ZPCBlog

According to data compiled by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 41% of children living in the Indianapolis area live in a single-parent household. Gabe Short, development officer and church relations coordinator at Shepherd Community Center, confirms that the number one demographic in Shepherd neighborhoods is single moms. Gabe relayed a story about one such mom, who received a Shepherd food tote last year just before winter break. She had not been expecting this and she cried with relief to have the assistance. 

As the above story illustrates, many of Shepherd's neighbors live on the edge of crisis. Shepherd is located on the near eastside of Indianapolis. The organization works to "build assets into people's lives so they can break the bonds of generational poverty. By fighting systemic causes and serving with life-long, relationship-based care, Shepherd makes a difference — physically, socially, and spiritually." One specific way they do this is through chipping away at food insecurity. 

Gabe says that eight out of ten kids in the area depend on Shepherd meals for their primary source of nutrition. Shepherd provides onsite breakfast, lunch, and (if kids stay after school for extracurricular activities), dinner, to all of their students. They also have weekend meals available for kids to take home on Fridays.

"We just provide the meals to all of our kids so no one feels conspicuous if they are receiving meals," Gabe says. "We train kids how to make these meals when there is no one else at home to help."

Shepherd food totes have been a part of ZPC's Christmas serving experience for about 14 years. Filling a tote is easy to do on your regular trip to the grocery. Oftentimes, it's a family event and families sometimes partner to fill one together. 

Marissa Cope and her family have participated in Shepherd totes for several years. Her son Hunter, who is a 3rd grader, remembers shopping for items with his brother Everett, who is 4. He said it was fun to pick out the food items for the tote, although it did seem to take a lot of time. Hunter states, "we also put a Bible verse in the tote." His mom goes on to say "that way they can have a piece of the Good Word while they're eating their meals.”

Marissa and her husband Tim have enjoyed filling a tote as well. “It's such a great thing to do with my kids," she says. "There are lots of life lessons that come with filling that sweet little box…lessons about giving to someone in need and also math lessons about how many more meals do we need in the cart?” While filling their tote, Marissa says they like to shop around at different stores and give some thought to what a kid this age might like to eat. It may add a little more time, but it feels good to be thoughtful about filling up their tote.

Fill your own Shepherd tote this Christmas season. Learn more here.

Share