Northside Mission Ministry
Sign up to help at the food pantry
HUNGER
As Christians, we welcome all to the table. Yet, we know that some of our friends and neighbors may be facing food insecurity as they try to provide for their families. We invite you to explore the many ways Second is addressing the issue of hunger in our neighborhood, city, and world.
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Northside Food Pantry is open to Washington Township residents on the following days:
- Tuesdays, 12:30-3 p.m.
- Wednesdays, 4-6:30 p.m.
- Saturdays, 10 a.m.-Noon
Doors open 30 minutes prior to above times.
Northside Ministry cares for the underserved and those experiencing hardship in Washington Township by building relationships to develop food security, to work toward economic stability, and to participate fully in the life of the community.
Check out this profile of Northside Mission Ministries in Responsive Congregations, a publication of the Project on Religion and Urban Culture 2.0, a joint initiative of the Polis Center and IU School of Liberal Arts. You'll see how the Holy Spirit has moved within our congregation to shape this vital ministry "To create transformational change in the place that Second Church has called home for nearly two centuries, among people who—members or not—belong to its community."
Northside Food Pantry
Located on the northeast corner of the church, the food pantry is a tangible witness to our church in action.
We are limited to 12 volunteers per shift. In addition to food pantry hours, we also need drivers for donation pickup, sorting, stocking, and home delivery every Friday.
Northside Food Pantry sources most of its food through Gleaners. If you would like to help keep the pantry shelves stocked, you can donate online and select "Northside Food Pantry" in the drop-down menu.For more information or to volunteer, contact Karen Johnson.
Pantry Volunteer Opportunities
We encourage you to consider all volunteer opportunities described below and then sign up online.
Data Entry - This task requires approval and special training. This position requires computer use and works directly with the intake volunteer and clients. Volunteer should arrive 1 hour before opening shift.
Intake - This task requires special training and previous pantry experience. Volunteer works directly with the data entry volunteer to ensure all required client information is obtained.
Client Liaison - This job involves assisting clients during their shopping experience inside. Plan to be on your feet 3-4 hours. You will receive on the job training during your first shift.
Data Entry - This job requires special training and is a sit-down job. It involves the use of a computer and the ability to multi-task.
Car Loader - You will be working outside helping clients load their vehicles. You may also help with traffic control.
Food Delivery Processing - This job involves unpacking, sorting and storing food from our various vendors. Food delivery takes place when the pantry is closed to the public. This is a behind-the-scenes job with no food pantry client interaction. You will receive on-the-job training.
Contact:
Karen Johnson
KJohnson@SecondChurch.org
Community Garden
The three-quarter acre plot south of the church provides fresh vegetables to the Northside Food Pantry. Dedicated volunteers tend the garden, which is not only productive, but also beautiful, featuring flower beds, a seating area, and a prayer garden.
Contact:
Jeff Reese
Garden Manager
reesejs19@gmail.com
Willowlake/Greenbriar Elementary School
Northside works collaboratively with Women@Second and other friends of Greenbriar to provide volunteer support for classrooms and school events, snacks for after-school tutoring, teacher appreciation events, and the donation of school supplies and other specially requested items.
Greenbriar students need school supplies throughout the year. Download the supply list and bring donations to Second in a bag marked “Greenbriar.”
Contact:
Jan Millholland
jmillholland@indy.rr.com
Utility and Rent Assistance
The Utility and Rent Assistance Program (URAP) partners with the Washington Township Trustee's office and families in Washington Township to offer emergency assistance. In these “gap” situations, a little assistance goes a long way, often preventing a family from losing their housing or having their power shut off. Our partners provide vital case management with URAP families to ensure long term stability.
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Community Garden
Help our garden grow!Volunteer hours are:
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to Noon
- Tuesday, 9 a.m. to Noon
- Wednesday, 1-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
Let's grow together! Volunteers are welcome to come help plant, weed, and care for our garden.
Volunteer hours are:
- Saturday, 9 a.m. to Noon
- Tuesday, 9 a.m. to Noon
- Wednesday, 1-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.
No experience required! The garden team will be on hand to coach volunteers in a variety of tasks including picking beans, cleaning produce, bundling food, assembling soup kits, and more. Some jobs (but not all) require bending over or getting down on the ground.
Last year the garden team harvested two tons of produce! This fresh food goes on the shelves of the Northside Food Pantry, where it is distributed to local families.
If you would like to help in the garden, please contact Jeff Reese at (317) 407-5757 or ReeseJS19@gmail.com and ask to receive email "Garden Updates."
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Umoja Partnership
Feeding daily lunch to more than 4,300 schoolchildren in western KenyaEach fall, Umoja Partnership has a Food for Thought Campaign to fund its school lunch program in 20 primary schools. More than 4,300 children receive a nourishing lunch, consisting primarily of maize and beans and cooked and served by guardians and other community members.
FAST FACTS:- We work in the rural areas of the district of Kisumu in western Kenya, where the average family lives on less than a dollar a day. The population is dominated by young people (39% are age 15 or younger).
- 30.5% of these young people lack a parent at home. Due to the loss of one or both parents, a large proportion of children in our community are not living with their biological parents.
- Often, these families do not have enough money to provide food for their families, and schools in Kenya do not provide lunch. Young children frequently skip 
school to search for small jobs to buy food. - Our School Lunch Program ensures that 4,371 students in 20 primary schools receive at least one nutritious meal every day. We also provide weekend and evening food to 150 households in which children live alone without any adult present.
- It costs just 14 cents to feed one student per day! A gift of $50 nourishes the mind and body of 333 students for a day.
- Established in 2007, we are a partnership of many faiths, from different cultures, on two different continents, united in our service to change lives by keeping children in school.
