Reporter Publisher
Noblesville residents Mark and Lisa Hall are passionate about their community. They also have a deep concern for food-challenged people in Hamilton County.
“Hamilton County is one of the most affluent counties in Indiana; however, we have people that don’t know where their next meal will come from,” said Mark Hall.
According to Hall, there are approximately food-challenged people in the county.
The Halls’ passion for the community and their concern for the hungry led them to the idea of outdoor free food pantries that are able to serve Hamilton County’s hungry 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Noblesville resident Mark Hall has a passion for his community and a concern for the county’s food-challenged residents. Mark and his wife Lisa have established eight self-serve food pantries throughout the county. (Photo provided)
Hall said the idea came from a program conducted by a Nazarene church in Bullitt County, Ky. He took the idea and gave it a local name: Feeding Families of Hamilton County. With the help of local businesses and community leaders, the Halls’ passion is now serving Hamilton County residents.
Hall said there were many challenges in the beginning: “We had to get them built, placed and stocked.” That’s when Hall turned to Bill Keevern, an instructor for Associated Builders & Contractors Inc. and J.R. Gaylor, president of the organization.
Keevern works with Ivy Tech construction trade students.
“I thought that would be a great community service project that my students could do that would utilitze the skills they have learned in the classroom,” said Keevern.
Materials to build the food pantries were provided by TechTrades, TalentLogistix and PinPoint Resources.
After the pantries were constructed, State Representative and CEO of Gaylord Electric Chuck Goodrich and employees of Gaylord Electric picked them up, painted, and delivered the first pantries to their locations.
“We weren’t prepared to launch so quickly, but with the looming crisis with COVID, we needed to get the pantries out for a number of reasons,” Hall said. “It was pretty clear that God orchestrated getting the pantries out earlier.”
According to Hall the first pantries were only stocked with Gatorade and popcorn. The program has now grown to a total of eight fully-stocked pantries in Noblesville, Cicero and Arcadia. One recent pantry was placed on the grounds of the Hamilton Heights School Administration building.
“We are so grateful for our partnership with Hamilton Heights School Corporation, Ms. Davis, Dr. Arrowood, and the entire school board in bringing a Feeding Families Hamilton County pantry to Arcadia,” Hall said. “These are great people that demonstrate serving neighbors every day.”
Goodrich has challenged the community to get involved and donate to help feed the hungry.
“When you go to your local grocery, pick up a few items and on your way home, stop by and put them on the shelf of one of the pantries,” Goodrich said.
“We are so grateful for all the contributions and the community coming together to stock the pantries,” concluded Hall.
Feeding Families of Hamilton County operates under the principals of take what you need, give what you can, and neighbors helping neighbors.
Non-perishable donations can be placed in the food pantries, or you can contact Mark and Lisa Hall through their Feeding Families Hamilton County Facebook page. You can also call (317) 626-3707.