Carmel community unites to fight food insecurity on Jim Irsay 1976 Acts of Kindness Day

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The need for food is an ongoing issue for our community. Food insecurity affects all ages, all races, and all walks of life.

Due to this, many area organizations are putting their emphasis on the need for food as their mission for the upcoming “Jim Irsay 1976 Acts of Kindness Day” on Aug. 5.

Congregation Shaarey Tefilla (CST) is partnering with Congregation Beth Shalom to collect essential school supplies. Of these supplies, the list includes snacks for kids heading back to the classroom. ALO Property Group is working as a sponsor for this event, as well as providing a drop-off location.

All donations collected by these three entities will be directed to Popsie’s Pantry. Popsie’s Pantry delivered more than 3,000 bags of groceries to both Jewish and non-Jewish families in 2025 alone.

Seeds of Caring and Merciful Help Center are shaping up as the main service projects of the day for Kiwanis Club of Carmel and Rotary Club of Carmel. On Wednesday, Aug. 5, the two clubs will be joined in the effort by Carmel Police Department, Kroger, and a number of churches led by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

The committee will work from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to assemble at least 1,000 care packs (1,000 acts of kindness) as the centerpiece activity at St. Christopher Episcopal Church on Main Street. Kids from Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation created lovely, decorated bags that will then be filled with items (another 1,000 acts of kindness to be donated to Horizon House. The 2,000 total surpasses the 1,976 goal), with potential to grow even further through distribution or delivery afterward.

In addition, 300 Period Care Packs for Indy Hygiene Hub will be assembled during the evening and distributed to local schools. These packs are donated by the Kiwanis Club of Carmel.

On Aug. 5, Kroger on Range Line Road will hold a food drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This effort is also being supported by Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, and Carmel Police Department. These donations will go to The Merciful HELP Center’s “Carmel Backsacks” program. The Merciful HELP Center is part of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. These backsacks provide food to children at risk for food insecurity over the weekends. Churches partnering in this are Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Pilgrim Lutheran, Orchard Park Presbyterian, St. Christopher Episcopalian, and St Elizabeth Ann Seton.

The Merciful HELP Center’s Carmel Back Sack Program would love your help. Volunteers are needed at the Kroger location. Families and youth are welcome. Please reach out if interested to Jayne Slaton, Merciful HELP Center Executive Director at slatonj@olmc1.org.

Former Carmel Rotary president and Westfield Rotary founder Judy Ford will be working at the Crooked Creek Food Pantry, along with other volunteers on Aug. 5, and Centier Bank will provide volunteer support for Fields Market Garden. These are two additional acts of kindness to help with food insecurity.

A few members of the community are mentioned here, but this by no means includes all of the promises of goodwill activities that will take place. This is to highlight some of the things which constitute an act of kindness, as well as to encourage everyone to join in making this a very special day, whether you are in Carmel or anywhere that can benefit from a gracious act.

Whether through collecting school snacks, assembling care packs, or donating groceries, each of these efforts reflects a shared commitment to helping neighbors in need. By working together, local organizations, businesses, churches, and volunteers are demonstrating that acts of kindness – both large and small – can make a meaningful difference in the lives of families facing food insecurity. As the community comes together on Aug. 5 for “Jim Irsay 1976 Acts of Kindness Day,” the hope is that these partnerships will not only meet immediate needs but also inspire ongoing generosity throughout the year.

The Acts of Kindness event is a community-wide effort organized by the Rotary Club of Carmel and the Kiwanis Club of Carmel to complete an incredible 1976 acts of kindness on Aug. 5. The collaborative, community-wide initiative will feature multiple service projects across Carmel. Volunteers from Rotary, Kiwanis, other service organizations, local businesses, nonprofits, and individuals will complete 1,976 acts of kindness, honoring the memory of Jim Irsay.

The Jim Irsay 1976 Acts of Kindness Day has been approved by the Indianapolis Colts for Aug. 5. For more information on the event, email Dr. Rick Markoff at carmelrotaryclub@gmail.com or Trevor Nicholas at carmelkiwanisclub@gmail.com.