Plainfield United Methodist Homeless Outreach Mission

Plainfield United Methodist Homeless Outreach Mission The PUMC Feed the Hunger Outreach feeds homeless and needy people in downtown Indianapolis and Plain

09/09/2026

The PUMC Homeless outreach continues to serve on holidays that land on Mondays, aside from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Labor Day is just another day to take Gods blessings to those in great need. It was a gorgeous night to be serving and we discovered that there has been more transitions with those we have cared for. Even though libraries were closed on Labor Day we fed a lot of people along Morris street before meeting up with Bill. At the large camp by Kentucky and Raymond that we have been caring for the past couple of months, it is now a ghost town with empty shacks. There were still a few people living close by, on the creek side of the levy. They shared that the others have been housed. Good news for each of them that now have a roof over their heads every night.
One of those at the levy shared that she was to be housed as well, and all of her things had been moved into the apartment. Before she got to her new place, the apartment building burned down, including all of her stuff. She is waiting on finding out if and when she is getting a new place. Change can have its frustrations, but for this lady, this time was just another significant let down that she has to navigate.
We were primarily in safari mode all night from the Southside of Indy into downtown. On Labor Day those in need of a meal are easy to find because the city is rather empty. We found people all around the War Memorial parks, and outside the Central Library where we fed a family of five, and then people started showing up from multiple directions. With less than five meals we gave them away on Washington Street by the arts garden and we were done.
Many received a tasty home cooked meal who had no idea if they were even going to eat at all that night, and then we showed up. Such a blessing to give and for them to receive.
God Bless,

09/01/2026

A sunny and hot evening greeted us as we headed to Indy to serve. Everywhere that we went we found very hungry individuals who were grateful to receive a meal, and last night an extra water. We always bring a case of extra water beyond having enough waters for every meal that we hand out. Some nights no one asks for extra water, but last night with the heat and humidity it was different. It is nights like last night that make me think of the challenges the unhoused navigate, for things that we take for granted like being thirsty. In our homes there is always a faucet near by that can help us quench our thirst. Not for those that we serve. Back in 2007 one of my first revelations about these challenges was when we were serving at the infamous Davidson Street camp. I was talking with an older man that camped there and he excused himself to go to the nearby Hardees. At first I thought that was odd, I had just given him a meal, but nature was calling and he had to walk nearly a quarter of a mile to use their restroom. At home a clean restroom is always near by.
I am amazed that just a few years ago we were handing out forty less meals each night and our serving lasted at least an hour longer. Even with many of those we have served having been housed, there are still many needing a meal and water. It was another good night of serving the least of these.
God Bless,
Rick

08/27/2026

Several years ago when we were looking for people needing a meal, we saw a group of likely candidates sitting on benches near a building in Garfield Park. The building turned out to be a Marion county library. We fed those sitting out side and those who were inside the library. We have been feeding there ever since. That day the librarian, Alex, followed me out of the building. At first I thought she was going to tell me not to solicit within the library. Quite the contrary, she came out to thank me. Marion county libraries are day shelters for the homeless. They have restrooms, and they are heated in the winter and cool in the summer. Alex, and those who work at libraries interact with the homeless daily, getting to know some of them quite well. She understood their struggle and needs. Alex moved to a different library and the new librarian at Garfield Park approached me with the same appreciation for his unique clients.
The past few months we started feeding at the library on Morris street with the same embrace. Morris street itself, from Holt to Harding has become a large area that we now serve. Last night we handed out over 30 meals before we met and picked up Bill at the parking lot on Harding.
The hidden camp at Kentucky and Raymond was flooded out by the heavy rains that returned last week. Most of these living here are supposed to transition out to housing sometime in early September. One of the men that we fed said that he has been living at this camp for 17 years and it has only flooded twice in that time. He intends to stay.
It was a beautiful evening to serve and we fed many at our usual stops. With only 12 meals left, we headed downtown and those meals were quickly handed out to people on the streets. It was another blessed evening of sharing the Grace of God with the “least of these”.
God Bless,

08/19/2026

Change is inevitable and with caring for the homeless, this change can be weekly. We were informed that the camp close to Harding and Kentucky avenue, those living there have been contacted and are to receive housing in a month. The large camp that was along Pleasant Run creek has been moved out after feeding there the past three weeks. That camp lasted longer than I expected. Even with this huge shift of people we once fed along the creek, we still handed out most all of our meals at our usual locations. With 17 meals we headed into downtown Indy to hand out food to those on the streets. As what has become usual, the last meals went quickly.
Our meals are always appreciated by those that we share these blessings with, but nothing compares to the joy we witness when someone very hungry is given a meal that they were not expecting. These are “home run” moments.

