Carmel Summer Meals and Carmel Back Sacks

Merciful HELP Center Coordinates this program for the entire city. In every Carmel School public or private, there are School Counselors and Social Workers that are aware of children that go home to no food or very limited food on the weekend. These kids can't wait to get back on Monday morning to breakfast! We worked diligently to develop "Carmel Back Sacks". These sacks contain 2 days worth of healthiest breakfast and lunch foods that are easily carried and prepared by children, plus some snacks!
Chairpersons for building and delivery: Mary Ann Williams
 Administration and Food Procurement: Jayne Slaton and MJ Vera

Link to Volunteer:

 We need your donations of (updated for September 2024)
 Microwave popcorn
 Snack crackers
 Applesauce pouches
 Mac and Cheese Cups
 Ravioli Cups
 Raisins
 Cheese crackers

Link to Choose an Item to Donate:

 PLEASE HELP US!! We also need you to volunteer to help us pack upand distribute Summer Meals! Do you have a little time to give?

Done for the year, thank you!

Please consider donating to us financially to pay for fresh lunch meats, cheese sticks, cheese slices, shredded cheese, creme cheese, yogurt, milk, eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, hot pockets, small pizza's, breakfast burritos. We need the financial donations badly! Please help!

Can you imagine being a single parent and being used to making and paying for supper and snacks Monday through Friday for 4 children, and then summer comes and you have an extra 10 meals and snacks to make? When summer break starts families go from providing 11 meals x 4 children - 44 meals, to providing 21 meals x 4 children - 84 meals! That is 40 extra meals!

The Merciful HELP Center is the sole provider of the Carmel Summer Meals Program. We are dedicated to working with several other churches and agencies to provide nutritious food per week to families needing food assistance to feed their children over the summer months. We have 3 weeks of menus planned by a registered dietician. The Merciful HELP Center's team Jayne Slaton and Susan McRoberts along with Orchard Park Presbyterian, St. Christopher Episcopealan, and Carmel Rotary Club have all agreed upon these menus and to hold a high standard of nutrition all summer for the sake of the children who we are helping! 

Join us in helping us provide for the children! We will collect food at Kroger on Saturday, June 1, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Rangeline Road and the 106th and Michigan Rd. Krogers. 

The cost of this program is about $98,500 so YOUR DONATIONS MATTER! Whether you donate a dollar, a food item or give some time, its ALL important to this important mission!

The Schedule is as follows throughout the summer months:
May 28 through July 16, 2025
We will feed the families each week!

Our interns are the leaders of this program. 

We need help also at Pack the Cruiser on June 1, 2024 from 10AM to 2PM at 2 Kroger Locations:
The Carmel Rangeline Road Kroger  at Main St. and Rangeline
The Michigan Rd. Zionsville Kroger at 106th and Michigan

Here is a link to sign up to help at Pack the Cruiser and packing weekly:
 Pack the Cruiser:
DONE! Thank you to ALL that volunteered!



Packing food bags and putting food in cars: (Click on the graphic)

DONE! Thank you to ALL that volunteered!

Please consider making a financial donation for fruits, vegetable, fresh lunchmeats, cheese, eggs, bread, bagels, tortillas, frozen foods and prepared foods.  We NEED FINANCIAL DONATIONS for this program!
Please send to:
Merciful HELP Center
attn. Carmel Summer Meals
1045 West 146th St. Suite A
Carmel, IN 46032
All donations are tax deductible!

We need foods:
1 lb bag or box of pasta
Spaghetti Sauce in cans
Jelly in plastic container
Black Beans
Mac and Cheese
Soup
Family size snacks like pretzels, veggie straws, cheeze-its, or sun chips!
protein bars