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Indianapolis Star

A minister and a girl in a wheelchair: the legacy of Stringtown's Anna's House

The 317 Project tells stories of life in all of Indianapolis' vibrant neighborhoods – 317 words at a time. Every Saturday morning, families pour into Anna's House, selecting fresh groceries for the week from the Lord's Pantry. The door is open to all. Unlike many assistance agencies, Anna's House doesn't require clients to go through an eligibility process. People of any faith background (or none at all) are welcome, too. "If you're hungry, you're hungry," said Leticia Juarez, the organization's sole employee. What's now a house at the corner of Elder Avenue and New York Street began as a one-man street ministry more than 20 years ago. A former Baptist minister named Lucious Newsom spent nearly every day of his retirement gleaning leftover food from Indianapolis grocery stores. He would then drive through Indianapolis' poorest neighborhoods, propping up folding tables and allowing people to take what they needed. He called it "The Lord's Pantry." One of his most enthusiastic volunteers was Anna Molloy — a young girl who, despite complex medical issues, would race around in her wheelchair to help out. At its 2005 groundbreaking ceremony, the pantry's permanent building was named for the then 9-year-old Anna. Newsom and Molloy both died in the summer of 2008. Newsom was 93, and Molloy was 12. Today, Anna's mother Julie Molloy serves as chairman of the board. Over the years, the house has expanded services to help fit the needs of the community. There are hot meals on Wednesday nights and free breakfasts during the summer. There's a back-to-school supply drive and a gifting program around Christmas. Many clients are also volunteers even though it's not a requirement to receive services. "They wanted a way to give back, since we would help them. So I came up with, why don't you guys help me? We can sort. We can clean up," Juarez said. "But you don't have to volunteer to receive food," Julie Molloy said. "You just have families that want to."