Spotlight: Ascent 121, Grant Deadline Aug. 8, Miles for Metro, Summer Sightings & More!
If you're having trouble viewing this email, you can see it online.

 

 

WEDNESDAY WORDS

FROM METRO MINISTRIES, INC.

August 4, 2021

________________________________________________

Spotlight: Ascent 121

Minimal%20Mood%20board%20Couple%20Photo%20Collage.png

 

Have you heard of Ascent 121? This faith-based non-profit organization, that takes its name from Psalm 121, has been working with young people in Central Indiana since 2013. If you have not heard of them, it is likely because people do not often talk about sex trafficking in Indiana, especially sex trafficking of children, or about the service providers who work to heal and restore these children. Ascent 121 offers long-term trauma recovery for teen survivors of sex trafficking, providing a continuum of services to over a hundred Indiana teens and children each year.

Ascent 121 does not share stories or photographs of the young people served. Due to the level of trauma the kids have endured, it is very important to keep their anonymity protected and leave it to each child to tell their unique story, or not, as they choose. Over 150 kids were served in 2020, with 90% being teenage girls (average age 14-16), but with an increase in both the number of boys and number of younger children, as young as six, needing services.

The vast majority of kids served by the organization weren’t kidnapped from their homes and sold into sex work by strangers, rather they were trafficked by a parent or other family member or by a trusted older boyfriend or girlfriend, or were a runaway then exploited by an adult who preyed on their vulnerability. Many of the kids have been trafficked repeatedly for weeks, months or even years, and some kids may not even be consciously aware that they have been/are being victimized.

There are very few service providers in Indiana that specialize in caring for kids who have been exploited and victimized by human traffickers. Ascent 121 is the only organization in Indiana that provides a full continuum of services, including in-depth assessment, community-based therapy, residential programming and case management. Referrals to Ascent 121 most often come from the Department of Child Services (DCS) or from local law enforcement. Ascent 121 continually collaborates with DCS, law enforcement and other organizations to ensure the youth have the support, expertise and care needed to deal with their trauma, to build trust in others and hope for their own futures.

In 2020 Ascent 121 began developing a Peer Mentoring Program, as it was apparent that the young people needed adults who could relate directly to their traumatic experiences. Metro Ministries is proud to have provided a 2021 grant towards Ascent 121’s Peer Mentoring, with the funds being actively used to develop curriculum and onboarding procedures for mentors and life coaches.

Last month Ascent 121 moved into new space, after years of utilizing office space in various churches. The fully remodeled space includes therapy rooms, a sensory room, dance and fitness studio and a fully equipped kitchen being used to help build vocational skills. Metro congratulates them on their new space and their growing peer mentor program and says “Thank you!” for the critically important work they are doing for youth in Central Indiana. To learn more about their work and how to get involved, visit their website.

______________________________________________

Grant Deadline Is Next Monday!

Church%20Collaboration%20Grants.png

 

The deadline is August 8 at 11:59 pm! Metro Ministries invites all United Methodist Churches in the Central District to consider proposal submissions that demonstrate caring for children in meaningful and lasting ways. We are seeking proposals focused on children in or more of these areas:

  • Non-violence
  • Food insecurity
  • Education
  • Mental Health

Grants of up to $1,500 each will be awarded by the end of August.

Review all of the details on our website. Don't miss this opportunity to support children and youth in your community!

Churches are encouraged to collaborate on their proposals within their own church and/or with other churches, schools or organizations in their respective communities.

Reach out to Tina McAninch with any questions you have, at metrodirector1923@gmail.com or (317) 452-4786.

_______________________________________________
 

2021 Miles for Metro Challenge!

ChallengeLogo.png

 

Have you signed up for Miles for Metro yet? If not, won't you join in this FUNdraiser?

The week leading up to and including Labor Day - August 30 thru September 6 - Metro challenges you to walk, run, bike or swim. Or log miles on a treadmill, elliptical machine, stationary bike, or even convert your daily steps to miles.

