Once a year HIP participates in Homeward Bound, a Walk-a-thon Fundraiser for agencies serving the homeless in Indianapolis.  This year, the event will be on Saturday, March 8th, at 3:00 p.m. at the City Market downtown, 222 E. Market St., with Walk registration and family fun activities beginning at 1:30 p.m.  The funds raised for HIP will go directly to benefit the individuals and families we serve, providing eye exams and eyeglasses; dentures; uniforms and work boots; birth certificates to obtain an ID; bus tickets for employment; first month’s rent; assistance with child care, and other needs identified in each person’s care plan.

If you’d like to help, please consider a contribution to HIP by:

• Visiting www.homewardboundindiana.org/central
• Once there, type in JoAnn’s HIP Hoofers in “Search Teams” to Support our HIP fundraiser.
• The “donate” button will appear on the right-hand side of the team page.

If you want to contribute, but don’t want to use a charge card, contact jmorris2@iuhealth.org or sstark@iuhealth.org for more information. Thank you!

Each drive is different…Whether it is an office chili cook-off, a coat drive, or a collection of monetary donations, it is exciting to so many creative groups helping out others during the holiday season.

The IU Health  Affinity groups had their own idea for a Holiday Helpings drive that, fortunately and gratefully, we were the beneficiary.  This drive was different, not in the way the donations were collected but in the way they were given.

When we went to pick up the donated items, the expectation was to drop by, load up and express our great thanks for these groups’ continued support for the 3rd year in a row.  However, when we arrived, the Affinity groups had a different plan in mind.

We were warmly greeted, asked to speak to the Affinity groups about our Homeless Initiative and Better Indy Babies programs (the specific programs that benefited from the drive), and then we had the opportunity to talk with many of the group members.

This experience went above
and beyond!

The groups’ willingness to learn more about these programs gave a sense of partnership, rather than just giving and receiving.

We appreciate EVERYTHING that the IU Health Affinity groups did for the Homeless Initiative and Better Indy Babies programs this year.  We are very grateful for the generosity shown, and the willingness to go beyond giving donations and wanting to learn more about how their donations will help!

It’s NOT Too Late! You can still hold a Holiday Helpings Drive!!

The needs are still great. Many holiday assistance programs have exhausted their resources – yet families in our programs still have needs.

Whether it’s the quick donation of a gift card or asking everyone who comes to your house for a holiday dinner to bring warm gloves for the homeless, you can learn why a Holiday Helpings Drive is vital to furthering the HealthNet mission and what is on our Holiday Wish List!

All of our BIBs & Healthy Families participants along with the homeless individuals served by our Homeless Initiative Program will need help beyond just the holiday season.  You can contact us about running your own drive by calling – 317-781-4918, every little bit helps!

This week we ventured over to collect dozens and dozens of NEW toys, stuffed animals, books and MUCH MORE! They had even collected donations and had a bake sale to raise additional funds for our families being served by HealthNet’s Better Indy Babies and Healthy Families programs. They raised over $700 that will go into an emergency fund so our case workers can provide food, clothing, heating assistance, and even those last minute Christmas items for a child who otherwise would not be getting anything.

When I contacted them over at BIBs/HF…here was their response….

“Wow, that is great!!!  We have been scraping the barrel
to try to get things at the last minute for families.
This is such great news!” -Denise Kaspar

“We have so many patients that were turned away from United Christmas Service and all the other resources have met their deadline. So donations like these are some family’s last resort. I already have 15 referrals for today and many, many phone calls.  I am going to load the cart up in my truck and I will be over very soon. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!  I just love the magic of Christmas” – Benita Mullins

MANY, MANY THANKS to the staff at Regenstrief Institute – you truly made a difference in the life of a child this holiday season!!

There is still time to help!!

You can learn why a Holiday Helpings Drive is vital to furthering the HealthNet mission or what is on our Holiday Wish List!  With warm weather lingering, the cold is still to come.  All of our BIBs & Healthy Families participants along with the homeless individuals served by our Homeless Initiative Program will need help beyond just the holiday season.  You can contact us about running your own drive by calling – 317-781-4918, every little bit helps!