Johnson County’s nonprofit organizations need help more than ever this holiday season and beyond. If you and your family want to get involved, here’s a guide to what the community needs:
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana
Needs: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana serves more than 1,200 youth ages 8-18 annually in Hamilton, Johnson, and Marion Counties. There are more than 75 children in Johnson County who are waiting for a Big. We are looking for volunteers who are at least 19 years old and can commit to volunteering for at least one year. The volunteer options available are Big, Big Couple, or Big Friend. Additionally, monetary donations of any size help the organization recruit more volunteers, support current matches and provide meaningful activities.
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How to get involved: People interested in getting involved as a Big, making a gift or learning about other opportunities to further the organization’s mission can visit BeBigForKids.org or by calling 317-921-2201.
Christmas Angels
Needs: Christmas Angels, a program of United Way of Johnson County, is in need of individuals and organizations who would like to sponsor families who cannot provide Christmas gifts for their children. Christmas Angels provides gifts for Johnson County children, newborn to 17 years old, who would otherwise not have Christmas gifts. In addition, the United Way is in the middle of its annual campaign, so individuals can go online to make a donation. If a company has ran a United Way campaign in the past and would like to run an employee campaign again, that would also help.
How to get involved: Call the United Way of Johnson County office at 317-736-7840 to sponsor Christmas Angels. To donate, go to uwjc.org.
Girls Inc. of Johnson County
Needs: Girls Inc. of Johnson County has monetary, in-kind and volunteer needs. This year has created some extra expenses due to the coronavirus pandemic in addition to lost revenue. You can always use monetary support to deliver after school, summer camp and outreach services. Girls Inc. could also use in-kind donations to assist with programming, daily operations and maintaining its center including but not limited to: markers, colored paper, Elmer’s glue, paint, paint brushes, copy paper, puzzles, games, paper towels, toilet paper, Clorox wipes, paper plates, cups, plastic utensils, and personal protective equipment such as disposable gloves and face masks. Volunteers are welcomed to assist with projects and building and grounds maintenance to maintain the center, to share skills or teach classes and to help with daily curricula.
How to get involved: People can give by visiting www.girlsincjc.org and clicking on the Donate tab. Checks can be mailed to 200 E. Madison St., Franklin, IN 46131 or payment can be made with credit card over the phone by calling 317-736-5344. Contact Girls Inc. for more information about volunteering or in-kind donations.
{&subleft}Good Cheer Fund
Needs: The Good Cheer Fund is a Johnson County tradition that distributes holiday meals and some essentials to the needy in the county around Christmas. The fund needs monetary donations. Organizers hope to distribute 800 food baskets this year.
How to get involved: Monetary donations will be accepted until the end of December. Donations can be mailed to the Daily Journal, P.O. Box 699, Franklin, IN 46131, or dropped off at the Daily Journal at 30 S. Water St., Second floor, Suite A, in Franklin.
{&subleft}Greenwood Meals on Wheels
Needs: The organization is in need of help making deliveries of lunch to senior citizens and people who are home-bound. Drivers can volunteer to drive as often as one day a week or as little as one day a month. You must be available to pick up and deliver the meals at 11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday, and must have your own reliable transportation. Most routes take about an hour to complete. The organization serves the Center Grove area and Greenwood. A valid driver’s license is needed.
How to get involved: Call 317-882-2424.
{&subleft}Interchurch Food Pantry
Needs: The need for food has skyrocketed during the pandemic with daily households served increasing by 50%. To address that need, they need three things:
Volunteers: The pantry needs individuals to pre-box orders to serve households in its drive-through approach. People are also needed to deliver food to home-bound families on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday during the day.
Monetary donations: Food purchases have increased, as well as the need to rent the outdoor tent, heat the building and maintain the vehicles for additional food pick-up runs.
Food donations: Canned and box foods, as well as hygiene products, are sought.
How to get involved: Email [email protected] to set up your first day to volunteer in 2020 and beyond. Please note minimum age is 10 years old and children between 11-15 are one child per one adult. Coronavirus-related procedures require 100% masks at all times, only healthy workers, social distancing and temperatures are taken before each shift. Time slots are noon-3 p.m. Monday-Friday through Dec. 23, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. starting Jan. 4. Pantry is closed Dec. 24-Jan. 3. No evening or weekend slots. Monetary donations can be mailed to Interchurch Food Pantry, P.O. Box 147, Whiteland, IN 46184 or via Paypal or Givelify on the organization’s website www.jcpantry.org. Food donations can be dropped off between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday at 211 Commerce Drive. Drive up to the marked Donation Door beyond the tent by the overhead door. Or, drop it in the after-hours donation shed by the donation door.
