Soup's On

a ministry serving hope and

nourishment to Indy's

homeless and food insecure


Sundays Noon-1 pm (Sit-Down Meal)

Wednesdays 6-7 PM (TakeOut Meal)

In 1999, Rosie Wenzlaff, a devoted member of Roberts Park United Methodist Church, noticed a heartbreaking reality — homeless individuals near the church were left hungry on Sundays, as nearby shelters didn’t offer a noon meal. These individuals, often seen wandering downtown Indianapolis, searched or begged for something to eat.


At that time, data revealed over 1,000 men, women, and children were homeless in Indianapolis, with the majority concentrated in the downtown Mile Square — where Roberts Park is located. This realization sparked the creation of Soup’s On, a ministry dedicated to feeding those in need every Sunday at noon.


A Growing Need in 2024

Today, the need is even greater. The 2024 Point in Time Count reported 1,701 individuals experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis — a 5% increase over 2023. This growing crisis is visible every Sunday at Soup’s On.


Each week, Soup’s On serves a diverse group of individuals, many of whom face similar challenges:

  • 70% are unhoused and unemployed
  • 10% have jobs and homes but remain food insecure
  • 5% work but lack housing
  • 15% have homes but no jobs, often relying on disability, social security, or unemployment benefits


More Than Just a Meal

For over 25 years, Soup’s On has been a refuge every Sunday from noon to 1 PM at Roberts Park United Methodist Church (401 N. Delaware Street). The program is open to anyone in need of a warm, nourishing meal.

Meals range from protein rich casseroles to hearty plates of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and green beans. Guests often also receive a second meal to-go and/or a cold sack lunch with water, fresh fruit, and a snack or dessert for later.



Before the pandemic, Soup’s On served between 250-300 people every Sunday. While the pandemic shifted the landscape — nearby missions began providing Sunday lunches, which continue today — the program still welcomes 125-150 guests

weekly. Many attendees live on the streets, bringing unique challenges and opportunities for compassion to the lunch room.


Beyond Food—Serving the Whole Person

Soup’s On extends its mission beyond the lunch table, helping guests with practical needs and emotional support:

Filled Backpacks in December: Each year, guests receive filled backpacks during December, funded by the Lilly Endowment’s Holiday Assistance Grant. These backpacks provide essentials and a sense of holiday cheer.

Transportation Assistance: Thanks to the IndyGo Foundation, bus passes are distributed to guests, though demand often exceeds supply due to the high need for reliable transportation.

Winter Essentials: Church groups contribute by organizing drives — one group recently provided gloves in December, while another hosted a coat drive the previous year, ensuring guests stay warm during the harsh winter months.

Emergency Supplies: Basic necessities like socks and hygiene products are kept in a pantry for guests who need them, addressing critical gaps in daily care.


How the Community Can Help

Running Soup’s On each Sunday requires a team of 6-10 volunteers alongside a part-time Soup’s On Director. Volunteers are the backbone of this ministry, helping to serve guests with kindness and dignity. This is a community effort — many Sundays during the year are hosted by local churches, service groups, and independent groups made up of family members and friends. Other Sundays are staffed with volunteers from Roberts Park UMC as well as individuals from the community. Food for Soup’s On is provided thanks to volunteer groups, financial donors, and participation in the food rescue program at Second Helpings. 

Because everyone deserves a warm meal — and the compassion that comes with it.

Donation Provides Dignity Kits to Unhoused

It’s impossible to understand how a washcloth, hand towel and personal hygiene items can feel like a luxury unless you have lived on Indy’s streets. With the unhoused population in Indianapolis continuing to grow, these items are in high demand.


Thanks to Midwest Mission and a very special local volunteer, guests at Soup’s On at Roberts Park United Methodist Church will have Dignity Kits and Feminine Hygiene Kits available for distribution for the next several months.


