Helpings of Hope is a local non profit that works to eliminate hunger and food waste by…read morecommunity-driven projects that provide food and education. One of their projects includes an urban farm where they produce fresh and healthy produce. Some of the produce is sold at local farm markets to raise money for their programs. I ran into the staff selling produce and raising awareness at the Pike Farmers Market last Saturday. The produce was beautiful and looked delicious. Heirloom carrots were photo worthy. I purchased some herbs and multicolored Swiss chard. The prices were incredibly reasonable. The volunteer clerk was friendly and helpful. This is a good organization with a noble mission. I'll be returning to support.

The Center for Interfaith Cooperation is an Indianapolis-based non-profit organization established…read morein 2011 and largely rooted in earlier initiatives such as the International Interfaith Initiative and the Interfaith Alliance of Indianapolis. The center is located in the Indiana Interchurch Center, an office complex located near Butler University that exclusively houses non-profit organizations with a strong majority of them having a root in expressions of faith. The primary vision for the organization is to pursue peace through interfaith cooperation and increasing religious literacy. The organization facilitates interfaith experiences and has programs such as: Religious Literacy Interfaith Enrichment Corps Interfaith Encounters Interfaith Alliance for Mental Wellness "These Walls Speak" Art Gallery (Seriously awesome) New View Film Series Every year, the organization sponsors the Festival of Faiths (great experience) and Interfaith Banquet. If you look at the organization's board of directors, you get a sense of what it means by interfaith. Representation includes Muslim, Hindu, Catholic, Presbyterian (PC-USA), Sufi, Disciples of Christ, Pagan, Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Unification Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Unitarian-Universalist, Sikh, Jewish, Church of the Living God, Academic institutions, IU Health Chaplaincy, and others. It's remarkable that the center gets all of these faiths together. This is one of Indianapolis's quieter yet more steady non-profit organizations. I've been genuinely impressed at any event I've attended and I regularly check out their art gallery. The Festival of Faiths is a wonderful experience, as well. As a Christian (Presbyterian specifically), I aspire to interfaith cooperation and I love the work of this organization right here in Indy.

Let's be honest…read more There are certain non-profits and certain businesses that are simply 5-star organizations. Anything else is unacceptable. It's so true that if you see someone bash the organization, you immediately think to yourself "This is not someone I want to know." It's true. You know it's true. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is such a non-profit. It's hard to describe everything Keep Indianapolis Beautiful does. Truthfully, I'm probably not even aware of everything Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (also known as KIB) does. I just know that when it comes to keeping Indianapolis a wonderful place to live, KIB seems to always be involved. I first became aware of KIB years ago when longtime friend David Forsell led the organization. If you haven't met David (and his wife Shannon), they are, in my estimation, one of "Indy's Couples." That's an official designation now, I made it up. Okay, back to KIB. KIB has programs in three areas: Clean Neighborhoods - Adopt-a-Block, Great Indy Clean-Up, Plogging, and Busy Roads/Waterways. Trees & Native Habitats - Project Greenspace, Habitat Restoration, and Community Forestry. Engaged Citizens - Urban Naturalists, Tree Tenders, Youth Tree Team, and KIB Ambassadors. It seems like whenever there's a community event, KIB is involved (I'm currently working alongside a KIB staff person jurying a film festival). It seems like if there's a community partnership to be had, somehow KIB is engaged with it. Their events are well-run, well-led, richly beneficial to our community, and remarkably empowering. Their office on Fletcher Avenue In 2009 became the first civic nonprofit in Indiana to have a building LEED Gold Certified by the US Green Building Council! KIB has wind turbines, a cistern to collect stormwater, rain gardens, a pervious pavement parking lot (which lets water filter through), and a sunny atrium filled with native plants. They also have a green roof and are dog friendly! In other words, KIB lives its values. As a non-profit, they have the highest possible ratings from both GuideStar and Charity Navigator. In short, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is one of those non-profits I consider to be "Indy's Non-Profits." These are organizations that truly make Indy a fantastic place to live (and it is). I love KIB and I love everything they do.

