On a mild December afternoon, Calvin Griffin sits on the steps of Louis Russell School 48, near the corner of 34th and Central Avenue.
Lately, he has had trouble making ends meet and has dealt with hunger, like many low-income residents and homeless individuals in the area.
“It’s been hard for many of us,” said the middle-aged man, bundled in a skullcap and weathered jacket. “There are families out here with children who haven’t eaten in days.”
Several feet in front of him is a growing line of dozens of people who are also waiting patiently for the arrival of what some call “the miracle of the week.”
Suddenly, at around 12:30 p.m., a motorcade of several trucks and vans filled with food, clothing and other items races into the parking lot.
Griffin jumps up as the convoy arrives, in the way one would greet liberators who have come to their rescue. With a smile and raised arms he shouts, “Praise the Lord!”
An army of volunteers with Circle City Relief emerge from the vehicles. With military precision, they set up tables and unload boxes of pizza and other warm food items and clothes in a matter of minutes. Another set of volunteers is ready to repair bicycles.
Then, those standing in line happily pick up what they need and receive encouragement and words that bring a smile to their face. Yes, the week ahead may be tough, but today, there is hope.
“I don’t think words can describe something like this,” Griffin said.
Indeed, it is a powerful scene that’s replayed on this parking lot – every Sunday.
Going where the needs are
Circle City Relief is an organization that serves various goods to struggling families and the homeless in the area near School 48 every Sunday.
Guests can take a ticket and stand in line to receive everything from a Little Caesars pizza and soup, to a bus pass and a new coat for the winter. Families with multiple children get more than just a single pizza, but one for each child.
In addition, bicycles can be repaired, and those who do not have one can receive a new bike. Free abuse and addictions counseling is also occasionally available, along with information on obtaining affordable housing, health services and jobs.
“Circle City Relief exists to reach out to the poor and marginalized and those people in the inner city of Indianapolis not just with food, but resources that can help them to better their lives,” said Matt Gay, a retired professional football player who established the organization with his wife Sandy.
During a 2009 visit to New York, they witnessed the work of a group called New York City Relief, and realized that Indianapolis needed a similar organization. In addition, as members of Grace Community Church in Noblesville, the Gays have learned to put into action the part of their Christian faith that encourages those who are doing well to uplift those who are less fortunate.
Certainly, there are several relief organizations in Central Indiana that have their doors open with available resources, but not all of them actually deliver those resources directly to areas where there is a significant need.
“Our goal is to reach as many people with the love of Christ as possible by being his hands and feet, and we are being obedient to what God has called us to do,” Sandy Gay said. “Coming out here every Sunday has just been a blessing, not only to those on the receiving end, but those who volunteer as well.”
Later this month, Circle City Relief will hold a Christmas giveaway where presents will be distributed to families.
Originally, Circle City Relief just gave out pizzas, but expanded to offering other items by teaming up with several service groups such as Food Rescue, which collects fresh but unused food items from restaurants around the city that would otherwise be thrown away and wasted.
Volunteers come from a variety of sources, from students at Noblesville High School to members of Free Wheelin’, a youth development organization that uses bicycles to teach life skills, who offer their expertise to fix bikes and obtain reliable new ones.
“This effort just continues to grow, and it is an example of how God can take what we have and multiply it,” said Dave Alves, who oversees bicycle volunteers. “I think about a boy we met when we first started who had a speech impediment and physical deformity. He was treated as an outsider at first, but when he got his bike, he was just like all the other kids. Moments like that really touch us.”
Doris Johnson, an area resident, became visibly moved when discussing Circle City Relief’s work.
“What they do for the children and everyone around here is excellent,” she said, holding back tears. “I’m by myself and really have no one to count on, so what is provided means so much to me. They give out everything you need.”
Zinzi Garvin expressed relief after seeing a volunteer fit her smiling stepson Papi with a new coat and hat.
“This is my first time coming out, and it’s just so awesome,” she said. “I have never seen anything done on this kind of scale. It really has to be seen to be believed.”
For more information about Circle City Relief and to volunteer, visit Circlecityrelief.com or send an email to matthewggay@yahoo.com.
Indy Hunger Network Putting it all Together
According to the Indy Hunger Network, hunger and lack of nutrition is a challenge in Indianapolis that often goes unnoticed.
Citing U.S. Census Bureau data, the network reported that the number of children under age 18 living in poverty in Marion County has doubled since 2000 to more than 68,000, and 86 percent of students in the Indianapolis Public Schools district receive free or reduced-cost lunches.
Fortunately, there are several organizations dedicated to fighting hunger among children, families and seniors such as Gleaners and Midwest food banks, Second Helpings, the Society of St. Vincent DePaul and many others.
However, these groups function independently, so the Indy Hunger Network was recently formed to help them work together. The goal is to have a system stronger so that by 2015, it can ensure that anyone who is hungry can have access to resources they need.
“We found that there are great groups providing assistance, but they are all doing different things,” said David Miner, chairman of the Indy Hunger Network. “That’s good, but there wasn’t much collaboration between them. You really don’t have any hope of meeting all the needs if there’s no cohesion.”
Through frequent meetings and joint projects, a coalition of representatives from the area’s anti-hunger organizations are able to provide more food to more people by eliminating gaps in the hunger service system.
“This is a true collaboration among all the food assistance providers,” Miner said.
“Our goal is not to add more organizations, but to help existing organizations work together better together and cover more ground.”
For more information about the Indy Hunger Network, visit Indyhunger.org or call (317) 925-0191.
