Growing for Giving

Central Indiana lays claim to many notable titles: We stage the greatest single-day racing event in the world, we’re home to the largest children’s museum and we host more amateur sporting events than anyone else. But here’s another reason to be proud of our state: Central Indiana is home to the largest non-profit farm in the United States—Brandywine Creek Farms.

Five years ago, local farmers Jonathan and Amanda Lawler realized a need to address the growing problem of hunger and food insecurity in our community. Not far from their farm in Greenfield, the Lawlers became aware of food-desert conditions on the Eastside of Indianapolis, where grocery stores are scarce and people lack access to fresh, nutritious food. To tackle these issues, the Lawlers decided to turn their farm into a non-profit organization, distributing fresh, healthy produce through local food pantries to our community’s neighbors in need.

From its 113 acres, Brandywine Creek Farms (BCF) has since raised and donated 3.7 million pounds of produce to more than 134,000 food insecure residents in Central Indiana. The organization partners with other local farmers to also offer high-protein foods like eggs, beef and chicken. BCF boasts a staff of 15 and relies on volunteers from the community to help with harvesting and delivering to those in need.

In late 2019, the Lawlers took the next step in their mission by opening the Healthy Harvest Market at Brookside, a 5,700 square foot retail space located in the former Pogue’s Run Grocer building on East 10th Street. Open seven days a week, shoppers can find locally grown produce, buy affordable groceries or order a freshly prepared sandwich from the store’s café. The store is thoughtfully designed to encourage community engagement, enjoyed in the store’s light-filled dining area.

Healthy Harvest Market at Brookside, 2828 E. 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN

BCF’s CEO and Founder Jonathan Lawler, known as “The Punk Rock Farmer” on Facebook, channels his rebellious nature into commitment to his community. “We never set out to try to fix the food system, because in my opinion, it’s not really broken,” Lawler stated in a 2019 interview.* “There’s just some access issues. Through agriculture and logistics, we can fix that.” Lawler is an expert on agriculture, supply chain management, logistics and distribution, and frequently shares his experiences through public speaking engagements. 

In addition to growing and distributing produce, the Lawlers are providing work opportunities for ex-offenders who seek employment after incarceration. In addition, Brandywine Creek Farms offers educational opportunities and mentoring for at-risk youth living in Indy’s Eastside neighborhoods.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Make a donation to support the ongoing work at Brandywine Creek Farms.
  • Volunteer to help with BCF’s harvest. Whether you’re an accomplished gardener or a city slicker, there’s a volunteer opportunity available for you!
  • Follow Brandywine Creek Farms and Jonathan Lawler on social media and share news from the farm with your followers.

*“Ag-chievements: Hancock County farmer’s anti-hunger crusade getting national attention”, Greenfield Daily Reporter, December 5, 2019

A Caring Community, Creatively Driven

“Art is not a luxury. Art is central to what truly makes us human.”

In 1974, Jean Kennedy Smith, youngest sister of our nation’s 35th President and future U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, founded the National Committee—Arts for the Handicapped. The organization’s name was later changed to Very Special Arts (VSA) with an international network of affiliates…including one here in Indianapolis.

VSA Indiana is now an independent nonprofit known as ArtMix: Art Redefining Disability. ArtMix transforms the lives of people with disabilities through the creation of art, giving people the opportunity to create through hands-on experiences in the studio.

The need for such a welcoming creative community is real: According to most recent census data, 1 in 5 people in Central Indiana have some kind of physical or mental impairment that substantially impacts daily living. Misconceptions and assumptions about disability can contribute to feelings of exclusion and create a greater need for opportunities to have genuine connections with community.

“Often, people with disabilities are isolated and misunderstood,” said Jessi Klein, vice president of development. “ArtMix gives everyone the ability to be creative through art and truly transforms lives to function more independently, gain job skills, fine motor skills and work on communication skills.”

Participants express themselves through art in an inclusive space for people of all ages and abilities. With a full-time staff of four plus a team of 20 teaching artists, ArtMix provides both in-studio and external programs for more than 6,000 people annually. One of the organization’s key programs is Urban Artisans, a paid apprenticeship for young adults who are transitioning from school into the workplace. Through this program, which is currently delivered in a virtual format, participants learn valuable artistic, professional and social skills that are essential in the workplace.

Space is currently available in the Urban Artisans apprenticeship program. Interested participants can learn more and submit an application here.

