Culinary event raises funds for local community center
A LIVE animal show, LIVE auction, grab bag raffle, face painting and more!
Help take a bite out of poverty by attending the 9th annual Culinary Collage, benefiting Fletcher Place Community Center.
Amazon John, Silly Safaris, and Terri Graves, Fletcher Place Community Center, tell us more:
2018 Culinary Collage to benefit Fletcher Place Community Center
Saturday, May 20 at UIndy’s Schwitzer Student Center, 1 – 4 p.m.
CULINARY COLLAGE
Sunday, May 20, 2018 from 1-4:00 pm in the Schwitzer Student Center on the University of Indianapolis campus.
ADMISSION: Simply bring a $10 Kroger gift card (to help stock the FPCC food pantry) OR pay $15 at the door! Children 12 & under are FREE, but are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for the food pantry and must be accompanied by an adult.
PRESCHOOL
The Fletcher Place Preschool is an affordable, level 3 Paths to Quality neighborhood-based program. Our preschool offers scholarships and financial aid for children ages 3-5 to enable them to attend our FULL DAY programming. Our preschool has been a safe and interactive program helping children develop and reach their potential since 1930.
COMMUNITY GARDEN
The neighborhood Fletcher Place serves is considered a “food desert” (an urban area where it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food). This is why we love our garden – it brings affordable, accessible, healthy food options and a little outdoor living to our community!
In 2017, over 1 ton of fruits and vegetables were grown, harvested, and distributed to our neighbors in need! And although our garden is powered by awesome volunteers, we do rely on financial support and donations to cover supplies, which is why our Culinary Collage event is so important – 100% of the proceeds from Culinary Collage will directly benefit FPCC programs like our Seeds of Hope Community Garden!
HOT MEALS
Did you know that on average one in five children in Indianapolis go hungry on a daily basis? Fletcher Place Community Center’s mission is to provide needed services like our hot meals program to help break this cycle of poverty. With the help of dedicated volunteers in 2017 we served 23,504 hot breakfasts and dinners to our community! Attending our annual Culinary Collage helps provide a hot meal to a person in need and a clean, comfortable place to sit and enjoy it.
Food specialties, Silly Safaris wildlife demonstrations and exciting prizes to bid on in a silent auction and raffle are just some of the highlights of this year’s Culinary Collage to benefit Fletcher Place Community Center. A $10 Kroger gift card is all you need for entry to this family-friendly event Sunday, May 20 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. on the campus of the University of Indianapolis’ Schwitzer Student Center at 1400 Hanna Avenue.
Sample specialties from DeBrand Fine Chocolates, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, German American Klub, Kim’s Kakery Bakery, Kroger Deli Central Division, Pure Eatery, Red Lion Grog House, Starbucks, and table by Market District will be available. Kids of all ages can enjoy an up close experience with Silly Safaris wildlife led by Jungle John who also is master of ceremonies for the afternoon.
The Master Jewelers Ring Bling Raffle will feature a beautiful ring custom made for the event. Other exciting items include a JW Marriott overnight package featuring dinner for 10, foodie packages, Ziebart Exterior Detail, rounds of golf, overnight hotel stays and a Silly Safaris Extreme Birthday Party package.
According to Culinary Collage Chairperson Robin Heldman, 2018 marks the ninth year for this annual fundraiser. “Each year our event team comes together to offer the Culinary Collage fundraiser as a fun afternoon for the young and young at heart to enjoy delicious food and fun activities while contributing to the great work being done at Fletcher Place.
“The sad fact is that one in five children in Indianapolis go hungry on a daily basis. Fletcher Place Community Center’s mission is to provide needed services to families on Indianapolis’ near southeast side, including in the historic Fountain Square area,” Heldman said.
Established in 1872, Fletcher Place Community Center works to break the cycle of poverty by providing immediate assistance with free hot meals, a food pantry and free thrift store offering clothing and household items at 1637 Prospect Street. Their ongoing vision to break the poverty cycle involves educational and skill building programs for adolescents and adults and a full-day preschool program for children.
Fletcher Place Community Center’s Garden Project provides clients with fresh, organic produce in an accessible space in the Fletcher Place neighborhood so they have affordable, healthy food options and are empowered by learning about growing and preparing food and by opportunities to give back to their community.
Major event sponsors for this year’s Culinary Collage include Indiana Farm Bureau, PNC Bank, University of Indianapolis, Kroger, Moss Roofing, Midwest Remediation, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Saturn Bio Medical Services, and Direct Connect Printing. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor, should contact Heldman at 317-694-5096.
Fletcher Place depends on its volunteers who generously donate more than 11,000 hours of service each year. For more information about Fletcher Place Community Center, check out: