Bags full of food just kept pouring in, and everyone wanted to help. The sun was shining bright on the terrace of Noodles & Company Restaurant in Broad Ripple Sunday afternoon, April 26, 2009, as a live band from Midtown Vineyard Community Church played a repertoire of Christian worship music, Nora Jones love songs and some new original tunes. The smiling crowd on the terrace was celebrating a fruitful partnership between Noodles & Company restaurant (www.Noodles.com), Midtown Vineyard Community Church (www.midtownvineyard.org) and the Martin Luther King Center (www.mlk-msc.org).

The previous week, volunteers from Noodles & Company, Midtown Vineyard Church and the Martin Luther King Center placed over 550 bags on porches of homes in Butler-Tarkington and Broad Ripple, inviting neighbors to fill the bags with non-perishable food items to help stock the Martin Luther King Center food pantry. That day Noodles & Company also donated 15 percent of food sales to the Martin Luther King Center.

"I am overjoyed by the kindness shown by our neighbors," said MLK Center Executive Director Netetia Walker.

Pastor Rob Stiles of Midtown Vineyard Church added, "When people work together, good things can happen. Our church is honored to be in partnership with Noodles & Company and the Martin Luther King Center." Noodles & Company assistant manager Emma Guinn loves to host benefits for good causes. "We have been blessed, so it's just natural to share those blessings with others," said Guinn.

If you would like to support the Martin Luther King Center food pantry, take a bag full of food to the MLK Center at 40 W. 40th Street, Indianapolis, 46208 or make a tax-deductible monetary contribution. In late July or early August, Noodles & Company plans to host another food drive and bring in nine other affiliate restaurants. Midtown Vineyard Church also plans to invite other churches to join the partnership.