Scott UMC Spotlight, Miles for Metro, Suicide Prevention, Recent Grant Recipients & More!
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WEDNESDAY WORDS

FROM METRO MINISTRIES, INC.

September 1, 2021

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Spotlight: Scott UMC's G2G Conference

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This past Saturday, I was able to attend just a few of the many sessions and workshops that made up Scott UMC’s Generation 2 Generation Conference 2021. Dr. Virginia Caine, director for Marion County Public Health Department, spoke about the state of health of black people. She shared her experience and perspective on the COVID-19 pandemic and shared the importance of self-care, particularly during this continued season of uncertainty. I also listened to  Dr. Theresa L. Roberts (a former professor of mine) and Andrea Manning-Dudley present on the importance of and challenges to self-care for black women.

 “Overcoming Adversity” by Aaron Green was another workshop I attended. Aaron, a former high school and college football player, is now a social worker, entrepreneur, motivational speaker and the founder of Struggle Made Us, a local non-profit whose mission is “through our struggles we can find our strength to help each other and build up our communities.” Aaron spoke to a full house, mostly young people, in Scott UMC’s annex, which is now home to Brightwood Community Center. He spoke about his struggles growing up with his father in prison, of the opportunity he had to attend Cathedral High School to play football and the challenges that came with that opportunity for a kid from Crispus Attucks. He spoke about how after his father’s release from prison, they established a positive relationship and how seeing how proud his father was of him further motivated him to succeed. He then spoke about his father’s murder just a few months after his release and how that almost led Aaron to turn to revenge. Instead, he decided the traumatic loss of his father, the other losses and trauma he’d experienced growing up would not define him. Struggle made him but overcoming struggle motivated him to meet the challenges of life.

I ended the day with Project W.I.N.G.S., We Inspire Nurture Guide and Support, who presented several workshops with mental health focus. I was able to stay for two of these sessions: Ask a Mental Health Professional, with a panel of three professionals taking questions, and Home of Origin, a deep dive into how the homes we grow up in can shape our lives’ trajectory. Project W.I.N.G.S is a 2021 Metro grant recipient for their ongoing mental health programming offered to the community.

I appreciated these opportunities and wish I could’ve attended all of the sessions! Thank you to Eunice Trotter, Tamara Breeding-Goode and Rev. James Anyike for welcoming me, and congratulations to everyone who made the 2021 G2G Conference such a success!

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Miles for Metro: The Challenge Is On!

 

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The names might be a bit small, but here is the leader board for Miles to Metro Virtual Challenge. The challenge kicked off on Monday, and folks are logging their miles! Like and follow Metro Ministries on Facebook for daily updates!

So far, we have raised $6,011 towards our $100k by 2023 goal. Won't you consider supporting one of the individual fundraisers? Click  HERE to make a donation.

All funds will go directly to growing Metro’s Grants programs. Imagine how we might, together, impact children and youth and their families across Central Indiana. Help Metro Ministries extend our impact!

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You Could Save a Life
 

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You may think you can't do anything to prevent suicide. You may think that only trained professionals can or should intervene. You may have no idea how you would broach the subject with someone you are worried about. You may be afraid a friend or family member may get mad at you if you ask them if they are considering suicide. I get it, these are valid concerns. The flipside of these concerns is, what if you save someone's life by asking a question?

QPR  - Question, Persuade, Refer Gatekeeper Training is an evidence-based model that equips individuals with a simple toolkit to help prevent suicide. Anyone can learn these few simple strategies that could literally save someone's life someday, a friend, a family member, a co-worker, a church member, a neighbor or a stranger.

In support of Suicide Prevention Month, I encourage you to attend one of these in-person sessions. 

Registration is free for either workshop, but registration is required. Attendance will be capped, so sign up in advance!

Click on the desired location and date above to register.

The workshop instructor will walk through straightforward strategies for engaging with someone who may be contemplating suicide and getting that individual intensive help if needed. Current data on state and national suicide numbers will also be provided.

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Metro Ministries, Inc. would like to congratulate these recipients of Metro's Children Matter Most grant awards:

  • Grace UMC: All God's Children Preschool
  • Pittsboro UMC: Pittsboro UMC Preschool
  • North Salem UMC Food Pantry: Feeding Families in North Salem

Stay tuned for stories on the great work being done at these churches.

Congratulations!

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Sept. 11: Old Bethel UMC's Back to School Bash, 11 am - 1 pm

Mondays in October: "What's Justice Got to Do With It?" 4-week Bible study by INUMC Diversity, Mission and Justice Ministries, 6:30 - 7:30 pm. Registration is required.

Oct. 2: St. Luke's UMC's Truck Town, 3 - 5 pm

Oct. 8: Fletcher Place Community Center's Fletcher Fun Friday, 7- 9 pm. Details to come.

Oct. 9: Grace UMC hosts SHINE Women's Retreat, 9 am - 4 pm. This event is a fundraiser for Johnson County Senior Services. Email ksmith@jcseniorservices.org to register.

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Volunteer Opportunities

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Brightwood Community Center's Food Pantry needs volunteers next Tuesday 9/7 to pack food for distribution. Volunteers needed at 1 pm at Scott UMC, 2153 Dr. Andrew J. Brown Ave.

Fletcher Place CC's Community Garden needs volunteers Saturday mornings from 9 am to noon throughout garden season. Jobs include harvesting, pulling weeds, and manning the vegetable stand. Contact Beth Opell at beth.opell@gmail.com to sign up for part or all of an upcoming Saturday.

NeighborLink Indianapolis has opportunities to help low income individuals with disabilities and senior homeowners in Marion County with household repair and maintenance. Painting, yard cleanup and handy projects are available. Details and volunteer registration can be found HERE.

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Check out Metro's Resources Hub!
 
If you know of other resources we should share, please let us know by emailing Tina McAninch at metrodirector1923@gmail.com.
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FOOD RESOURCES 
 
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Community Compass

Community Compass is a tool created by Indy Hunger Network and has two key ways to connect individuals with food resources near them. The first is an app for smart phones that automatically provides food resources based on where the individual is. The second is the ability to text for food resources if an individual does not have a smart phone. Check out details of Community Compass. This is a very valuable tool but does not currently include all food pantries beyond Marion County.

Listing of Central Indiana Food Pantries

We have updated the format of the food pantry list, making it easier to view when printed. You can download the updated listing HERE or from Metro's website's Resources Hub. Please let us know if you have food resources to add or update. We will make updates to this list on a quarterly basis.
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