When Michelle arrived at the Hope Center Indy in 2017, she thought she would only volunteer for a few weeks after entering a new season of life. But the Lord had other plans. Michelle enjoys working at Hope Center Indy and empowering volunteers to use their God-given talents. She was instrumental in opening the David Nolen Pantry of Hope on October 16, 2019, in honor of the co-founding associate director of Hope Center Indy, who had passed away unexpectedly just three months earlier. The Pantry of Hope went from being open once a week for two hours in 2019 to serving more than 200 families weekly in 2024. It has touched the lives of thousands of families surrounding the city of Indianapolis.
Michelle organizes consistent volunteers to interact with families, so the clients always see a familiar face. The evangelism team prays with those with requests and sometimes gets the honor of teaching clients how to pray. Of course, they, too, share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes, Hope Center volunteers arrive at the food pantry alone and in need of community. The David Nolen Pantry of Hope allows volunteers to work with like-minded believers, develop friendships, and invest in their local community. Regardless of the season of life, a volunteer arrives on the Hope Center Indy campus, God always has a purpose and a plan for their life. Michelle stated, “People enjoy being a part of something bigger than themselves. Our hearts grow and heal while helping each other. Reaching out and helping others is a wonderful way to realize life is not all about oneself. Distancing yourself from your daily struggles for a while and helping others is extremely healing.”
The Pantry of Hope also blesses the residents of Hope Center Indy by providing food and other supplies. Graduated residents can receive assistance from the pantry, while current residents serve each Thursday to help pack the pantry's dry food items.
Michelle led the Pantry of Hope through various growth milestones, such as the 2020 global pandemic and expanding the physical space to manage 200 - 250 families coming weekly. Generous donations from entities like Kroger, Citizens Energy, and Caliber Collision, along with the dedication of volunteers, continue to drive forward Hope Center Indy’s mission of imparting hope and healing to every heart.
Currently, Hope Center Indy is looking forward to securing the necessary funding to repair the Pantry's refrigerated truck, which is currently down due to a failed engine. And as the Lord provides, the ministry also hopes to build a separate facility on the Hope Center campus for the food pantry and other food service operations. Until then, the pantry will continue to provide hope and food items to local clients, as well as purpose, community, and healing to volunteers and residents. The David Nolen Pantry of Hope demonstrates what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ but putting God’s love into action. For those who wish to serve or donate toward the David Nolen Pantry of Hope, please click here:
DONATE https://bit.ly/3UkCi3H
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so, minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Romans 12:12-13 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
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