In the late 1880s, a group of church leaders in Indianapolis got together to discuss a plan to care for the growing number of orphans in the area.
What began as a mission to help youth continued to expand, creating residential programs and community programs such as case management services, 24/7 crisis intervention and family preservation services.
They’ve changed and adjusted over the years, but one of the long-standing ministries remains.
Back in the 1970s, Lutheran Child and Family Services (LCFS) began serving food to those in need under a the name The Sharing Place. They’ve always served numbers into the tens of thousands, but in recent years the volunteers are seeing an increase they would have never expected.
The Sharing Place served 55,149 people in 2023, and this year the food pantry has served 49,553 people so far – on track to serve more in 2024 than ever before.
The post-pandemic world has created hardships for families across the globe. Jobs were lost, prices increased, and it’s harder to make ends meet.
“I think it’s the inflation we’ve seen,” said Public Relations and Communications Coordinator Kristen Livingstone. “When we look at 2021, we served just under 28,000 people, and watching that number double in two years is the result. The numbers just continue to climb.”
They operate out of the Lawrence Township School Foundation building and serve zip codes in Marion and Hancock counties. Partnering with local grocery stores and Gleaners Food Bank, which makes regular deliveries, they’ve been able to keep up with demand for food, but they can always use donations from volunteers in the community.
Consistent needs include pasta, rice, peanut butter, toilet paper, toothpaste and laundry detergent. These can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on most weekdays.
Perhaps more importantly, The Sharing Place is in desperate need of volunteers. Without people, it’s difficult to serve those in need.
“Individuals can come twice per month and they don’t need a referral – just proof of residency at each visit,” Livingstone said. “We do the client choice method, which means it’s set up like a grocery store and you shop with points, based on the number of people in your household. Each person is assigned a volunteer and that person shops along with them, guiding the process.”
Clients can choose among canned food, fresh produce, breads and meat. There are free items too – those that don’t require a point to place in the cart.
They’ve made it easier for volunteers to sign up through an online scheduling program. Those interested can simply click on the pantry and see where the gaps are in volunteer needs.
Though some might find it intimidating to volunteer when you don’t have prior experience, Livingstone said it’s easier than one might think.
“We’ve definitely seen a decrease in volunteers, and the bulk of the work is helping clients shop and pick things out,” Livingstone said. “If you’re not a big people person, there are opportunities throughout the week to stock shelves or clean and organize the pantry. There is a wide variety of things volunteers can do.”
Despite a lower number of volunteers to get the work done, The Sharing Place isn’t stopping. They are still partnering with organizations in the community and finding other ways to help. Most recently, they’ve expanded offerings through the Silver Box program, delivering pre-made boxes of food to clients’ homes. “This is in partnership with King of Glory Lutheran Church,” Livingstone said. “It’s for people with transportation issues. We deliver on the third Friday and Saturday of every month, and right now we’re putting clients on a wait list, but the more volunteers we have, the more we can serve.”
The Sharing Place team is hopeful the new program continues to expand by fostering partnerships with additional local churches and gaining volunteer delivery drivers.
Delivering to a homebound person or to someone with no transportation often sparks long-lasting friendships and community bonding.
In addition, the Emergency Diaper Dispensary is available for those individuals referred through caseworkers. If eligible, clients can submit a request and pick up the diapers a few days later. Diaper and wipe donations are welcome, and should be delivered to: 1525 North Ritter Avenue, Indianapolis IN 46219.
The Sharing Place operates out of 6501 Sunnyside Road, Door 5 in Indianapolis.
