Marilyn’s Place Non-Food Pantry Having Moving Sale

Old Town Noblesville resident Glenn Conn, with the help of co-founders Marie Marks and Hilary Ricks, started Marilyn’s Place Non-Food Pantry on South Eighth Street in Noblesville two summers ago.

For Conn, it has been a way to help others in need because someone once helped him.

“I’ve been homeless myself and been in need a number of years ago,” said Conn, 69, who still has the warm leather jacket that he was given during a low point in his life. “I knew then I wanted to pay it forward some day … Literally, I woke up one day and said, ‘Why not have a non-food pantry?’

Marilyn’s Place is a place where people in need can go to get quality of life necessities, like personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and appropriate clothing for school, work or the weather.

It’s a place where people in need can receive a “hand up” so they’ll have a better chance at “a brighter tomorrow.”

It’s also a place where Conn is making a difference. There are plenty of food pantries in the county, but not a place where those in need could get non-food items. Marilyn’s Place is an all-volunteer, donation-based 502(c)(3) nonprofit that received its designation in 2019.

“Many of our clients are on social security, disability or both.  Trying to survive on a fixed income is extremely difficult and many of these individuals have told us of their appreciation to be able to use their limited funds for more important matters, such as rent, food, and medicines,” he said.

Conn contacted me to see if I could help get the word out to the community.

A year ago, Marilyn’s Place was having trouble making ends meet, paying the monthly rent, while still helping folks in need.

This year, the nonprofit’s board members in August agreed at their last board meeting that the nonprofit could afford about $500 per month to lease space. The current space rents for more than three times that amount, he said.

The Marilyn’s Place lease is up at the end of October. Marilyn’s Place has decided not to renew its lease. He said they’re having a Moving Sale this month and are hoping to move to a new location and to partner with a local church.

“These have been very difficult times for us,” Conn said.

“We recently had a whole trailer of merchandise donated to us for our sale,” Conn said. “Hundreds of boxes and literally thousands of items.”

Their sale is in their current location, at 1106 S. Eighth St., Noblesville, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, all during the month of October. “We have so much to offer,” Conn said. “Furniture, kitchen goods, lamps, glassware, Norman Rockwell commemorative plates, games, artwork, Christmas merchandise and much, much more.”

Conn founded Marilyn’s Place thanks to the help of his co-founders, cousin Marie Marks, treasurer, and retired criminal-defense attorney Hilary Ricks, the nonprofit’s vice president.  He found Ricks when he put a call-out for prospective board members in a local newspaper. She was born in Syracuse, N.Y., and grew up in New Palestine and has worked for and volunteered for nonprofits.

Conn, who holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, brings with him 50 years of experience in social work, at Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Community Kitchen of Monroe County, Martha’s House, a homeless shelter, and founder of an artists cooperative. He also brings experience in retail operations, including eight years in receiving at Sears and more than four years processing returns at Cabela’s. “My background has really helped,” he said.

Conn created this nonprofit because he wanted to do something for his community.

While Hamilton County is ranked second in per-capita income in Indiana and has one of the lowest poverty rates in the nation, there are still 12,000 to 16,000 residents trying to live on a household income at or below the poverty level, Conn said.

Any monetary donations will go to Marilyn’s Place and helping those served.

Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com.