INDIANAPOLIS — A food pantry at the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township is not only feeding hundreds of families in need, but also providing job skills.
It's all made possible by a retired worker with a heart for helping, and now graduates are continuing his legacy, but Chuck Farrell doesn't like the spotlight.
"I'm a behind-the-scenes kind of guy," he said.
However, you can't talk about Chuck's Closet at Lawrence North and Lawrence Central without Chuck.
"It wasn't my idea to put the name on the door. The Lawrence Foundation did that. I think it was kind of a joke, but it stuck," Farrell said.
His work began years ago.
"It was a gift to do that because it was always about the kids and the families," Farrell said.
At the time, he was the district's lone social worker.
"I'd see there was a desperate need. You don't have to go out of this country to go help people. I mean there were people in this district who didn't have food for their families," Farrell said.
Chuck's Closet started after his home visits.
"We work with these families. So, we know the need. You don't just take four canned goods to somebody that needs 20 because you know they need 20," Farrell said.
Before long, the pantry kept growing, and Chuck eventually had to retire.
"It's an incredible thing to know what started out in a little room with a few canned goods ended up being something to help with education and support," Farrell said.
Now, high school graduates like Corey Robinson run Chuck's Closet through the district's new program.
"Make sure we have everything on the list. You've got to make sure. You've got to make sure twice before you give it to them," Robinson said.
Empowered Pathways helps interns 18 to 22 years old with special needs prepare for a job in the real world.
"Develop skills, build skills that will be helpful in life after high school, and this is how we do it, through the pantry," said Chris Todd, coordinator of Empowered Pathways.
Farrell recently visited for the first time since retirement.
"So, it's a legacy I had not expected but just absolutely love, and the kids are involved, it's so huge," Farrell said.
His long legacy of helping from behind the scenes carried on in a bigger space and in an even bigger way.
To donate to Chuck's Closet, the Lawrence Township School Foundation collects items Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lawrence Education Community Center at 6501 Sunnyside Road in Indianapolis, north of East 63rd Street.
They are in need of items like sweatpants, undergarments and socks.