08/04/2026

Each week that that we serve is a new experience. Dennis and I headed to Indy where we met up with Tom and Bill. We handed out nearly ten meals along Morris street and the library before we linked up with our two cohorts of serving. With all the changes that have been thrust upon the unhoused the past months, we have seen that our outreach has been pivoting and ending our evenings in “safari mode” in downtown Indy. Last night we did not hand out a single meal to a random person on the streets in “safari mode”. All of the meals were consumed at all of our normal spots, the camps and library were full of our hungry friends, as was the Shelby Street and Raymond street area by the BP. Where ever we stopped people kept showing up.
With all the upheaval that the homeless have navigated over the past months, a very large group has expanded along Pleasant Run creek. They are not visible now due to the thick foliage. They have been camped here for over three weeks. History tells us that at some point they will be asked to move on, but for now, it is nice to pull up to this location and touch the lives of so many needy people with God’s Grace!
God Bless

08/02/2026

Below is part of a post from “Christian Art” a Catholic devotion that links scripture with famous art. This message is core as to why we serve as we do.

Wherever a meal is lovingly served, something much greater than physical hunger is being satisfied. Alongside the food comes dignity, welcome, friendship and hope. A shared meal says to someone, “You matter. You are not forgotten.” Meals have always carried this deeper meaning than simply satisfying hunger. Around a table, relationships are formed, stories are exchanged, forgiveness is offered, and communities are strengthened. Hospitality is one of the Bible’s recurring themes. Again and again, God reveals himself through the sharing of food: Abraham welcoming the three visitors beneath the oak of Mamre, the Passover meal, the wedding feast at Cana, the meals Jesus shared with tax collectors and sinners, and ultimately the Last Supper. Every meal has the potential to become a small sacrament of love!

07/14/2026

This week we were blessed with another beautiful evening to serve, warm but with lower humidity. It was a good night, but different than the previous week nights in that while serving we were told of a new camp, where camps had once been, along Pleasant Run creek west of Shelby. At all of our normal stops we were handing out many meals, from the two libraries and the large camp near Kentucky and Raymond, to the BP area near Shelby and Raymond. When handing out meals at the gas station we were told that due to the new laws people are shifting camp locations after being told they need to move. The law apparently gives them 24 hours to move. When they do, they move to a new location until they are told to move again. The Pleasant Run camps had been cleaned up and cleared out several months ago, and now they are back with even more people. The foliage now makes their camps hard to see, but there are a lot of people behind the trees and bushes. Next week, they might not be there.
After feeding this new camp we started to head to the city for “safari mode”, we had less than ten meals. Far less than the last several weeks. We handed out all 120 meals in two hours. The food as always was greatly appreciated.
At times it is hard to fathom how our congregation, with God’s help, has sustained this mission for nearly 19 years? We have had a number of people help over the years. Some like Sandy joined after we had been serving for a couple of years, and she is still very involved in what we do each week. Charity joined serving in the van several years ago, and she is now all in. Charity makes the candles that we hand out at her home and she has her students decorate and fill the bags that we hand out with the soup. She has a good heart and she connects very well with those that we serve, making them feel valued. Cesar has been serving with us for around a year or so. It is encouraging witnessing his heartfelt efforts and his desire to serve the least of these with kindness and compassion. He, and everyone who serves within this mission, are a prime example of believers being God’s hands and feet in putting God’s Grace into action.
God Bless

