INDIANAPOLIS -- Imagine getting thousands of dollars to help someone in need. Thats the concept inspired by ABC’s primetime hit "Oprah's Big Give."

RTV6, in conjunction with Oprah Winfrey and ABC, is helping two local charities do a "Big Give" for Indiana.

In early March, Hoosiers submitted their ideas for how they would do a Big Give.

More than 550 applications were submitted by viewers. So many of the Big Give ideas submitted were clever and from the heart.

But the hundreds of applications had to be narrowed down to just two. The final two winning submissions would each be awarded $5,000.

A team of RTV6 staffers pored through each application, reviewing the ideas and eventually judging two entries above the rest.

The teams were invited to the RTV6 studios for final interviews. Then 6News anchors Todd Wallace and Trisha Shepherd surprised the winners with checks totaling $5,000 each.

Third Phase Inc.

Third Phase Inc. provides families in need with food, supplies and emergency shelter. It also serves as a long-term shelter for women and their children who have no other place to go.

Located in Noblesville, the shelter is in desperate need of room to store food panty items, household donations and to house a classroom for its residents to prepare to take the General Education Development Exam.

Betsy Block and her Big Give team plan to build a pole barn so Third Phase can expand its services and host a community barn-raising/fundraising event. For more information on Third Phase Inc. and to learn how you can donate, visit www.thirdphase.org.

Helping Homeless Veterans And Families of Indiana Inc.

Helping Homeless Veterans And Families of Indiana Inc. (HVAF) helps homeless veterans through a series of programs including outreach, support center, rehabilitation, employment and training.

In addition, HVAF provides emergency shelter and transitional supportive housing for veterans. These programs help homeless veterans build a solid foundation for recovery and enable them to move into permanent housing as productive citizens.

Scott and Katie Taylor's Big Give plan, titled "Operation Heartland," is to furnish and stock HVAF's new Moreau House with items so it will be move-in ready for veterans this summer. For more information on HVAF and to learn how you can donate, visit www.hvaf.org.

Over three weeks, the two charities will need to pull the community together to achieve their Big Give ideas.

We will update the progress of our two teams here on TheIndyChannel.com and on 6News.

Dont forget to watch "Oprah's Big Give" on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. on ABC and RTV6.