Connecting hearts, minds, and hands to meet needs in our community
Hands of Hope Fosters Care for Kids
Whether they are in foster care or orphan care, Suzy Roth (center) knows that the best place for a child is in a loving family. The work was spawned by a wish to help families adopt children, but she soon realized that many children are not available for adoption, but languish in transitory homes. Hands of Hope's mission is to uniquely and deeply love orphans here and around the world. The organization-- UNITE INDY 's Partner of the Month--places a high value on changing the trajectory of a child's life, by educating others on God's heart for vulnerable children, and by motivating people to get involved and support these efforts. All donations go directly to projects and child sponsorships . Find out more!
Citizen 7 Celebrated Christmas with partners and friends at the Str8Up Life Ministries lodge facility this month. Citizen7 is a group of men, powered by love for each other, by love for their city, and the promise that men of all ages and socioeconomic levels and backgrounds can have a great time working together, using each person's particular skills to do great things in Indianapolis. UNITE INDY works closely with Citizen7 members in reentry efforts and as prayer partner warriors for our city. These are great people who do great things. See what they do!
Change Your City With Your Change
If you like the work UNITE INDY is doing to transform the city of Indianapolis, here’s a painless way you can support our efforts.
Just sign up through the link below and your credit or debit card purchases will round up a few cents to the next dollar toward a donation to support this work. For just pennies a purchase, you can join others who care about our city in support of the work we do to bring hope to our most hopeless neighborhoods.
You can even set a maximum for the total amount given each month. Change your city with your change! Visit RoundUpAPP.com , and click on "Start Giving Now."
Getting what you need: Wesley's tips for non-profits
The “Events” module in UNITE INDY 's Meet The Need web portal can be used to post events and track needs attached to it. The event module is very useful for needs that occur in a specific timeframe. Email me for help !
ReadyIndy Developing Action Plans
ReadyIndy, a Christian emergency network, recently organized a meeting of representatives from a collection of non-profit organizations to develop a consensus of the most crucial issues facing our city in order to develop action plans that might mitigate issues like poverty, crime, and gun violence, to name a few. UNITE INDY 's Jim Cotterill attended the meeting designed to be a catalyst to encourage participating organizations to collaborate with one another to develop these plans. Their mission is for members to be "trained to be aware of what God is doing, and to be prepared to survive and support others, ready to pray, care and give hope to those in crisis." Check them out!
Christmas depression is as common as lights on a tree. Even those who don't go all the way down depression road, can find the pressures of Christmas, family, and all the preparation can add enough stress to bring on unanticipated sadness. All around us there are those who are suffering with deaths, separations, illness, joblessness, addictions and difficult life changes whose burdens are even heavier in the face of a jolly holiday. When our hearts are bruised, it’s hard to feel the way we think we are supposed to feel at Christmas time—joyful, engaged, and just, well, happy. Want to know how to cheer up? Read it in Nancy's blog post.
Operation Reentry: Jesse makes a home in Pastor Darryl Webster's place for Reentrants So much to do! Jesse Rosbia, (left) our friend who was just early-released from Pendleton Correctional Facility, has been given responsibility over a home provided by Pastor Webster (right) and his Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church. The house is equipped to serve up to seven re-entering men, and activities include regular worship, counseling, and a good dose of friendship and support. The furniture is in, and a hand-picked group of men will be moving in soon. Great men of God sometimes take different paths to get there. We are so proud to walk along side these brothers. Click Here
Frank Alexander: Big Shoes to Fill
Pastor Frank Alexander passed away on November 12th after a valiant bout with illness. He was known as "The Mayor of Brightwood" because of his dedication to the neighborhood over a lifetime of work. In 1974 he was commissioned as a missionary in the Baptist church and became the Executive Director of the Edna Martin Christian Center--an island of help in a community of need. His service to our city and his Oasis of Hope Baptist Church is legendary. He is survived by Shirley, his wife of 49 years, who has been an invaluable help to UNITE INDY as we work to connect with urban ministers. We share the community's sorrow at Pastor Alexander's passing and ask all to cover his family with prayers. Read More about Pastor Alexander's amazing career.
What we do makes a difference!
UNITE INDY is connecting people every day to make a difference for those in our city who live in in perpetual want. It builds bridges of understanding between those who need help and those who can help.
• Connecting — UNITE INDY introduces urban pastors and ministry leaders to suburban pastors and business leaders. We also make available—At No Charge—a web-based system that connects churches, businesses, ministries, to charities enabling them to raise volunteers and publicize needed items.
• Raising Awareness — Through print, television, and radio UNITE INDY is sharing the needs of our community and celebrating victories.  
• Serving the Servants — UNITE INDY comes behind urban pastors and ministry leaders by addressing personal and professional needs for these men who work tirelessly in their neighborhoods to care for the needy and bereft.

Remember, almost 1 out of every 3 children in Indianapolis lives below the poverty level, yet our economy is roaring, and unemployment is at a historic low. But all this good news stops at the lines surrounding many of our inner city neighborhoods. In some neighborhoods of Marion County unemployment exceeds 20%. and poverty remains the overwhelming divider of people.

Please send a check today to UNITE INDY, 241 W. 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208. Or donate via credit card by clicking here . It is secure and safe. By sending your fully tax deductible gift* now we can have a greater impact meeting needs in our community in 2020.

Many, many thanks!
* UNITE INDY, Inc. is approved under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) as a Public Charity, donors can deduct contributions they make under IRC Section 170.
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