Hendricks County, Indiana
Supporting Working Families to Move from Surviving to Thriving
The HR Nest Foundation strengthens family stability through hot meals, STEM & AI education, workforce development, and financial literacy programs designed for working families.
34%
of Central Indiana households cannot afford basic living costs
38%
of Indiana households face ongoing financial hardship
13 K
students rely on free or reduced lunch to eat every day
THE REALITY
Too Many Working Families Are being left behind
Families are working hard but still stretched thin. Parents balance jobs, caregiving, and rising costs while existing support systems often miss them entirely. They need more than groceries, they need practical support and opportunity.
Time Poverty
Parents work multiple jobs and have no hours left for caregiving, cooking, or planning ahead.
Food insecurity
Families need more than groceries — they need ready-to-eat meals after a long shift.
Opportunity gaps
ALICE households earn above poverty but below what it costs to live, and most safety nets miss them.
OUR APPROACH
We don't just provide relief.
We create pathways forward.
Our programs were designed by listening to working families. Together, they balance immediate support with the long-term opportunity working families need to thrive.
-
![]()
Family Table Program
IMMEDIATE RELIEF
Restoring time, easing stress, and bringing families back to the table.
-
![]()
STEM & AI Education
FUTURE SKILLS
Coding, robotics, digital literacy, and AI for youth and adults alike.
-
![]()
Financial & Career Support
LONG-TERM MOBILITY
Career coaching, financial literacy, and pathways to financial stability.
MEASURABLE IMPACT
Building measurable
community impact.
We combine immediate relief with long-term economic mobility — and track every dollar against the families it strengthens. Funder-ready, outcomes-driven, rooted in lived experience.
30+
Individuals supported through career coaching
$15K
Average income increase per participant
250
Families targeted annually
4,000
Meals projected annually
BUILT FROM LIVED EXPERIENCE
"We are building
what I once needed."
HR Nest Foundation’s founder, Joyce, grew up in a single-parent household and later became a working mother juggling two jobs. After long shifts, the hardest part of her day wasn't the work — it was finding the time and energy to get a hot meal on the table.
She saw the same story repeating across her community: families doing everything right, yet still falling between cracks the safety net was never built to catch.
The HR Nest Foundation is her answer — bridging the gap between survival and stability for the families she once stood beside.
“A meal is more than food. It's time, relief, and connection.”
Joyce Cummings — Founder & Executive Director
Stay connected to the impact happening in Hendricks County, Indiana.
Be the first to hear about new programs, upcoming events, and real stories from the families you’re supporting. Every update shows how your community is growing stronger—one opportunity, one meal, and one family at a time.
GET INVOLVED
You can help strengthen families.
Three meaningful ways to help working families in Hendricks County move from surviving to thriving.
-
Donate
Your gift puts hot meals on tables and skills in hands. Every dollar is tracked to outcomes.
-
Volunteer
Serve meals, mentor a student, or coach someone preparing for an interview.
-
Partner With Us
Corporate, civic, and faith partners help us reach more families and scale impact.