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Indianapolis, IN

Season for Sharing: From homework to job skills, Saint Florian Center helps at-risk kids

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Season for Sharing: From homework to job skills, Saint Florian Center helps at-risk kids


As a firefighter, Anthony Williamson usually sees folks at their worst moments. He additionally sees a number of the most unsafe elements of the town.

Years in the past, whereas en path to calls, he noticed kids leaping up and down on a unclean mattress that had been thrown away. It was their playground. He noticed children taking part in basketball on a court docket plagued by needles and damaged bottles.

“We might see children that had been simply in despair. They had been despondent. You might see the seems to be on their faces, like they did not have hope. … And so we had been like, ‘We have got to have the ability to do extra,’” stated Williamson, a battalion chief for the Indianapolis Hearth Division.

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So within the early Nineteen Nineties, he and one other firefighter determined to begin a nonprofit to serve at-risk children in Indianapolis. They envisioned a corporation that doesn’t simply save folks once they’ve already reached all-time low, however that helps them at an age when optimistic affect issues essentially the most. They known as it Saint Florian Middle, named after the patron saint of firefighters.

At this time, the middle depends on a small group of firefighters who volunteer to supply quite a lot of companies, together with summer season camps and after-school packages. It serves predominantly Black and Hispanic kids, a lot of whom are from single-parent households.

The summer season camps final seven weeks. Youngsters undergo a structured curriculum that teaches them teambuilding and management abilities, health and survival techniques, philanthropy and social justice, CPR, entrepreneurship and extra. Throughout after-school packages, devoted to college students ages 10 to 14, volunteers assist with their homework, conduct management actions and train children sensible abilities on, for instance, confront somebody who’s tempting them to do one thing unhealthy.

The middle additionally has a program that teaches highschool college students interview for jobs and preserve them, amongst different issues. As a result of so many of those children have by no means traveled outdoors the town, and even outdoors their neighborhood, the middle additionally takes them on out-of-town area journeys, in addition to outings to native parks and museums.

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Season for Sharing:Season for Sharing: Outreach Indiana supplies haven for Indy’s homeless teenagers, younger adults

Williamson stated they rely virtually solely on donations, fundraisers, grants and firm sponsorships. Each time they’re quick, he and his volunteers use their very own cash to make up the distinction. As a result of the middle doesn’t have a brick-and-mortar headquarters, greater than 90% of the cash is spent on packages, Williamson stated.

Lori Jones’ 19-year-old daughter, Jaime, started attending packages on the middle when she was 7. Through the years, Jones watched as her daughter’s confidence grew.

“She flourished so, a lot,” Jones stated. “She was assured sufficient to really check out for the cheerleading workforce and the dance troupe, issues that she by no means actually wished to do earlier than.”

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Jaime additionally excelled at college, finally getting an $80,000 educational scholarship at Butler College, the place she’s now a sophomore finding out communications and a member of the cheerleading workforce. Jones stated she’s contemplating turning into a sports activities reporter.

The middle is Williamson’s life’s work, a mix of every part that the school-teacher-turned-firefighter likes to do: serving to and educating kids.

Rising up, he was one in all 10 children raised by a single mom. The vacations had been one of many hardest, he stated, as a result of he all the time ended up because the one child with no presents. So on holidays, his group donates dozens of toys to a number of church buildings and organizations within the metropolis.

“I began desirous about working a summer season camp after I was in center college. That is how lengthy I have been desirous about doing this,” Williamson stated. “So to see it come to life is simply one thing which you could’t even describe.”

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Extra:Too many are susceptible as prices preserve rising. Donate to Season for Sharing to assist

What’s your group’s mission?

Saint Florian Middle serves at-risk children by serving to them excel academically and develop problem-solving and management abilities.

How many individuals do you serve?

The middle serves about 1,000 youth, ages 6 to 17.

What’s your group’s No. 1 want?

The group is most in want of:

  • Culturally various books that painting children of various backgrounds and ethnicities
  • Present donations for the vacations, like stuffed animals
  • Film passes, museum tickets and different actions for youngsters

How can folks become involved?

Go to the middle’s web site, https://www.saintfloriancenter.org/, to volunteer or make a donation.

Making a distinction with IndyStar: Help Season for Sharing

The shared mission of IndyStar’s Our Youngsters initiative and annual Season for Sharing marketing campaign is to harness the facility of journalism to make a distinction within the lives of Central Indiana youth. We invite you to hitch us by making a monetary contribution. The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Belief will match donations dollar-for-dollar, as much as $25,000. All charitable donations are tax-deductible.

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Funds raised throughout this yr’s marketing campaign shall be distributed in early 2023 to organizations serving primarily Marion County youth and households.

Go to indystar.com/ocdonate to offer on-line. In case you want to ship a test, please mail to: Central Indiana Group Basis, Attn: Our Youngsters, 615 N. Alabama St., Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46204. You can also donate by texting “SHARING” to 80888.

Contact IndyStar reporter Kristine Phillips at (317) 444-3026 or at kphillips@indystar.com. Comply with her on Twitter: @bykristinep.





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Indianapolis, IN

IPS 'Back to School Nights' prepares students for new school year

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IPS 'Back to School Nights' prepares students for new school year


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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Public Schools has turned many of its schools into one-stop shops this month that enable kids to thrive inside and outside the classroom.

James Russell Lowell Montessori hosted one of the district’s “Back to School Nights” on the eve of the new school year, which starts on Thursday.

