Inspiration

Philosophy

So What IS a Non-Food Pantry & Why
Would Hamilton County, Indiana Need One?

         Food and water are survival necessities. Fortunately, Hamilton County has a well-founded network of food pantries to assist residents meet those needs. Weather, work, and school appropriate clothing, personal hygiene products, and cleaning supplies are quality of life necessities. So are dignity, self-esteem, and self-confidence. Unfortunately, those needs were not being met with any consistency when Marilyn's Place Incorporated was founded.

        We designed Marilyn's Place Non-Food Pantry to provide the tangible commodities clients need, when they need them, in a way that's as close to a normal shopping experience as possible, including a limited budget and freedom of choice over what to buy as well as the brand, size, flavor, form, etc. But instead of cash our clients pay with voucher points.     

        Our qualification policy is simple – request assistance, provide basic contact and demographic information, and sign the Participation Rules and Procedures after thoroughly reviewing them with an MPNFP volunteer. Asking for help is hard; if you say you need help, we take your word for it. We do, however, reserve the right to require documentation substantiating need should our fiduciary duty to donors as well as clients necessitate doing so; ie. circumstances indicate client(s) voucher point purchases are being sold for profit.