Big finale for National Salvation Army Week – ‘Eat Outside the Box’

Aaron and Jon (Ricker's stores) enjoy some ice cold Cokes with Rowdie at 'Eat Outside the Box'

Indy knows how to put lunch dollars to work for a good cause and you proved it at our second annual ‘Eat Outside the Box’ picnic on Friday. We were out there to spread the word about a major need in our city – shelter and a future for the 1,500 kids and their moms who find themselves without a place to call home. Whether from domestic violence or economic struggles, these moms and kids find their way to our shelter each night looking for care, compassion and a fresh start. Because of you, we can continue to provide just that.

Without the generosity of our partners, we couldn’t do what we do to help our neighbors in need. Thanks to our food sponsors at All-American Picnic for firing up their new locomotive grill, GFS for donating all the chips and to Ricker’s am/pm stores for bringing plenty of 2-liters and ice. And we couldn’t forget the ladies who baked all the tempting treats for the Doughnut Girls to offer for donations.

Thanks to our campaign partners at Two Men and a Truck, our promotional partners at ChaCha, my107.9 and WISH TV-8 and our booth partners from Ivy Tech Community College, Comcast, Avon, The Indianapolis Star, The American Legion, The Indianapolis Colts, The Indiana Pacers, Indy Custom Cornhole and HVAF. Thanks for your support and help entertaining the crowd!

Now that you’ve seen the fun, maybe you feel like you missed out. Well, we’re looking forward to another chance to ‘Bite Back’ this October at Apple Fest on Monument Circle. We’ll have opportunities for booth, promotional, entertainment and food partnerships. Go here to learn more, or call Kristen at 224-1019.

BD’s Mongolian Grill, Guest Grillers help us ‘Bite Back’

WISH TV-8's sports reporter, Ashley Adamson and our own Homelessness Bites spokesperson, Mel McMahon take their turn at the grill.

Indy took a big ole ‘bite out of homelessness’ last night at BD’s Mongolian Grill as about 60 diners showed up to watch our Guest Grillers serve up some stir-fry and entertainment. Thanks to all our Guest Grillers: the fabulous folks from WISH TV-8…Andi Hauser (Indy Style), Steve Bray (Chief Meteorologist) and Ashley Adamson (Sports Reporter) as well as our Homelessness Bites spokesperson and i94′s Marco Show co-host, Mel McMahon and our good friend Dave “the King” Wilson who donned aprons and learned how to ‘go mongo’. All busy, busy people who heard about those 1,500 kids who spend their nights on the streets of Indy and stepped up to do something about it.

And we just can’t say enough about the amazing, fabulous team at BD’s Mongolian Grill in Castleton. The place has really hoppin’ and the servers and grillers kept up with the crowd. It was a fun, relaxed atmosphere and the food is fantastic! We appreciate how easytheir team made it to kick off National Salvation Army Week.

But the fun’s not over yet! Today, we’ll be down at the Indiana War Memorial Museum for the dedication of the WWI Salvation Army Doughnut Girls exhibit at 1:30. Thursday is our Dine to Donate event at the Castleton Max & Erma’s (go here to print the flyer you’ll need to present so 20% of your bill will support our mission). And then the big finale, ‘Eat Outside the Box’ picnic to end homelessness on Friday at Veteran’s Memorial Plaza from 10am-2pm. 

Speaking of Friday’s event, booth space is still available if your business or non-profit would like to join us. Just $50 will put you in front of about 500 prospects and behind a great cause. To learn more, go here or give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

Eat bbq, throw a game

What’s a picnic without a game of cornhole? Thanks to a generous donation from Indy Custom Cornhole, we’ll have 2 cornhole sets ready for players at next Friday’s ‘Eat Outside the Box’ picnic to end homelessness. So, gather up a group of co-workers and head on down to Veteran’s Memorial Plaza at Meridian and Michigan and put those lunch dollars to work for a good cause – homeless women and kids. Enjoy some freshly grilled hot dogs and hamburgers from All-American Picnic, chips from GFS and a ice cold water from Noodles and Company and then throw a game of cornhole before heading back to the office.

Booth space is still available for only $50. Interested? Go here to learn more or give Kristen a call at 224-1019.

Partner, Picnic at ‘Eat Outside the Box’

In case you haven’t heard, we’re celebrating our 56th annual National Salvation Army Week this May 10-16, and we’ve got some fun events planned. We’ll be sure to tell you more about them soon, but this is where we talk about homelessness in our city. So we’ll start there…at the big finish!

We’re wrapping up the week by having a picnic with a purpose. Join us on Friday, May 14 (10am-2pm) at Veteran’s Memorial Plaza for our 2nd annual ‘Eat Outside the Box’ picnic to end homelessness. We had a really great turnout last year and we’re hoping to continue to spread the word about our Homelessness Bites campaign. You can join the cause in two ways:

1. Become a booth sponsor – A great location and about 400 picnic-goers means prime exposure for our partnering non-profits and businesses. Partnership is super affordable – booth space is just $50! You’re welcome to have displays, giveways and even sell non-food items and you keep the profits! Interested? Call Kristen at 224-1019 and reserve your space today to get in on early promotions.

2. Come out for lunch and take a bite out of homelessness! The central location at Meridian & Michigan is super convenient for the employees of dozens of downtown businesses to just walk over and join us. All-American Picnic Company will be grilling hamburgers in addition to hotdogs. And we’re thrilled to have live music from BandWagon again this year! Lunch and tunes beats leftovers at your desk, right?

The 1,500 kids who spend their nights on the streets of Indy think Homelessness Bites. Do you? We hope you’ll help us Bite Back.