November 23, 2020- On November 19th, 2020 the last Faith Based Coalition Meeting of 2020 was held at the Pike Township Fire Department Headquarters. Led by Trustee Annette Johnson, the meeting featured guest speakers Abby Vesga and Pastor Wade Apel of Laundry and More. Laundry and More is an organization based in Lawrence Township that assists low income families with laundry services as well as other services in the areas of mental health, dental, lead testing and more. Pastor Carlos W. Perkins of Bethel A.M.E. Church opened the meeting with a prayer. The meeting was well attended and many community members were able to join us in person as well as on zoom. Attendees included Abby Qaulitza with the Marion County Prosecutors Office, Sandy Frauhiger and Anita Sipes with Bethel UMC as well as Tonya Monnier, Social Worker with Pike Township Schools. Also in attendance were Ray Wilson of Hoosier Interfaith Power and Light, Curtis Mcmanus of Solid Word Church and Karla Newlin with Angels of Hope home care. Thank You so much to Laundry and More for presenting and to all those who were able to join us to hear this wonderful presentation. Looking forward to meeting again in 2021!

The Pike Township Fire Department and Pike Township Trustees Office are deeply engaged in serving our residents and the greater community. On Saturday October 10th we hosted the blood mobile to ensure that our hospitals have what they need, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to everybody who donated their time and blood!

In 2020 Marion County deployed AB Kiosks around the City of Indianapolis to help monitor low-risk, non-violent probation clients. One was placed in the Pike Township Government Center. The goal of the kiosk is to reduce probation officer workloads, enabling officers to concentrate their efforts on producing good outcomes among high-risk clients. The Kiosk system consists of two components: a stand-alone interactive kiosk, and a client-management software program. The kiosk handles routine tasks such as setting client check in schedules and notifying the probation officer of the completed check in. Probation clients can access the kiosk Monday thru Friday 8 am-4:30 pm.

The Pike Township Trustee’s Office along with Senior Pastor Terry Webster Sr. have been collaborating with a drive thru food giveaway during Covid-19. The weekly event located at Nu Corinthian Church, 5935 W. 56th Street was staffed by church volunteers and others during phase 1 and phase 2. Food was given out on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Community Partners included Pike Township Fire Department, Ivy Tech – who donated hand sanitizers and wipes – and Mcfarland Foods, who donated all the food for the event. Thank You to all the Community Partners, volunteers, churches and community members for making this weekly event a great success!

Thank you so much to State Farm Agent Rahvy R Murry and Miss Indiana Earth Mahogani Johnson for donating to the Pike Township Fire Department for Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week is October 7^th-13^th. The theme this year is “Serve up Fire Safety in the Kitchen”. Donations were given to Pike Township Trustee Annette Johnson, Pike Township Fire Department Chief Chris Tragesser, and Community Risk Reduction Specialist Samantha Scott. We appreciate all our community partners!

The Pike Township Trustee’s Office is staying busy in the Pike Township Community during this time! We participated in the Drive Through Give Back Day sponsored by International Marketplace on Saturday, September 12th. The drive thru event included a free food give away as well as free masks. Shalom Health Care Center’s mobile unit was present along with booths registering people to vote as well as assisting individuals in filling out their 2020 Census form.  The event was a great success and the Trustee’s Office was able to give away multiple backpacks filled with school supplies along with informational brochures.

On Thursday August 6^th, 2020 Pike Township Trustee Annette Johnson held an event at the Pike Township Trustee’s Office.  Pike Township residents and IMPD officers got a chance to meet, ask questions and discuss issues in a social distancing atmosphere.  Police Chief Randal Taylor along with Northwest District Commander Lorenzo Lewis were in attendance with officers that live and work in the township. Local organizations including Shalom Health Care and Pike Pulse newspaper were there with information. Pike Township Fire Department along with Samantha Baker, Community Risk Reduction Specialist, were in attendance.  Thanks so much to IMPD for donating bottled water, Community Leader Ricky Hence for donating hot dogs, Kroger Bakery for the hot dog buns and McFarland Foods for chips.  Thank you also to the event sponsors, Ursula Booth of Team Rehabilitation, Lieutenant Gabel from IMPD and Brock Brown, editor-in-chief of Pike Pulse Newspaper. This event was a great chance for community members and IMPD to come together. Free masks were distributed.  Thanks to everyone who participated!

During this time of COVID-19, we are practicing social distancing. Our office hours may vary. Please call the office for assistance at (317)-291-5801. Our office can help with rent, utility, burial, food assistance and clothing vouchers.

The Pike Township Trustee’s Office community supported food pantry is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET. Food is donated from Pike residents, nonprofit organizations, congregations and businesses. Please call (317) 291-5801 for more information, kbailyoles@visitpiketownship.dream.press.

We support our Pike Township students and families. In July and August before school starts, the Trustee’s office has backpacks and other school essentials of folders, supplies, paper, and pencils available to children headed back to school. If assistance is needed for school supplies, please contact our office at (317) 291-5801.

Saturday June 13th, 2020 The Pike Township Fire Department and Trustee’s Office hosted a successful blood drive! Members of the community as well as PTFD employees and Trustee Johnson generously donated blood to help those in need. Thank you to all who donated!