Category: Indianapolis Foundation

First of its kind, Animal Welfare Center, to bring local Animal Welfare organizations under one roof.

Recently the Humane Society of Indianapolis acquired a lease on property at Holmes and Michigan in the Haughville area of Indianapolis. This property was acquired to provide much needed outreach and care to the disadvantaged neighborhoods of Indianapolis. Pet overpopulation is a significant problem in Indianapolis and over 70% of the strays that show up at Indianapolis Animal Care and Control originate from 10 zip codes in the near Westside and Eastside neighborhoods for which this area is one. Initially, this center will provide a location for many of the nonprofit service providers addressing numerous animal welfare issues (including Indy Feral, FIDO, Spay Neuter of Indiana, Indy Pit Crew), a low cost vaccine clinic, a Spay Neuter Hotline and outreach services to the neighborhood. Long range plan include performing spay neuter surgeries on site to address pet overpopulation in central Indiana by reducing number of unwanted animals.

This center will be highly visible and visited by many people each day. To promote these visits and improve the neighborhood it is important create a welcoming entrance and grounds. That’s just what Joe Gaafar and members of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis did. See the pictures below!

The Rotary Foundation of Indianapolis awarded a $25,000 Community Grant to Second Helpings this year. If you don’t know, Second Helpings is a non-profit organization that focuses on the power of food to change lives. They recover prepared/perishable foods and convert them into nutritious meals and then deliver those meals to over 60 social services organization that feed hungry people.

Second Helpings used the grant to purchase a new vehicle to deliver meals prepared in the Second Helpings kitchen to people all over the Indianapolis area. The new vehicle highlights the Rotary Club of Indianapolis (see below).

Pictured: (Left to Right) Mary Burger, Paul Del Re, Brenda Jackson-Morrissey, Sue Tempero, Kathy Cookerly, Jennifer Vigran (Second Helpings, CEO), Susie Harmless

A group of our Rotarians (above) accompanied Second Helpings to the HVAF of Indiana and where they helped deliver the ceremonial 6 millionth meal served by Second Helpings. The entire affair was reported in the Indianapolis Star.

Jennifer Vigran, CEO of Second Helpings is pictured above, noting the 6 millionth meal served by Second Helpings. The Rotary Club of Indianapolis is excited to have been a part of this achievement! Congratulations to Second Helpings!
Article by Don Sedberry, Rotary Club of Indianapolis Staff

The downtown Rotary Club has been involved with the Concord Neighborhood Center for quite some time. Last year, Marie Koenig, Rotarian, applied a Rotary Civic Entrepreneurship Grant towards improving the landscape around the Center’s main building.

Volunteers from Rotary, Regions Bank, and Concord planted 50 shrubs and spread 15 cubic yards of mulch. Installation of the awnings, above the two Dynki Deli windows at Concord, is a continuation of this beautification project for the outside of the Center, providing a more inviting place for visitors. They were courtesy of the downtown Rotary Club’s Environment and Beautification committee.