Special THANK YOU to all of the LUM Interns for their valuable contributions this past Spring semester. Best wishes to all of our interns.
Interns allow LUM to serve our students, clients and guests with increased efficiency and innovation.
Thanks also to Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue University and the IU School of Social Work for trusting LUM with the education and supervision of their talented intern students.
Each year, LUM offers FREE Income Tax Preparation Assistance for eligible, low-income households and individuals who reside in Tippecanoe County. The volunteers and staff who have been working with this year’s LUM Tax Assistance Program met for lunch at Walt’s Pub & Grill to reflect & celebrate another successful year. Some interesting statistics about this year’s LUM Tax Assistance Program are as follows:
Attending the celebratory lunch (pictured L to R) were Joe Micon, LUM executive director; Patti O’Callaghan; Andrea Schmidt; Rob Patrick; Ben Murphy, Tax Assistant Program director; and Ron Smith.
Another semester of the LUM Citizenship Classes ended last week. The LUM Immigration Clinic partners with the Lafayette Adult Resource Academy to offer free Citizenship Classes for anyone interested in learning more about US history and government.
Special thanks to the James F. Ackerman Center for Democratic Citizenship at Purdue University for supplying the textbooks, maps & teacher’s manual and for also consulting on the development of the lesson plans. Thanks to each of the organizations and churches that supplied refreshments — and special thanks to all of our skilled, volunteer teachers and teachers aides especially Karen Countryman & Scott Frankenberger. LUM is grateful for the partnership with LARA and the Ackerman Center. To see more LUM Citizenship Classes PHOTOS, click HERE.
LUM Citizenship Classes are offered three times a year — and the next series starts in July. For more information about the LUM Immigration Clinic & Citizenship Classes, click HERE or call or email Susan Brouillette (765-423.2691 | sbrouillette@lumserve.org).
Last week, the students enrolled in the LUM After School Program were visited by Sergeant Ian O’Sheilds of the Lafayette Police Department. As part of LPD Crime Prevention & Community Outreach, Sgt. O’Sheilds worked with the students to understand and learn more about “personal safety and emotional intelligence around school based violence.” It was a interactive and fun program — and the students learned about many important issues facing students today. Thank you to Sgt. O’Sheilds and the Lafayette Police Department for sharing this program with the LUM students.
The LUM After School Program provides safe, fun and enriching childcare for children in Kindergarten to 8th grade. The program serves up to 80 children from all elementary & middle schools in Tippecanoe County for three hours each school-day afternoon, enabling their parents to finish their workday. The children are transported from their schools to the LUM After School Program at Central Presbyterian Church — where they work on homework, have a nutritious snack, and participate in crafts, music, and other fun recreational and educational activities. The program is staffed by a professionally trained educator, teacher’s aides, interns and volunteers.
Hunger Hike
is a community fundraising event whose mission is to Raise Awareness & Make a Difference in the Fight Against Hunger — locally, regionally, & globally. Hunger Hike is open to participants of all ages and abilities who share a common goal: Fighting Hunger! The details of the Hunger Hike events are as follows:
Hunger Hike is a perfect fundraising event for your group — student organization, church group, civic group, team or family. Put together a Hunger Hike team and start raising money using our online fundraising site — or any other way you choose.
All Hunger Hike proceeds directly support the Lafayette Urban Ministry food assistance programs including the St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry; Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.; and St. Thomas Aquinas’ Haitian Ministry. This is YOUR opportunity to support these outstanding local organizations while engaging in a meaningful and fun community event.
We hope you’ll consider joining our Fight against Hunger. Here’s how to get started:
| Donate Online | Hunger Hike—Online Fundraising | HH5K Run Registration |
If you are a company owner — you also may become a Hunger Hike sponsor. For more information on how to become 2018 Event Sponsor, email hungerhike@lumserve.org.
The Purdue Crew Team raised $16,231 for the LUM Good Samaritan Fundthrough the 9th annual Purdue Row-a-Thon event which took place on February 17 at the local shopping mall. This is the single largest gift to the LUM Good Samaritan Program again this year.
The “big” check was presented to Joe Micon, LUM executive director, last Sunday at their end of the year banquet.
{Pictured L to R: Mitch Nettesheim, Purdue Recreation senior associate director; Hannah Stefanik, Purdue Crew president; Apoorva Setlur, Purdue Crew officer; and Joe Micon.} To view PHOTOS from Row-A-Thon 2018, click HERE.
The LUM Good Samaritan Fund provides our community’s neediest families and children with a strong & reliable safety net. Emergency financial assistance is available for utility bills, rent, prescription medications, work clothes, and food. No operating expenses are taken out of this fund. In 2017, assistance was provided through the LUM Good Samaritan Program 2,032 times, totaling $115, 314.
Would you, or someone you know, make a good LUM Camp Counselor?
LUM Camp is a week-long, over-night camp program for low-income children from 8 to 10 years old. Volunteer camp counselors must be 18 years old, enjoy working with children and be able to spend the entire week at camp (11 a.m. Monday, July 30 to 4 p.m. Friday, August 3).
For additional information, click HERE.
Many more Volunteer Opportunities may be found HERE.
The students in the Mathematics Education Learning Community at Purdue University have been engaged this academic year with the LUM students enrolled in the LUM After School Program. The Purdue students have tutored our students and assisted in maximizing the use of our teaching software.
Recently as the academic year drew to a close, the Math Education Learning Community students applied for and were awarded two service learning grants through the Purdue Office of Engagement for $3,000 that benefits the teaching initiatives through the LUM Youth Programs. Not only did the grants pay for the annual subscription fee for the teaching software ($1,500) but it also enabled the Purdue students to purchase all of the needed items for the LUM Youth Programs, including teaching materials, new curriculum, school supplies, cleaning supplies, healthy snacks, first aid supplies and items for the newly installed garden ($1,500).
LUM is humbled by the service and generosity of the students in the Math Education Learning Community and grateful to the Office of Engagement for offering these students funding through their service learning grant program.
{Pictured (L to R) with a delivery of supplies are Purdue math education students: Aaron Schlossberger, Mitchell Sutton, Namaluba Malawo, Ashton Knies, Rachel Adduci, and Cuitla Alaniz; and not pictured are Professor Jill Newton and students, Morgan Horter & Tyler Long.}
If you or your group, school, business or church would like to coordinate a “Drive” and collect needed items for the programs at Lafayette Urban Ministry, please check out our Wish-list of needed items online — click HERE.
This past Sunday, Joe Micon participated in Worship Service & Mission event at Faith Presbyterian Church, West Lafayette. Not only did he have an opportunity to educate and update on the programs at LUM and their impact and needs, but Joe was also able to reconnect with several current and former LUM board members and volunteers (pictured). It is a testament to the love and support LUM receives all year-long from the members and leadership of Faith Presbyterian Church. {Pictured L to R are Joe Micon, Ron Smith, Deb Fleetham, Pastor David Horner, Lonni Kucik, Mike Lockwood, Jane Stewart & John Miller, seated.}
{Pictured are Ron Smith, Pastor David Horner, Joe Micon & Jane Stewart.}
Outreach is an important part of the mission of Lafayette Urban Ministry; and members of the LUM professional staff actively seek opportunities to engage with and educate people on a variety of issues. Directors of the various LUM programs are well-informed on social and economic issues and are passionate about helping raise awareness in the local community on critical issues affecting low-income families.
For more information on LUM outreach, click HERE.
