leadership Academy at Francis Scott Key School 103.
When school was in session, some Fairbanks students received a Friday “backsack” of food from Gleaners that was meant to last through the weekend. But with classes not meeting in person, those students couldn’t pick up the food on Fridays. Now that food is going to Outlook so Renewal can deliver it.
Also, school staff helped identify families who might not connect with the weekly pickups. Maybe they don’t have transportation to the school, or maybe they’re a large family that finds it hard to get there.
“They’re kids who, for whatever reason, are not likely to get to the daily meals” offered for pickup at school, said Mike Wilkins, missions and outreach minister at Outlook and president of Renewal’s board. “There’s a risk that they’re not getting fed, so we’re trying to make up that gap. We’re getting that food from a variety of sources, including Outlook and other supporting churches.”
Gloved, masked volunteers can place food on a porch for a family who’s expecting them.
“The first week we spent some time educating them about who we were,” said Ron Hulet, a Renewal board member whose one of the volunteers making the weekly deliveries. “They’re looking for us at this point.”
From a distance, those delivering try to check in, making sure a family knows about other community resources, leaving contact information and asking if there are any prayer requests or other needs.
Hulet said during these times of crisis, Christians can be people who reach out to meet needs and are unafraid.
“Obviously we’re not reckless and we’re not careless, but we don’t have to live in fear necessarily,” he said. “We can be the ones to fill those gaps. That’s why we’re doing it.”
Families, and the neighborhood school serving them, are grateful.
“Renewal Neighborhood Ministry has been a blessing to the staff, students, and families at Charles W. Fairbanks 105 for many years …,” Halliwell wrote. “Our community is a better place because of them during these difficult times.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”You can help” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
A donation bin outside Outlook Christian Church in McCordsville gathers food donations. "We’ve asked people to bring whatever they can," said Mike Wilkins, missions and outreach minister at the church.
Some of the food helps meet needs in the local community. Some will become part of deliveries to families of IPS students in Indianapolis — "we do need things that are easily microwaved or ready to eat … tubs of Chef Boyardee or high-nutrition breakfast bars," Wilkins said
Outlook is also gathering "care packages" to deliver to families along with food. These should include kid-friendly snacks, a note of encouragement, and items to occupy children, such as crayons, coloring books, books, and arts and crafts activities.
Those interested in helping package food for school pickup must be 18 or older, free of coronavirus symptoms, and not in a high-risk group. Those packing food wear masks and gloves, maintain distance from other volunteers, and do not have to interact with the public.
Find out more about donating items or volunteering at http://outlookchurch.org/servego/covid-19-response.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