I joined KIB last year during the height of the pandemic, when I needed a healthy outlet to channel…read moreall of the anxiety I was feeling. I would go for walks daily to calm my brain, but I couldn't help but notice litter on the ground. It kind of messed with the calm vibe I was trying to accomplish -- every disposable mask and tissue and empty water bottle I would see on the ground would make me more and more irate. So instead of getting mad about it, I started to bring a trash bag and litter picker with me on my walks. Suddenly, my walks began to feel calming again. Picking up litter gave my walks a purpose. It gave me a feeling of control during a time when so many things felt out of my control (COVID cases spiking, the crumbling of society, etc.) Plus, I felt good knowing that I was helping, in a small way, to make other people feel calm during their walks, too, by removing the litter so they didn't have to see it. Not too long after I started picking up litter on my own, I found out about KIB. I learned that they have an Adopt-a-Block program, where you can "adopt" a portion of your neighborhood and maintain it (pick up litter, plant trees, etc.) I volunteered to be a Block Captain for a portion of the Monon Trail. KIB gave me some free supplies to help me start out (a nifty KIB trash bucket, lots of trash bags, gloves, a trash picker and a t-shirt). I've been an Adopt-a-Block Captain for almost a year now. Since then, I've walked lots of miles and picked up dozens (hundreds?) of buckets of litter. I've made friends with people I see regularly who use the trail where I pick up trash. I've had people come up to me and ask me about KIB (because they see me carrying my KIB trash bucket), and I'm always happy to sing this organization's praises and encourage others to adopt a block in their neighborhood, too. And KIB makes it super easy to do so. They are very inclusive and just want people to get involved in making their communities better places to live and play. I tend to enjoy picking up litter the most when I'm by myself, because it's become a meditative practice for me. But, I've also joined several litter-collecting projects that KIB has organized. These are always very well-thought-out, and they target areas of Indy that are under-cared-for and have a lot of litter lying around. During these events, it's nice to be around other people who love Indy and are as invested in it as much as you are. KIB has lots of projects happening all year, which is great because there is always something to do. I love this organization so much, and it's become a part of me and my lifestyle now. So much so, that one time, when my kids saw a KIB sign when we were out and about, they pointed to it and said, "Hey mom, that's you! That's the thing you do."

Watch Us Farm is a nonprofit organization that that provides vocational training and employment…read moreopportunities for adults with special needs. The program is based in Zionsville and offers training in their 7000 square foot greenhouse growing hydroponic lettuces and microgreens. In addition, participants may learn to weave and sew a variety of textiles including reusable kitchen towels in their Zionsville shop. Produce is sold to local restaurants and at local farm markets. Some of the produce is donated to food pantries. Today, I had the opportunity to purchase some of their arugula at the Zionsville Farmers Market. I love arugula and this arugula was fresh and tender with a great peppery flavor. I also eyed the handmade kitchen towels and will return next week to purchase a set. Prices are incredibly reasonable and the funds raised directly support the program. The staff is friendly and passionate about their work. The program has been operating since 2018 and will be moving this spring into expanded facilities. The program is accepts donations and seeks volunteers.

I love this organization and all of the wonderful storytellers that it hosts on a regular basis…read more The most-recent storyteller was Tim Tingle who told: "From Boarding School to Alcatraz, the Clarence Carnes Story" last weekend. Check out their website and take a chance on the next performance. You will not be disappointed!

The latinas welding guild is one of the best organizations to go to develop your skills and a great…read moreportal to bigger opportunities. My experience here has been nothing less than amazing. The instructors Josh, and Phil, as well as the TA Jomar, are incredible people and are very passionate about what they're doing. They will make sure that you are getting the best education and that you are set to succeed! The staff is dedicated to your growth and success and will go the extra mile to help you explore opportunities and land a job to put your skills to use. Everyone here is extremely helpful, extremely nice and eager to help you achieve your goals. If you're someone who's motivated and eager to work and excel, you will get what you put in. perhaps some people expect to have their hand held through the whole process and be spoon fed a Job on a silver platter, and that's not how anything works in life. you have you want it and you have to put your part in to make sure you succeed as well. Dwayne is an invaluable resource who will help you with your resume and help you land an interview, or look for potential opportunities, who he then will reach out to, but you have to be willing to put in the work too! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking to grow and level up their skills. I think what they're doing for the community, and for the culture is awesome and I hope more people take advantage of such an amazing opportunity. Love you guys, thanks!

