CARMEL — Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard on Tuesday directed the city to make $25,000 in donations to four Carmel food pantries to assist those now homebound during the COVID-19 crisis.
According to a news release from the city, Carmel police hand delivered the checks 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. On Wednesday, a fourth check will be hand-delivered to Carmel Friends Church.
The mayor directed the city to use funds in his annual budget for immediate distribution. The funds were in the budget to support local initiatives that provide vital services to those most in need in the city.
"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," Brainard said in the statement. "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."
According to the city, the city's largest pantry, Merciful Help Center, completely ran out of food on Monday. Demand has been great and the financial assistance will help them resupply the pantry.
Pantries are also in need of volunteers because those in need of food cannot enter the pantries, they now must pull up to the curb and work with volunteers to place orders and wait on their food to be carried to their cars.
The city's pantries and their hours are:
- Merciful Help Center | 1045 W. 146th St. | Tuesdays 10 a.m. to noon and 5 to 7 p.m.; Thursdays 10 a.m. to noon; Saturdays 9 to 11:30 a.m.
- Carmel United Methodist Church | 621 N. Range Line Road | Mondays 1 to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays 1 to 7 p.m.; Wednesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Bread of Life Pantry | 14501 Hazel Dell Parkway | 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 St. | Wednesdays 9 to 11:30 a.m.