07/07/2026

Dennis was back behind the wheel of the van with Charity and I as we headed to Indy to serve. It was a beautiful evening with rain threatening but it never came while we were serving. After feeding some along Morris street we picked up Bill to complete our team. More changes were noted last night in that all of those living on the west bank of White River have moved on. The Garfield Park library was closed due to their air conditioning stopped working, and the camp under Raymond St. along Pleasant Run creek had been flooded out. These changes forced us to rely more on seeking out individuals needing meals on the streets of Indy, “safari mode”, and we found plenty in need of a meal!
When I started serving on this outreach nearly 19 years ago I had never had a “stranger” ask me for a prayer. About three months into serving, I finally was asked to pray for an individual. I asked him his name and what he needed a prayer for, and then with God’s help I said a prayer for him. Last night a man named David approached the van on Market street as we were handing out meals. He did not ask for a meal, he asked for a prayer. It was his second night on the streets after leaving a bad living situation in an apartment. He was scared of being on the streets. Before praying we talked about his options. He said that he already had a case worker that was helping him find a place to land. I stressed that he needed to be diligent in checking in on the progress of his case worker. In times like this, we are limited as to what we can do for someone’s needs beyond a prayer. He did not ask us to find him housing, he asked for a prayer. I placed my hands on his shoulder’s and said a prayer, placing David’s needs into God’s hands. This is what David asked for and this is what he received, along with a great meal. David saw that the van said Plainfield United Methodist Church and that we were serving blessings. His need was larger than needing a meal, and we were there for him.
We serve by example, not by preaching, and not by outwardly trying to save souls. God works with what we do and beyond what we do. I am confident that David is in God’s hands.

Hot time in the city! Heat became our companion last night, but at least it was dry. After the changes that took place w...
06/30/2026

Hot time in the city! Heat became our companion last night, but at least it was dry. After the changes that took place within the various homeless communities (camps), that we served for several years, we are finding our way by returning to the city center after feeding the camps and locations that remain after the city placed so many into housing. Safari mode is when we look on the streets and alley’s of Indy for those that look like they will want a meal. Last night we headed into the city with 26 meals after wrapping up at our usual locations.
Having spent many years serving within the city center, we know where to look. The last 26 meals led to several “home run” moments. Imagine not having eaten all day, or possibly two days, and someone randomly offers you a meal. These offers of a meal were greeted with great appreciation and even provided some humor. One group of people hanging in one of the parks down town when asked if they wanted a meal, a man that appeared to be sleeping on a bench, rapidly popped up saying “food”? Food, the magic word!
Food is the key that opens the door to the lives of those we care for. The food allows us to meet the “least of these” and assure them that they are loved by God. It is our faithful arrival week end and week out that helps them to better understand God’s Grace and what it means to faithfully serve. We are so honored to be God’s hand, feet, and voice to those that need compassion and hope within their lives.
God Bless,
Rick

Rain was in the forecast as Sandy, Charity and I headed downtown to serve. As it turned out, we just experienced a few s...
06/10/2026

Rain was in the forecast as Sandy, Charity and I headed downtown to serve. As it turned out, we just experienced a few sprinkles as we navigated those in need of a meal.
Jesse is an IMPD policeman that provides security for a community health clinic at Morris and Harding streets. We have been sharing meals with him and other policemen that supervise the parking lot for many years. This lot is where we rendezvous with our south side van team members when they serve. We have short chats with Jesse each week. He appreciates what we do for those that we serve. He was wondering how we have adjusted since so many camps have been shut down. We shared that we are now serving at two libraries and a new camp. We also talked about how so many that we serve need help dealing with addictions and mental health issues. Jesse shared that the police in Indy deal with issues with the homeless more than any other demographic.
Our last significant spot that we serve is at the intersection of Raymond and Shelby streets at a BP. Many if not most of those that we feed at this location are addicts. They literally sleep, or pass out, on sidewalks and in alley’s or wherever. They appreciate our showing up each week, and the food that we provide. What they really need more though is to go into addiction recovery. Until they beat their addictions, we will continue to share God’s love with them, as Jesse and the police continue to navigate their issues. Life can be complicated.
God Bless,
Rick

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Plainfield, IN
46168

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