Highlights

Mary Jane II is our new (to us) refrigerated truck (a.k.a. Reefer Truck) that we acquired in March 2024 with funds from Mary Jane I and some local donations. She is a 2017 Freightliner. Our truck fund is supported in part by generous grants from the Brown County Community Foundation.

 We received a woodshed as a donation in late 2023 and volunteers have been cutting and splitting wood to keep it stocked for our neighbors who heat with wood. Of course, we can't supply all the wood that everyone needs but every little bit helps during the cold months.

In July and early August, we provide Back To School vouchers to Brown County area households for their school aged children. For many years  we have been fortunate to partner with the Merchant Mile Walmart in Columbus where these vouchers can be redeemed for shoes, school appropriate clothes and school supplies. The program is funded by many generous donors (see the Reports page for details).

 Our new building was  completed in July 2023. It is stocked with furniture, appliances, housewares, bedding, books and toys. Donations from SVdP in Indy and local donors funded the cost of materials. The project was undertaken by Anthony Hicks who led other volunteers, young and old, in the yearlong effort. We thank all those who helped in any way.

 Through the generosity of many, on September 30, 2021 we completed the paving and striping of our parking lot. Now we are able to use carts on wheels to bring food to the family's car, move our pallet jacks without tipping them over, walk more  securely, and clear off ice and snow during the wintry months. We are  grateful.  

Thanks to Thomas & Anthony Hicks and Jim Riffle for the design and construction of the extension to the SVDP Warehouse, with help from Elijah Smith, Ben Hicks & Vince Genis. This work was proposed and executed  by Thomas as his high school capstone project.  (Note also the new sign built by Tom Lowe and painted by Tom Sullivan.) Thanks to all.

 In past Novembers, the backroom of the warehouse got a makeover to prepare for the annual Christmas Celebration. Local volunteer elves  worked many hours filling  the space with toys, stuffed lovies, games, puzzles, books, treats, and more. All provided by generous donations from our community. (Read about our new Blessing Basket gift program.)

Paul Colvin, Mother's Cupboard (on truck), WIll Bruce, Hoosier Hills Food Bank Program Specialist & Food Rescue Driver (left), and Jonathan Bolte, Food Coordinator for SVdP (right), doing a Brown County food pickup together using the 2011 Freightliner (Mary Jane) on 11/11/2020.

Many volunteers came together to respond to the extra needs of our community brought on by the pandemic. Pop-Up pantries were a big part of that response. A small army of volunteers procured, sorted, packed and delivered food (and some toiletries & clothes) at sites throughout the county. (No more popups are currently scheduled.)

Our second truck is named after the late Sister Mildred Wannemueler who was the Parish Life Coordinator at Saint Agnes when our conference of Saint Vincent de Paul was started in 1988. The truck was donated to us by SVdP - Indianapolis in Nov 2020 to live out its retirement.

In the summer of 2020 we were able to add a new walk-in cooler/freezer to our building thanks to grants from the Brown County Community Foundation and Hoosier Hills Food Bank. Installation of the new unit involved many hours of volunteer time. Many thanks to all who helped in any way.