Carmel teen honored for her work with the poor
This past weekend, a Street Store popped up on Pennsylvania Street in Downtown Indy, staffed by teenagers from Carmel. It was a store with no walls and no cash register, but plenty of warm clothes and plates loaded with pasta for those down on their luck.
The teens, mostly girls, brought a U-Haul truck loaded with 8,000 pieces of clothing, as well as toiletries and food, and parked it in the lot of Metropolitan Baptist Center, 952 N. Pennsylvania St. They spent hours setting up tables of clothing and food outside, then waited for their customers to arrive.
For this store, the location was ideal: next door to the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation and across the street from the Lucille Raines Residence, a home for recovering addicts. Also within walking distance: Wheeler Mission and the Salvation Army.
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Word had gotten out about the pop-up store, and within minutes of the noon starting time, multiple families with young children began streaming in — many on foot — and started sorting through donated coats, pants, shirts, shoes and more. In the first hour, an estimated 150 families had visited. Middle-aged men on bicycles and other passers-by trickled in for the next hour.
"They came, they conquered and they left," said 18-year-old Grace Zhang, as she and her peers began packing up. She launched the Street Store project three years ago, inspired by a South African project of the same name designed to provide a safe environment for the homeless and poor to have a dignified shopping experience.
"At a Downtown event one day, I was walking and saw a homeless man trip over his baggy clothing," the Carmel High School senior said. "No one even glanced at him, let alone stopped to help him." She shared a meal with him and listened as he educated her about the dignity of all people.
A member of the Carmel Mayor's Youth Council and an aspiring physician, Zhang said she hopes to not only be on the forefront of medical science, but also be able to "treat the impoverished in hospitals or answer house calls for the homeless in street camps with the same compassion and dedication any doctor would a patient."
The Street Store project is an outreach activity of the Design for CHS club, of which Zhang is president. The club's mission is to identify challenges in the community, then design and implement solutions.
Earlier this year, Zhang received the Prudential Spirit of Community Award for Indiana for the Street Store project. Also honored from Indiana was Tara Harmon, Zionsville, for her work providing vegetables, weekend meals and school uniforms for students in Indianapolis Public Schools.
Noteworthy
30 years of building homes: Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity marks 30 years of building affordable homes this year. Since 1987, the organization has helped more than 800 families relocate from substandard housing into their own homes. This year, Habitat plans to build 23 homes locally, as well as rehab and repair 44 more. Learn how you can sponsor a project or volunteer at indyhabitat.org, or call (317) 921-2122.
Colts legends host fundraiser: Retired Indianapolis Colts Gary Brackett and Pat McAfee are teaming up to host the second annual Impactful Gala: The Blue Affair to benefit underserved youth through Brackett's Impact Foundation. The event starts at 6 p.m. April 15 at CharBlue, 14 E. Washington St. Tickets are $250. Email kathleen@garybrackett.org.
Setting the Stage for Kids: The Children's Policy and Law Initiative of Indiana is planning a benefit from 5-9 p.m. April 15 at the Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington St. The night begins with the play "Miranda" on the Upper Stage, followed by an after-party and silent auction in the lobby. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit group's yearlong training initiative, The Positive School Discipline Institute. Tickets are $75 at settingthestageforkids.eventbrite.com.
Escaping homelessness: Escape Room Indy and Fishers are hosting a fundraiser April 18 for the Dayspring Center, which serves homeless families. Get a team of six to 12 people and select your themed escape room from five at the Downtown location, 200 S. Meridian St., or six in Fishers, 8890 E. 116th St. All proceeds for the day will benefit Dayspring. Reserve a spot at escaperoomindy.com or escaperoomfishers.com.
Call IndyStar reporter Maureen Gilmer at (317) 444-6879. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.