Carmel Mayor directs $25,000 in City support for local food pantries in need

CARMEL, IN – Mayor Jim Brainard directed checks be written today to support four Carmel food pantries in need of donations to help provide food to those who are now homebound during the COVID-19 crisis. Those checks – totaling $25,000 – were hand delivered today by the Carmel Police Department to the Merciful Help Center at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, the Carmel United Methodist Food Pantry and the Bread of Life Pantry at Venture Christian Church. A fourth check will be hand-delivered Wednesday to Carmel Friends Church.

            The Mayor directed that the City use funds in his annual budget for immediate distribution to the Carmel food pantries. These funds were in the budget to support local initiatives that provide vital services to those most in need in our community.

            “Nothing is more important at this time than helping our neighbors, especially the elderly and under-privileged who rely on our local food pantries for survival,” said Mayor Brainard. “With children home from school and many working from home, the need is even greater. I urge all of our residents to check on their neighbors and help provide support during this trying time.”

            The City learned late this morning that the City’s largest food pantry, Merciful Help Center, completely ran out of food yesterday. The demand has been great and financial assistance will help them resupply the pantry. Because of the threat of spreading the virus, those in need of food cannot simply enter the food pantries; now they must pull up to the curb and work with volunteers to place orders and wait on their food to be carried to their cars. Because of this, food pantries are also in need of more volunteers.

            Each of the three largest food pantries – Merciful Help, Carmel United Methodist and Bread of Life – are receiving $7,500 checks today while the smaller pantry at Carmel Friends Church (open only one day a week) is getting $2,500.

            The City urges local residents and businesses to help support this cause. Below is a list of food pantries and their hours of operation.

Merciful Help Center

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Campus

1045 W. 146th St.

Carmel, IN 46032

South side of Mathew 25 Center, (Blue Awning)

HOURS

Tuesdays 10 a.m. to Noon; 5 to 7 p.m.

Thursdays 10 AM to Noon

Saturdays 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Carmel United Methodist Church

621 N. Range Line Road

Carmel, IN 46032

Mission House side door next to garage

(Dry Goods will be quarantined for 48 hours prior to use)

HOURS

Mondays 1 – 5 p.m.

Tuesdays 1 – 7 p.m.

Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p .m.

Bread of Life Pantry

Venture Christian Church

14501 Hazel Dell Parkway

Carmel, IN 46033

(317) 846-9828

HOURS

Wednesdays 5 to 6:30 p.m.

1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. to Noon

Carmel Friends Church

651 W. Main Street

Carmel, IN 46032

(317) 846-5090

Wednesdays 9 to 11:30 a.m.

For volunteering, food requests and any other special problems caused by COVID-19, or for more information, send us an email at help@carmel.in.gov