Each year, ArtMix provides a robust summer curriculum, filled with ceramics, painting, music and drama. Due to COVID-19, the agency’s popular summer program is being delivered online during the months of July and August. Each week, a new schedule of community classes and videos will be uploaded to the organization’s YouTube, Instagram and Facebook channels for viewing, free of charge. No registration is required, and participants can follow along to create their own art projects from home.

“We are excited about our online programming, because it gives us the opportunity to reach artists who have not previously been able to attend our classes,” said newly appointed ArtMix President and CEO Brittany (Britt) Sutton. “This is an opportunity for us to grow and expand to the greater Indiana community while keeping our participants safe and creating in their own homes.”

ArtMix gallery
Completed ArtMix projects, currently available for purchase

ArtMix is funded through a combination of grants and gifts. Additionally, participants’ artwork is showcased and offered for sale through the ArtMix Gallery, with proceeds used to fund ongoing access to the arts for people with disabilities. If you’d like to purchase completed art projects, visit the ArtMix website or view the entire gallery at First Friday Gallery Tours at The Harrison Center.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Donate to ArtMix to support ongoing art programs for the disabled in our community.
  • Watch and share this summer’s online curriculum: Subscribe to the ArtMix channel on YouTube.
  • Follow ArtMix on social media and promote the need for inclusion in the arts.

Housing Gets a Helping HAND

Before COVID-19, people in Central Indiana spent a lot of time talking about their commutes to and from work. We all know someone who regularly drives from the suburbs into Indianapolis, and then back to enjoy family life in one of Indy’s “doughnut” counties.

Let’s talk about the reverse of that scenario though: What about the Hoosiers who work in the suburbs and travel from Indianapolis to reach their jobs each day? They’re the people whom we rely on to cook and serve our food, stock our favorite stores, and teach in our schools. These workers—employed by some of the lowest-paying industries—face a major problem: Indy’s surrounding counties don’t have enough safe and affordable housing, so that people can afford to live where they work.

Andrea Davis
Andrea Davis, Executive Director

That’s not okay, in the words of Andrea Davis, Executive Director of HAND Incorporated. Founded in 2003 as Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development Inc., HAND addresses the housing needs of low and moderate-income individuals, families and senior citizens in Indy’s northern suburbs.  

Statistics show that there’s a genuine need for more affordable housing options. According to United Way of Central Indiana’s ALICE project*, 17% of Hamilton County households earn more than the federal poverty level, but less than the basic cost of living. Considering Hamilton County’s population, 17% equates to 21,000 households where families struggle to pay for their basic needs. Without affordable housing options, these families are often forced to live outside their preferred communities.

“Where we live impacts every aspect of our lives,” said Davis. “Our homes are the foundation for our health, education, safety, and economic well-being. At HAND, we believe everyone should have the chance to live in their community of choice, regardless of age, income or occupation.”

HAND Incorporated

That’s a tall order in some of Indiana’s most affluent communities, where established residents have expressed concerns about the addition of lower-cost housing options. Misperceptions feed this opposition: Neighbors often assume that “affordable housing” equates to poorly constructed or aesthetically lacking developments, harkening back to ill-fated public housing projects from the middle of last century.

HAND is working to abate these concerns and promote awareness of their properties, which are thoughtfully designed to compliment existing neighborhoods. HAND currently owns seven affordable rental communities in Hamilton County and one in Boone County, with a ninth development proposed in Tipton. Each HAND-developed project is constructed with durable, high-quality materials, including stone, brick and fiber cement board. Additionally, HAND uses energy-efficient materials and appliances to keep living expenses low for residents.

To raise money for their work and promote awareness, HAND hosts a number of fun and informative events. Its annual Suburban Housing Conference is an opportunity for advocates and local partners to hear from elected officials and partnering organizations as they discuss advancements in affordable housing. In November, HAND will host its innovative “Stay Home for HAND” fundraiser, where participants support the cause financially without the obligation to attend a black-tie event. And earlier this year, the agency hosted its popular “Trivia Night” fundraiser, where supporters enjoy a fun-filled evening of food and trivia contests.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Donate to HAND to fund their ongoing work to promote and deliver affordable housing options.
  • Volunteer to help the cause by serving on committees or the Board of Directors. Volunteers’ time and expertise is essential to the success of HAND’s small staff.
  • Advocate for HAND and for affordable housing options in your community. Tell your elected officials that it’s important to you that people who work in your community are also able to live in it.

*Study Reveals 38% of Hoosier Working Families Struggle to Afford the Basics
https://uwci.org/study-reveals-39-of-hoosier-working-families-struggle-to-afford-the-basics/