{&subleft}Johnson County Senior Services
Needs: The organization, which provides a variety of services to older adults throughout the county, is in need of volunteers to help with: transportation and food deliveries, office work, data entry, answering phones, organizing inventory of medical equipment and food, and cleaning and maintenance. Donations to support its programs are also needed.
How to get involved: Call 317-738-4544 and ask for Kimberly Smith. Donations can be made at jcseniorservices.org/donate.
{&subleft}Lord’s Cupboard
Needs: The nonprofit thrift store, founded in 1971 by the Church Women United of Johnson County, relies solely on donated items to generate sales, and proceeds are redirected to helping the local community. The store is in need of donations, including clothing but particularly furniture, hygienic items and household goods. Monetary donations are also needed.
How to get involved: Item donations can brought to the back door at the store at 606 Banta St., Franklin, 46131, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Monetary donations can be mailed to the address above.
{&subleft}Pack Away Hunger
Needs: With larger packing events on pause, the biggest need through the end of the year is donations. The meals we produce cost just 30 cents each, so gifts of all sizes make a big impact. The meals, made of rice, soy, vegetables, and vitamins and minerals are then distributed to local food pantries. In 2021, the biggest need is for sponsored meal packs. Businesses, churches and community groups are encouraged to join its mission by sponsoring a meal pack. The organization donates or raises the funds needed to pay for the meal ingredients and then comes together to pack the meals. Organizers are currently arranging meal packs so that participants are socially distanced, ensuring a safe event.
How to get involved: Donate at packawayhunger.org. To learn more or to schedule a meal pack, contact Pack Away Hunger executive director Abigail Harlan at [email protected].
{&subleft}The Social of Greenwood
Needs: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Social, a gathering space for Greenwood and southside seniors, was forced to suspend its programming in March, and to date has been forced to cancel eight fundraisers that would have generated more than $150,000 of operational income. The best way to help is to donate to the organization.
How to get involved: Donate directly at www.thesocialofgreenwood.org/donate. People can also sign up for Kroger’s Community Rewards program, which provides funding based on the shopping people do everyday. Register your Kroger car at visit www.krogercommunityrewards.com and use the organization’s code UP889 or Greenwood Senior Citizens Center to select The Social as your beneficiary.
{&subleft}The Refuge
Needs: The Refuge, a Greenwood nonprofit helping to feed the hungry, is in need of volunteer assistance, as well as financial donations and contributions of food, new household cleaning products and new hygiene items. Top needs are typically toilet paper, rice, ramen noodles, peanut butter, jelly, meat products and cleaning supplies. Regular volunteer needs include front office assistance, workers during pantry hours, sorting and stocking donations, picking up donations and general building maintenance.
How to get involved: Donate online at therefugeinc.com/paypal-link. Checks can be made out to The Refuge, and mailed to 1111 South Park Drive, Greenwood, Indiana 46143. Volunteers can sign up at therefugeinc.com/get-involved.
{strong}Turning Point Domestic Violence Services Holiday Store
Needs: Each year, Turning Point provides clients in need with the opportunity to receive gift assistance through the donations of the community. The coronavirus pandemic has prevented the organization from hosting an in-person shopping experience, so donations can be made this year via our online wish lists through Amazon.com and Walmart.com.
How to get involved: Go to turningpointdv.org and find links to the wishlists under the Events tab. Have all packages delivered to the Turning Point office at 1531 13th St., Columbus, IN 47201. Include a gift receipt in your package so organizers know who to thank.
{&subleft}Boys & Girls Clubs of Johnson County
Needs: The organization is still working to try to make up lost income from cancelled fundraisers and programs from this year. They appreciate any financial support as it helps us with the operational costs going into 2021. They are also currently looking to recruit committee and board members for 2021.
How to get involved: Make a donation at www.bgcf.net, or mail to 101 N. Hurricane St., Franklin IN 46131. To join one of the committees or the board, contact Natalie Fellure at 317-736-3695.
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