Mission

Mission Focus for May: Family Promise

Since Family Promise is no longer housing homeless families in churches, we are participating in the apartment furnishings project. When a sponsored homeless family moves into a Family Promise temporary apartment, the organization helps with a variety of services: counseling, arranging medical care and childcare, and a job search, if necessary.

The goal is to secure permanent housing within 90 days. If the guest family wants to stay in the apartment and take over the lease, that's ideal. They keep the furnishings. If they find a new place, Family Promise provides them with a Mustard Seed referral for furniture, Goodwill vouchers for housewares, and more. The now vacant apartment and its furnishings become a shelter for the next family that calls. There are now 26 apartments backed by the program.

The rate of success is astounding. After two years of being housed, 85% of families who "stick with the program" are self-sufficient and no longer homeless.

It has been 12 months since Carmel United Methodist Church collected items for this shelter program. This year, from April 26 - May 31, 2023 our CUMC congregation will be collecting items to furnish one two-bedroom apartment. All gently-used or new items should be delivered to the church office.

Here is the sign up link: https://carmelumc.ccbchurch.com/goto/needs/public

(the QR code takes you to this link)

It is the same process as last year.

1. Choose your items for donation, and

2. Follow the prompts to include your contact information.

All furniture items should be donated to Mustard Seed, 317-572-5724, www.mustardseedindy.org

If you prefer, in lieu of donating items, you could write a check to Carmel United Methodist Church and write " Family Promise Donation" on the memo line.

Thank you for all that you do to help the homeless in Greater Indianapolis. With your support, we can help local families in need,

"because every child deserves a home."

For more information contact:

Carla and Don Bennett

carlabennett1947@gmail.com

The CUMC Food Pantry serves about 300 families each month. We partner with local churches, school organizations and members of the community to serve healthy food to HAMILTON COUNTY RESIDENTS. Please bring proof of residence, such as a driver's license and/or utility bill with you when you visit the food pantry.

In 2022, St Christopher's Episcopal Church, Carmel Christian Church, Cornerstone Lutheran, and Pilgrim Lutheran, donated bounty from their own gardens to the CUMC Food Pantry. Orchard Park Presbyterian Church donates all of the eggs given to guests of the pantry.

If you are interested in volunteering in the Food Pantry, please email cumcpantryscheduling@yahoo.com.

Sierra Leone Mission Team | Jessica Stevens writes:

"Our team from Operation Classroom and Carmel UMC is wrapping up its first week with our partners, Carmel Preschool and Taiama Enterprise Academy in Sierra Leone! The worldwide UMC is working alongside the Sierra Leone UMC to bring education, healthcare and churches to the communities here. We’ve spent the week building relationships and learning so much from amazing Sierra Leoneans".
READ MORE about the Sierra Leone trip on page 5 of the
March issue of The CONTACT.

Family Promise is the nation's leading organization working to prevent and end family homelessness. Carmel UMC was one of the founding partner churches to get this non-profit started in the Indianapolis area. What began as churches providing food and shelter in the winter months has turned into furnishing apartments to help provide stability for homeless families and most especially their children.

May 2023 is Family Promise month at Carmel United Methodist Church.

See the article at the TOP of this page.

Click here for closed dates and weather closing policy.