The Gathering Space
The Gathering Space is a weekly pop up where individuals and families come to share a meal, seek assistance with navigating various social services, and most importantly find community.
"The Gathering Space is a place I like to go to because it is so welcoming. I have found community in this space and know others are looking out for me. When times are rough, I have felt no guilt asking for diapers."
-Gathering Space Attendee
Food Pantry
With the rising cost of groceries, For The Good seeks to be a consistent source of food for those who must stretch their pennies further than they are able to go.
"We're not sure what we would do without the For The Good food pantry. We work but it never seems like enough. We know that we can get food when we need it, even if it is late or they have to bring it to us."
-For The Good Community Member
Veggies On Main
In partnership with Saint Mary's College, For The Good provides the greater South Bend community with fresh produce grown on the Sustainable Farm located on the campus of Saint Mary's College.
"We look forward every week to getting vegetables and eggs. We would not be able to afford this stuff at the store. We get to pick what we want for free. I really like the cherry tomatoes and the eggs are all different colors."
-Veggies On Main Participant
Social Services Advocacy
Mounds of paperwork, the need for necessary documents, and the use of an accessible computer and printer make it extremely difficult to navigate the systems of social services. For the Good provides individuals with assistance in obtaining this necessary paperwork and with signing up for much needed support.
"I needed help finding housing, Medicaid, and childcare and I didn't know where to start. For The Good helped me sign up for things and made sure I understood the process."
-For The Good Neighbor
Community Support
Life is hard and we were not meant to go it alone. For the Good strives to be a safe place for individuals to experience community and find a place of belonging.
"The Gathering Space is a place my kids and I come to unwind. It’s a place where we can discuss anything and we won’t be judged. A lot of us are young mothers and we are able to teach and learn from each other. It’s a place where we can talk about relationships, parenting, life struggles, and we are all different people from different places and we are all on different paths."
-For The Good Community Member
The Laundry Collective
Unlike most states, Indiana’s definition of neglect includes poverty—the inability to provide food, clothes, medical care, or shelter. Neglect, including poor hygiene, is a major driver behind DCS interventions. Many families lack in-home washing machines and therefore are reliant on laundromats, but between busy work schedules, school dropoffs and pickups, and rising prices, it becomes more and more difficult to carve out the time and money that is needed each week to do laundry.
For the Good is starting a new initiative, called The Laundry Collective, to help mitigate the effects of poverty by providing families with access to laundry services. Access to clean laundry helps reduce environmental neglect and serves as a protective factor for children—helping families meet basic needs and avoid crisis. $15 can wash and dry a child's uniform so they don't miss class, and $60 provides a family with laundry access for a week.
Every load you pay for helps prevent neglect. Clean laundry shouldn't be a luxury—it’s a line of defense for vulnerable children.
