Miracle Place cares and supports East side

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Just south of 10th Street on the East side sits an organization called the Miracle Place. It’s fitting that a charity that makes miracles happen in the lives of local residents sits on Temple Avenue. The connection isn’t lost on the charity’s founders.

The organization began in August 2000 when two nuns, Rita Nannwade and Barbara McClelland, both Sisters of Providence, recognized a need in their community.

“The need that I noticed was the need for companionship,” says Sister of Providence, Rita Nannwade. “I saw a great deal of loneliness. There was a real need for people to have someone who understood them, someone who was willing to listen.”

Together, they rented a home on the residential street and opened it up for community events. Wednesdays, the elderly women in the community meet in the morning to have coffee. One of those women is Barbara West, a neighbor who has been coming to Miracle Place since the beginning.

“The Miracle Place opened up 10 years ago and that was the best blessing for our neighborhood,” says West. “They do so many things for us. They even gave us grants to fix up our homes.”

Miracle Place has benefactors who help provide money to meet any need in the East side community. They offer canned food and clothing when needed, and even have tutoring sessions for kids in math and reading; they even feed hot meals to people many times a week – all on a budget of $152,000 a year.

Their plight drew attention from Huntington Bank whose Vice President, Joe Breen, explained the organization this way:

"In much the same way that a caring parent would take care of a family and minister to all the needs of the family -- whether it be food, shelter, clothing, education -- that's what miracle place does for this neighborhood.”

Miracle Place isn’t a typical ministry. Rather than focusing on a single problem of the inner city, Miracle Place devotes itself to the neighborhood, with the ultimate goal of developing a strong sense of community and place.

“It has become a spiritual center for them,” says Co-Director, Barbara McClelland. “I think there is a sense of a presence of God. God's spirit is present, and for them that's been very beautiful.”

For information on how to volunteer or donate, visit their website.