This place is a scam!!!!! They claim to help people but only…read moredo enough to get grant money and then screw over everyone who goes through the program. Their curriculum is BS for anyone who has actually worked in the industry. The students are only learning 1 basic joint simply to get a certification that they barely really use once they go looking for jobs. The students leave with 0 support to find jobs and pretty much have a useless certification. Everyone is getting very basic certs and hardly any students can actually find jobs. Their entire mission statement is built on ethics, but they don't actually have any!!!! Not only is she a scam to the people in the program she fired an employee while undergoing CANCER treatment!! The founder, Consuelo Lockhart, DOES NOT care about anything except money in her pocket. You can reach out to any company theyve worked with (R.A.D. fabricaction, Wilhelm, Poynter,.. etc) and I guarantee each one will say the same thing. She burns bridges with everyone she comes across. Think twice about using them for ANYTHING. They can't finish a single project without it looking like shit. And if you're considering giving them grant money just KNOW your money is not going to a good place.

About once a year, my office is gifted by our leadership with a visit from the Indiana Canine…read moreAssistant Network. Today, was that day. The Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN) is a nonprofit organization that offers accredited service dog training and Indiana placement. This provides safety, friendship, and independence for children, veterans, and adults with disabilities and veterans with service-related trauma specific to PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma. As an adult with a disability myself, I'm a paraplegic/double amputee and wheelchair user, I've long contemplated the idea of a service dog but have never felt like my needs rise to the level justifying it. ICAN utilizes three correctional facilities in Indiana and works with the inmates to train dogs. This includes Indiana Women's Prison, Pendleton, and one other one that completely escapes me right now. It costs $25,000 to fully train a service dog, however, ICAN charges the recipient only $2,500. For veterans, it's slightly different - There is no placement fee for veterans placed with a service dog that is assisting with symptoms of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or military sexual assault. If the veteran needs a service dog for mobility as opposed to PTSD, MST, or TBI, the costs and programs may differ. There are multiple ways to volunteer for ICAN and multiple ways to support the organization. This information is available on their website. According to their most recent available numbers, they currently have 110 service dogs active, 58 dogs in training, 61 applicants awaiting a service dog, and an estimated 230 dogs have been placed since 2002. I also learned that they follow the dogs while they're active. In fact, it's possible to lose a service dog for reasons like not utilizing them for their intended purpose and/or not caring for them appropriately. It is very rare, but it has happened. They also have some dogs that will qualify for different settings - for example, a dog may not be appropriate for a home setting but could be a facility dog. Amazing work for an amazing Indiana non-profit.

ICAN is a phenomenal organization with a dedicated staff whose passion shines through in every…read moreinteraction--with volunteers, clients, and, most importantly, the dogs. As Indiana's only accredited service dog training program, ICAN upholds incredibly high standards, exceeding even national benchmarks. As a volunteer, donor, and corporate sponsor, I've felt truly appreciated at every level. But ICAN shouldn't be a hidden gem in our community--it deserves the spotlight! If you're looking to make a difference, consider getting involved as a volunteer, donor (every contribution helps!), or corporate partner. Your support changes lives--both human and canine.

I was honored to represent the abused and neglected children as a CA for many years. I regularly…read moreworked on cases, and experienced first hand, the courts going out of their way to help children in the most complicated, and disturbing, situations. Child neglect/abuse is an epidemic in most states; including Indiana and the courts & state run services do as much as they can within the parameters of the budget they receive.

I volunteered with this organization for many years and can't speak highly enough of their mission…read more Volunteers visit with at risk children and "speak" on their behalf. After training, volunteers are assigned a child, typically in foster care. The volunteer meets with the child, wherever they may be and identifies any concerns, questions or requests the child may have. Many times the children are too young to speak for themselves, other times the children have been so neglected or abused, they need assistance and a friendly face, checking on their progress, while, hopefully the parent(s) gets their life together. The staff assign children to volunteers, interact with the courts and DCS and act as facilitators for any requests or questions raised by volunteers. Volunteers schedule visits on their time and have as much or as little interaction with the organization as needed. Children in foster homes need advocates and this organization is vital to their survival.