Soup’s On has been a ministry of Roberts Park for over 26 years, serving a meal to primarily the unhoused and food insecure each Sunday from 12-1 pm at 401 N. Delaware St. There also is a takeaway meal available every Wednesday from 6-7 pm at the church’s Delaware Street doors.


Each week, approximately 150 people are fed by these meals.


Midwest Mission volunteers delivered more than 28 cases, each containing 24 kits, on Friday, July 31 to Roberts Park, with another 20 cases expected the week of August 9. 


Along with a washcloth and hand towel, the kits contain essential toiletries. The kits will be distributed at the Soup’s On pantry after the Sunday meal.


This generous donation is thanks to the efforts of Mary Marty, a member of Avon United Methodist Church. Marty became familiar with the need for the kits through her church’s volunteer efforts at Soup’s On. Marty also is a member of the Board of Directors of Midwest Mission, a non-profit based in Illinois that serves both here in the United States and around the world. These kits were donated by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and distributed by Midwest Mission. 

 

“This is a great example of Midwest Mission assisting folks not just around the world, but around the corner in the North Central Jurisdiction here in Indianapolis at Roberts Park UMC through their outreach programs to the homeless and disenfranchised,” said Marty.


“This donation is more than a collection of supplies; it is a tangible reminder that every person who comes through our doors is seen, valued, and worthy of dignity,” said Rev. Dr. Andrew Scanlan-Holmes, senior pastor. “Through Soup’s On and the generosity of partners like Midwest Mission and volunteers across the connection, Roberts Park can extend practical care and Christ’s love to our neighbors in a meaningful way.”


This is not the first time Marty has coordinated a donation of supplies to Roberts Park. She worked with Soup’s On task force chair Julie Jessee to ensure a smaller shipment last September, and recently provided a variety of non-kit items (goods that do not meet Midwest Mission’s requirements for inclusion in the Dignity Kits) for distribution.

Soup’s On is made possible thanks to the volunteer efforts of congregation members, community partners, and United Methodist churches throughout Central Indiana.


To learn more about Midwest Mission, visit https://www.midwestmission.org. 


For information about the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), go to https://umcmission.org/

soup's on adds takeout meals on wednesdays

Roberts Park UMC is expanding our cornerstone ministry, Soup’s On, to include a weekly takeout meal. Beginning Wed., Oct. 15, 2025 Soup’s On volunteers will provide an evening meal every Wednesday from 6-6:30 pm at the Delaware Street entrance. Additional meals will be delivered to nearby homeless encampments.

 

Extending our outreach in the Indianapolis community has been an aspiration for the past year, and thanks to the generosity of two donors, we are now positioned to make this vision a reality as a one-year pilot program.


Roberts Park is thankful for the support of The Efroymson Family Fund, a donor

advised fund at the Central Indiana Community Foundation, which awarded us a $7,500 grant initially intended to support six months of operations. Our friends at Carmel United Methodist Church, a longstanding partner of Soup’s On, blessed us with a gift of $10,000 specifically for this initiative. Their support enables us to operate this program for at least a full year. 

 

We are deeply grateful for these donors and for their faith in the Soup’s On Ministry. We are also thankful to all the people who played a role in bringing this dream to life.

 Donations pay for new Ice machine

Soup’s On appreciates all the support that has sustained this ministry for 26 years. A recent donation of more than $2,500 from Zionsville United Methodist Church, together with a grant from the Phipps Family Fund through the Johnson County Community Foundation, enabled us to buy a new ice machine. Our previous machine was not safe for making consumable ice; now, we’re able to serve guests ice and offer cold drinks, like lemonade on a hot summer day.

Soup’s On is the cornerstone ministry at Roberts Park United Methodist Church, with members and guests providing time and financial support. Following a recent $1,350 donation through our Mission of the Month campaign, additional Indy Go bus passes were purchased at a reduced rate due to the depletion of grant-funded passes, and more supplies for the pantry and kitchen were acquired.