For more than ten years, members of Second have joined with other faith groups in Indianapolis to support the work of the Umoja Partnership in western Kenya. The Kenyan staff provides food, shelter, empowerment programs, and education fees for orphaned and vulnerable children.
Umoja is a partnership of many faiths, from different cultures, on two continents, united in service to change lives by keeping children in school. Umoja means “unity” in Kiswahili. Learn more about Umoja Partnership.
Second is a founding member of Umoja Partnership, an interfaith organization dedicated to transforming communities one child at a time. You can learn more at UmojaPartnership.org.
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Advocacy: Speak Out for Others
Add your voice to Second's work addressing both hunger and housing issues right here in our community and across the country.
Why do we do this work? As Christians we are called to speak out on behalf of others. Read Rev. Chris Henry's article No More "Playing Church" and watch the conversation between Rev. Chris Henry and Jim Morris, president and CEO of Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity.
Add your voice to Second's work addressing both hunger and housing issues right here in our community (a church for the city!) and across the country. We'll equip you with helpful information, as well as offer tools to help you contact your state and national government representatives.
Advocate for Action
So much of our mission work involves being the hands and feet of Christ, providing food for our neighbors, building and repairing homes. Advocacy Days allow us to amplify the voice of Christ as well, speaking out for those in need.
This work is nonpartisan. We are all called to bear the burdens of others and walk alongside our neighbors. Writing to our representatives is an opportunity to address the roots of housing and hunger issues, getting to the factors that perpetuate the problems.
Thank you for putting your faith into action by using your voice to advocate for others. Follow these three easy steps to speak out:
1. Educate yourself about the issues and current legislation being considered.
- Click here for information about Indiana legislation related to housing (updated June 2022).
- Click here to learn about U.S. legislation related to food security (updated June 2022). More information is available on the Bread for the World website (Bread.org).
2. Gather names and addresses for your representatives.
Not sure who your representative is? Find out here. When you enter your address into this website, you'll learn who your state and national representatives are.
3. Write a letter stating what is on your heart.
Sample Letter Format:
Address your letter to "The Honorable (name of member of Congress)"
Paragraph 1: Establish importance of this topic.
"Hunger is an important issue to me because..." (state why hunger is an important issue to you)
Examples:
- "My faith calls me to action..."
- "I have faced hunger in my life..."
- "I know people who odn't know where their next meal is coming from..."
- "I work at a food pantry..."
Paragraph 2: Call to action
"You are facing legislation..."
- List current legislation this Congressperson should be considering.
- Tell the Congressperson how you would like them to vote on these issues.
- Let them know that you vote based on thes issue and that you will be watching to see what they do.
Sign your letter:
Your constituent,
Name
Full address (to establish yourself as their constituent)Thank you to Jeff and Cathie Reese for providing the food security research and these letter writing tips! Thank you to Rev. Tyler Brinks for researching housing legislation in Indiana!
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Souper Bowl of Caring
Join our team in February!Learn how you can donate today to help feed our neighbors!
On February 12, more than 100 million Americans will watch the Super Bowl, while 50 million people in this country are food insecure. In fact, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment and food insecurity soared, and more people are turning to food banks and programs to help provide basic nourishment. In Marion County alone, almost 25% of all residents are currently food insecure.
The "Souper Bowl of Caring” began with a Presbyterian minister in Columbia, SC, who prayed with his youth group: “Lord, even as we watch the big game, help us be mindful of people who don’t have enough to eat.” We continue with the Souper Bowl of Caring every February here at Second and we are proud to support our Northside Food Pantry through this event.
- We will be collecting canned and dry goods, as well as other necessities for our Food Pantry starting Monday, January 30 and running through Sunday, February 12. Download a list of suggested items to donate.
- We are also accepting financial donations from now through February 12 that will be used to purchase food and supplies for the pantry. Donations can be made several ways:
- Online at SecondChurch.org/Give (select drop-down box: Souper Bowl of Caring)
- Via the tithe.ly app (select drop-down box: Souper Bowl of Caring)
- Text to give: (833) 818-3036 (include your gift amount + Souper Bowl)
- In person after worship services on February 5 and 12
Did you know that an average of 2,140 people receive food from our Northside Food Pantry every month? Northside Food pantry is open three days a week and provides nutritious food to neighbors in and around Washington Township. Monetary donations help support the purchase of healthy food, such as milk, eggs and produce. Demand for Northside Food Pantry has grown over the past few years, up 40% in 2022, so your support is very important to this ministry right now. Your contributions through the Souper Bowl of Caring, as well as all year long, help the Northside Food Pantry to mobilize over 264,000 pounds of donated food and purchase food from Gleaners Food Bank.
Please consider supporting the Souper Bowl of Caring and using this special opportunity to help feed the hungry.
Thank you for your generosity!
Northside Food Pantry
Suggested Items for donating (all should be regular size portions, 15-16 oz., 1 lb.)
DRY GOODS
Peanut butter- plastic not glass
Jelly- plastic not glass
Pasta- Elbow and Penne
White Rice
Chicken or Beef Ramen
Boxed Cereal
Baking Mix
Pancake Mix
Dry beans- 1 lb. (black, pinto, lentil, 15 bean soup)CANNED GOODS
Chili (canned)
Sloppy Joe (canned)
Beef Stew (canned)
Soup (favorites are chunky chicken noodle, cream of mushroom or chicken, tomato, vegetable)
Canned fruit (mandarin or pineapple are favorites)
Canned vegetablesOTHER ITEMS
Pancake Syrup
Cooking Oil
Spices and condimentsNON FOOD ITEMS
Shampoo, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste
Toilet paper+ 
Northside Mission Ministry
Home Deliveries