Registration is $20/person, with children 12 and younger registering for free! Have a friendly competition amongst your family and friends. Who can log the most miles in 8 days? Click to sign up today and accept this challenge!

Note: if you have registered for a race or challenge using RaceSignup platform in the past, you can use your pre-existing account to sign up for this race.

We encourage you to also become a fundraiser and invite your friends and families to join in the challenge and/or make a donation on your behalf. You will have the ability to create your own personal fundraiser link to share with folks in your circle to raise funds for Miles for Metro. If accumulating miles is not for you, you can still become a fundraiser without registering for the event.

You can also  make a direct donation towards our goal. Make your donation anonymously, on behalf of a fundraiser or in honor or memory of someone special to you.

What is our goal? We envision repeating this challenge every year and hope to raise $100,000 by 2023, Metro’s 100th Anniversary.  In order to reach this ultimate goal, we are targeting to raise $33,000 through this year's challenge. So we need your help! Register, fundraise and/or donate! Get started today!

Top fundraisers and those recording the most miles by age categories will be recognized at the conclusion of the challenge.

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. Will you accept this challenge?

_______________________________________________

More Summer Sightings

There's so much to share! Check out these photo collages from some of our churches these past few weeks.

NORTH%20FISHING%20DAY.png

 

broadway%20back%20in%20person%20collage.png

 

EPWORTH%20PAH%20collage.png

 

north%20picnic%20collage.png

 

And take a second to watch this awesome video of VBS at Bridgeport UMC!

Let me know if you have pictures to share of your summer/back-to-school event!

______________________________________________

Community Resource Day August 14!

crd%20barnes.PNG

 

You Feed Them Missional Food Pantry's Annual Community Resource Day at Barnes UMC is Saturday, August 14, noon - 4 pm. Children who have pre-registered will receive supply-filled backpacks and new shoes. 

Many community service providers will be on-site, and several prizes will be raffled, as well as food and activities available throughout the day. This event is FREE to the community!

Interested in helping with this event? Help is needed throughout the day in manning tables, helping with setup, backpack distribution, cleanup and more. Volunteers should sign up HERE.

_______________________________________________
 
Blue%20and%20Pink%20Modern%20Event%20Announcement%20Poster%20(1).png

 

Also check out these upcoming community events:

_______________________________________________

Blue%20and%20Pink%20Modern%20Event%20Announcement%20Poster%20(2).png

 

Next month is National Suicide Prevention Month, and suicide prevention workshops will be scheduled during the month. One workshop has been scheduled so far, at Christ UMC on the south side of Indianapolis. QPR for Suicide Prevention will be held Thursday, September 23, 6:30 - 8:30 pm.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, Refer and is a simple, evidenced-based model to equip anyone to help prevent suicide.

This is a FREE workshop, but  registration is required. For more details, check out this Facebook event.

Dates and times for additional workshops will be announced soon.

_______________________________________________

Volunteer Opportunities

volunteer%20sign.png

 

Society of St. Andrew Indiana needs volunteers TOMORROW Thursday, 8/5 to help glean corn in Pittsboro. Sign for this or other gleaning opportunities HERE.

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.

Pack Away Hunger is sponsoring a Public Meal Pack event at Interchurch Food Pantry in Franklin on August 7. Help in packing 33,000 meals for the pantry. Details can be found HERE.

Scott UMC is seeking volunteers for 2021 G2G Conference August 27 - 29. Volunteers are needed to assist with youth programming. Sign up HERE. To volunteer in other ways during the three-day event, contact the church office at (317) 925-1997.

_____________________________________________

 

resources.jpg
 
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.
_________________________________________________ 
 
FOOD RESOURCES 
 
feedcing%20(1).jpg

 

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.
______________________________________________
This email was sent to mcanincht@gmail.com. Click here to unsubscribe.