When Lupita De La Cruz moved to Indianapolis from Aguascalientes, Mexico, four years ago, the hardest thing for her to get used to was the snow.
Now, the most difficult thing is finding money to afford Christmas presents for her children.
De La Cruz has two kids and another on the way, and she’s taken on several jobs to make ends meet. But every year, the ends get farther apart.
Food prices have risen over the last five years and are expected to keep rising in 2026. Electricity prices in Indiana are about 17% higher than they were a year ago. Rent prices keep climbing, with the average rental price in Marion County reaching $1,625 for a two-bedroom single-family home.
“We’ve had to move money around this year and manage it in creative ways to be able to afford everything,” De La Cruz said in an interview conducted in Spanish. “We’ve had to make miracles happen.”
It’s not just new Americans feeling the pinch. Lifelong Indianapolis residents like Nakia Parker, a mother of four, is also struggling to pay her bills and give her kids their holiday gifts.
“Everything is so expensive right now,” Parker said.
Once bills are paid, there’s little money left for anything else.
The Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center in West Indianapolis offers aid to help with the essentials, like food, utility bills and career training.
But every year, it also lightens the load for hundreds of westside families by helping them get their children toys, winter clothing and a holiday meal via a holiday assistance program called Mary’s Magical Mission.
“Moms and dads get to pick what’s right for their kids, and it’s going to be a surprise for them come Christmas morning,” said Mary Rigg president Heather Pease. “No matter where your Christmas Spirit starts when you get here, I promise you it’s going to be greater when you leave.”
Mary’s Magical Mission
To participate in Mary’s Magical Mission, families have to sign up in the fall. This year, Mary Rigg was able to keep the holidays alive for 290 families.
Each child 12 or younger received a large toy, stocking stuffers and a new blanket for their bed. All were chosen by the parents.
Teens received a bag with snacks, stocking stuffers and toiletries.
Every family gets a board game, a tote full of food, kitchen supplies, cleaning supplies and a grocery gift card to buy their protein of choice.
De La Cruz heard about the program from a friend, and says she’s happy she participated.
“It’s usually such a giant expense for us. This has been a tremendous help,” she said.
Pease, who became Mary Rigg president in 2024, said she loves to see the look of relief in parents’ eyes when they are able to secure gifts for their children.
“I had my first holiday assistance experience last Christmas, and I have said to everyone that it’s one of my favorite days,” Pease said. “And I don’t just mean my favorite day last year or my favorite day at Mary Rigg. It’s one of my favorite days in my life.”
Helping feed westsiders
The Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center knows times are tough for many westsiders.
This year, they’ve seen a 32% increase in their food pantry participation and a 63% increase in the homeless population requesting their services.
When the U.S. Department of Agriculture froze federal supplemental nutrition assistance, or SNAP benefits, during the federal shutdown, Pease said the number of people requesting aid approached the amount the center saw during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the shutdown led to historic job losses.
“We were seeing very high participation numbers, and we’ve still continued to see higher than normal and higher than average numbers, even after the return of the SNAP benefits,” Pease said.
To help meet demand, the center purchased a nearby building that it will convert into a larger food pantry. Construction will finish Dec. 19, and the first food will be served Jan. 14.
“We’ll spend the last couple of weeks of this month getting the shelves built and then stocked, getting carts in there and all the final details,” Pease said.
Helping the helpers
To learn more about the services the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center provides, check out its website or call 317-639-6106.
To volunteer at the center, you can register online or contact Food and Volunteer coordinator Joni Hurst by email or by phone at 463-900-4732.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.
Mirror Indy reporter Enrique Saenz covers west Indianapolis. Contact him at 317-983-4203 or enrique.saenz@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on Bluesky at @enriquesaenz.bsky.social.
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