Carroll Manor Lockport Church members have provided a ministry to Carroll Manor for many years, but not on a regular schedule. And one a year ago, the Friends of Carroll Manor did not exist. However all of that changed when church members were told earlier this year by Manor staff that funding for the facility was in jeopardy.

Church members, led by Ann Starrett, leaped into action. The church donated $1,000 to the facility, plus dedicated a program of visitation every other month. That promise has been surpassed many times in the past year according to long-time county resident and former teacher Starrett.

"I am doing whatever I can personally, and the church is doing what it can," she said.

Starrett explained church groups, such as the Olympian Youth Group and the Womens' Fellowship, have met at the facility in addition to the every-other-month scheduled ministry. A popular craft day was held, boy scouts pulled weeds, and there have been gravel and sandwich donations.

"Our goal is to make sure Carroll Manor stays open," she explained. "We cannot save Carroll Manor all by ourselves, but we can't just do nothing."

Church members continue to donate food weekly and Starrett delivers the donations to the home. She said most of the non-denominational church's 100 members participate in the friends group in some fashion.

Starrett said other community members can be involved by taking donations directly to Carroll Manor, located on CR100N, just past Indiana Packers Corporation.

Starrett said more publicity will bring the solution to the problem of funding the facility.

"The more publicity there is, the more people will know about it," she concluded. "I know there is a permanent solution out there. And I know someone will be able to find that solution."