Chandrel Downs’ two kids attend Lowell, and despite spending several hundred dollars on supplies she still needed to pick up an extra backpack given out at the event:

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“For the twins, it was $400, just alone for clothes, and school supplies and shoes,” she said.
Hensley Law Group donated hundreds of backpacks to the event. Overdose Lifeline had a booth set up to help provide substance abuse counseling, and Edna Martin was on hand to promote its after-school services.

Principal Christine Rembert said immunizations were provided and a voter registration booth was available.

“I think from a family perspective it’s nice to have all the things in one place, as opposed to having to go to a variety of different agencies. Time is very precious, especially for families,” Rembert said.

The event also allowed students and parents to meet teachers, administrators, and fellow students.

“The children spend most of their waking time at school, and we want parents to feel a high level of comfort with us who are at the school,” Rembert said.

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Downs had one child who already attends Lowell Montessori and two more have been there since pre-school. Despite that familiarity, she’s glad to meet her kids’ teachers.

“We get to talk to them, and let them know the ins and outs of your kids, get to meet them,” she said.



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Indianapolis, IN

Colts players and coaches speak on Samson Ebukam's injury

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Colts players and coaches speak on Samson Ebukam's injury


WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — The Colts lost a major contributor to last year’s defense to injury, Samson Ebukam, who suffered a torn Achilles’ at training camp on Sunday.

Ebukam led the team in sacks last season with 9.5.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen talked about Ebukam’s injury on Tuesday after practice.

“That’s a tough break for us,” Steichen said. “I mean, what a great competitor he is. The sacks he had last year, and he was just continuing in the right direction. So, big blow there but guys have got to step up.”

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Fortunately for the Colts, they have a lot of depth at defensive end. Kwity Paye, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Tyquan Lewis combined for 20.5 sacks last season for the Colts. Plus, they drafted Laiatu Latu in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Ebukam and Latu built a strong bond in the past few months since Latu was drafted.

“That’s my big bro,” Latu said. “So, I was learning a lot from him. He’s been like a big brother to me since I got here, even before. I watch a lot of film on him. He’s just been somebody that I really look up to. So, I really just want to go out here and play for him and be able to do what he does on the field so that it doesn’t feel like we’re missing a link.”

With the loss of Ebukam, Steichen said that the reps are likely going to pick up for the rest of the guys at defensive end. But, he said they’re going to have be smart about it during training camp.

While Latu has been really impressive so far in training camp, Steichen also had great things to say about Lewis for the depth that the Colts have at the position.

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“He’s tremendous for us,” Steichen said. “He’s been here for a while. Just the way he goes about his business every single day, the way he rushes the passer. I mean, he’s a leader in that room for a reason and we’re extremely excited to have him.”

“We still have a lot of great leaders in that room,” Lewis said. “We know that we have a void to fill. He (Ebukam) was our sack leader last year, but we’re going to come in waves. We all stick together as one.”

The Colts return to practice at training camp on Wednesday from 10-11:30 a.m.



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Indianapolis, IN

Indy ambulances now place overdose reversal drug in hands of most vulnerable

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Indy ambulances now place overdose reversal drug in hands of most vulnerable


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INDIANAPOLIS — People who are most vulnerable to a drug overdose will now have medication that saves lives delivered directly to their hands. 

Indianapolis EMS medics responding to an overdose will offer kits to patients, their families, friends or bystanders. The kits include two doses of intranasal naloxone, a resource card with a QR code to the program’s webpage, how to sign up for text alerts about an overdose surge in Marion County and educational materials on recognizing an overdose and administering naloxone.  

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The initiative is part of the “Naloxone Leave Behind” project, in tandem with the Marion County Public Health Department.  

The program’s goal is to reduce overdose deaths in Marion County by delivering the opioid reversal medication naloxone directly to those who are statistically at higher risk of fatally overdosing in the future.  

“Indianapolis EMS stands among those who work on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic in our community, where seconds can mean the difference between life and death,” said Daniel O’Donnell, chief of Indianapolis EMS. “Increased access to naloxone can greatly increase survival chances in overdose situations, which can lead to more people seeking treatment to break the hold that addiction has on so many.”

Most people who fatally overdosed in Marion County in the first half of the year – about 62% −died in a home, according to a new report by the coroner’s office. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, continues to rank the most common substance driving up overdose deaths in the Indianapolis metro area.

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Fentanyl, methamphetamine: The Top 5 drugs fueling the overdose crisis in Indianapolis

How to sign up for ‘bad batch,’ overdose surge text alerts 

To receive texts about bad drug batches or overdose spikes in Marion County, text SOAR to 765-358-7627.   

Texts will be sent when a bad drug batch is detected, when a neighborhood sees a spike in overdose or when police conduct a drug seizure in an area — a move that research has shown disrupts the drug supply and increases overdose. The program, called the Community Harm Reduction and Improved Outcomes Team (CHARIOT), is part of the statewide nonprofit Overdose Lifeline, which aims to help individuals impacted by substance-use disorders. The Office of Public Health and Safety has partnered with the organization. 

‘Zombie drug’: The ’emerging threat’ for Indiana

Be in the know: Is your Indy neighborhood at risk for overdose?

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Other ways to get Narcan in Indianapolis

Narcan, the common name brand for naloxone, can be requested through Overdose Lifeline website at overdoselifeline.org. The supplies can be delivered anonymously.  

Contact reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com



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