How does my contribution help?
Here are some examples:
- $2 per pay period gives 10 hours of tutoring to 1 child
- $3 per pay period covers cancer screenings for 5 adults
- $5 per pay period means school supplies for 25 children
- $10 per pay period provides 1 week of emergency shelter for a woman seeking safety
- $20 per pay period provides 1 child with safe, quality afterschool and summer care
- $30 per pay period keeps a family in safe housing for 3 months
HVAF of Indiana
HVAF of Indiana provides supportive, structured housing to Indiana veterans and their families. Additionally, it provides veterans and their families with the assistance necessary to ensure successful independent living in the community. The center provides food, clothing, furniture, and personal hygiene items to Indiana veterans and their families who are recovering from homelessness. There are as many as 900 homeless veterans in Marion County on any given night and more than 3,600 in Indiana. One out of every three homeless males who is sleeping in a doorway, alley, or box has put on a uniform and served this country. While homeless veterans make up 25 percent of the overall homeless population, they make up more than 35 percent of the chronically homeless.
Sam is a 42-year-old veteran who first served in the Army and then in the National Guard from 1977 to 2000. After leaving the service, he settled in Indianapolis and got a job driving a truck. Sam later worked for a prominent local family providing personal care and home maintenance for an elderly member. After the family member died, Sam lost his job and drifted. Feelings of failure and sadness overtook him, and he self-medicated by abusing drugs. He eventually pulled himself away from drugs, but not until he had lost everything except a beat-up Cadillac.
Sam became one of an estimated 900 homeless veterans who wander the streets of Indianapolis looking for a place to sleep or a hot meal. In 2008, a member of the Veteran’s Administration homeless outreach team referred Sam to HVAF
of Indiana. HVAF offered him an efficiency apartment in their supportive
housing complex. They also provided him with paid utilities, food, a bus pass, and case management. The quiet, safe environment allowed Sam to gain employment at Wal-Mart and begin working toward paying off his debts. The most urgent of his debts were a number of delinquent traffic fines which resulted in suspension of his drivers’ license. Sam faced possible incarceration if they remained unpaid. His case manager helped him put together a repayment plan, and with HVAF’s help, Sam made every court appearance and probation appointment. Despite all his efforts, he was unable to pay the entire amount due by the deadline the prosecutor set.
When he faced the judge with his file of paid tickets and explained his situation, the judge was amazed by what Sam had been able to accomplish on a part-time salary.
He asked Sam to turn around and face the others waiting for their appearance. The judge announced to the court room, “Here is a shining example of what could be done if one perseveres.” The judge then dropped all of Sam’s remaining charges and fees.
Sam continues to work at Wal-Mart and now works almost full time. He has regained his license and aspires to return to truck driving. Sam looks forward to living independently within the next few weeks. For more stories like Sam’s, go to http://www.HVAF.org.
Promising Futures
Promising Futures of Central Indiana's goal is to provide resources to develop healthy relationships and create positive changes for youth and families. Their mission supports the Prevent Child Abuse of Indiana’s approach. Their approach serves as a “catalyst for preventing child abuse in all its forms and to enhance the quality of life for children and families in Indiana. Their vision is to live in a state where children flourish, free from abuse and neglect”.
Promising Futures offers resources to individuals, families, and other organizations and advocates to develop programs and policies to prevent child abuse. Valuing children, strengthening families, and engaging the community are part of their core values. The mission is to enhance the quality of life for children and families in Hamilton County.
To learn more about their other services, go to http://www.promisingfutures.org.
The Food Bank of Northern Indiana
The Food Bank of Northern Indiana is a certified member of Feeding America, a national network of over 200 food banks. Feeding America secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products to more than 63,000 charitable feeding agencies, including soup kitchens, pantries, and shelters. Those agencies in turn feed an estimated 35 million Americans, including 12 million children. In 2009, the Food Bank of Northern Indiana distributed nearly 4 million pounds of food and added over 80 agencies throughout the 6 county service area.
Every $1 donated to a Food and Fund Drive means that the Food Bank of Northern Indiana can distribute enough food to provide up to 7 meals to hungry individuals in our community. The Food Bank works with over 200 agencies in Northern Indiana effectively and efficiently placing the food and funds generated by your efforts in the hands of those who are most vulnerable. The Food Bank distributes around 15,000 pounds of food each business day totaling nearly 4 million pounds of food distributed in 2009. For more information, go to http://www.feedindiana.org.
