Volunteers Needed – LUM Income Tax Assistance Program
Make a difference in your community by becoming a LUM tax volunteer. Volunteers are needed from Saturday, February 2 through Thursday, April 4 for the LUM Tax Assistance Program.
No experience is necessary — and training is provided. You may even qualify for continuing education credits. There are a number of volunteer roles available — click HERE to see descriptions. For tax preparers, some accounting experience is desired. In all tax volunteer roles, individuals who are bilingual, multi-lingual, and have international experience are helpful. As a LUM tax assistance volunteer, you’ll join a program that’s helped millions of people file tax returns at no charge for more than 40 years.
LUM strengthens our community through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. VITA, a nationwide IRS program, secures greater financial stability and economic opportunity for working families — and directly impacts OUR community. Your help will make a difference — and have a significant positive impact. If you are interested or need more information please click HERE or call or email Josh Prokopy (765-423-2691 | taxes@lumserve.org).
¿Habla Español? Love Helping Others? Sign up to Volunteer with LUM!
Ring in the valiant man and free, the larger heartthe kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be.
Dear Friend,
The Christmas poem “Ring Out, Wild Bells” was written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson 168 years ago in England – but it could have just as easily been written in the here and now.
As a child from a large and impoverished family, Tennyson would have seen and experienced first-hand many of the ills of mid-19th century England that he writes about in his poem. His words are a social commentary about the prevailing political climate and inequality of his times.
The poem cries out for social reform. Tennyson longed for the worst aspects of human nature to be corrected – for corruption, political ruthlessness, ambition, class barriers, poverty, and social inequality to be replaced by a more civil, caring, equal and compassionate society.
I think the poem could have been written in the here and now because these are the same longings so many of us hold for our own time and place. It’s why so many of us have chosen to support the work of the Lafayette Urban Ministry. We know that through LUM we are contributing toward a more caring and compassionate community.
A collaboration of 47 local churches, LUM serves as a social safety net for children and families who are experiencing difficult times. During the past year, the Lafayette Urban Ministry served more than 5,100 families through one or another of our 22 programs.
LUM’s Overnight Shelter continues to compassionately serve the chronically homeless in our community. LUM’s shelter and overnight winter warming station will serve more than 900 homeless individuals during 2018.
LUM’s Tax Preparation Programserved 552 low-income workers, returning to them $1 million in tax credits and refunds.
LUM’s Good Samaritan Programserves up to 12 families each day – families that are in the throes of eviction, utility disconnects, health care or transportation emergencies. LUM has aided more than 2,000 such families so far this year.
Ring Out, Wild Bells
Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light; The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.
Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more, Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind.
Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life, With sweeter manners, purer laws.
Ring out the want, the care the sin, The faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in.
Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good.
Ring out old shapes of foul disease, Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace.
Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand; Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be.
The annual Turkey Trot 5K Run was festive as well as a big success. Turkey Trot attracted a fun bunch willing to arrive before sunrise and run or walk a 5K on a brisk Thanksgiving morning.
Many arrived in costume or wearing a turkey hat, and participated with their entire family including their dogs. Turkey Trot participants shared that they enjoy being able to turn a day of eating into a day of fitness for a great cause. To view the race results, click HERE.
PHOTOS – To view photos from the event, click HERE.
The event was also a successful fundraiser for all of the LUM programs & services offered to local families and children. It is still early but Turkey Trot 2018 is on track to raise over $22,000. Thanks to all of our participants and event sponsors. If you were not able to participate and would like to give, click the donate button below.
Creasy Springs Health Campus presented LUM with a gift of $1,063.35.
The Creasy Spring Health Campus staff and residents selected LUM as the recipients of their recent fundraising events. LUM is thankful to Creasy Springs for their continued support “Lafayette Urban Ministry.”
Holder Bedding Inc. of Lafayette is once again offering the “$2,500 Match Program” in support of LUM. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to “double your donation” to LUM and increase your impact on strengthening local families.
It’s simple — click the “Match Program” button below, make a donation by November 30, and Holder Bedding will match all donations up to $2,500.
INCENTIVE – Holder Bedding is also offering an incentive of $200 toward your purchase of one of their Select Mattress Sets. Visit Holder Bedding (230 Farabee Dr N, Lafayette), mention Lafayette Urban Ministry, and get $200 off.
{Pictured (L to R) with Joe Micon, LUM executive director, from Holder Bedding are Merrick Steinmetz, owner; Benjamin Hernandez; Scott Holder, Jonathan Fields, owner; and Elijah Tague}
LUM is very fortunate and sincerely grateful to have this support from Holder Bedding. Holder Bedding Inc. is a local, family owned and operated business in Lafayette providing employment opportunities in our community since 1947. LUM encourages you to shop at Holder Bedding for your next mattresses.
You’re invited to the Holiday Bazaar at Creasy Springs Villa Clubhouse. Details are as follows:
Saturday, November 17
1 – 4 p.m.
Creasy Springs Villa Clubhouse, 1750 S Creasy Lane, Lafayette
Vendors include boutique clothing, pottery, jewelry, wooden items, memory teddy bears, charity wreath auction and more. For more information call, (765) 413-2967.
Angela Williams moved to our community for the same reasons so many others have in recent years…
Plentiful jobs
Good schools
Affordable housing
Safe streets
She felt that this would be the best community in which to raise her three children: Freya, Dajon, and Dante. She hoped that Lafayette would be the place to make a home and build their new life together.
Then, little 3 year old Dante lost his appetite, started losing weight and became sluggish and fatigued. The doctor diagnosed him with lead poisoning. An assessment of their new apartment found lead paint virtually everywhere.
For the sake of the family’s health and well being, they were told they had to move from their new home – and quickly.
Even though Angela works full-time doing cleaning for a local staffing agency, her hourly earnings weren’t enough to cover a second move in the period of less than a year. Unless she could pay off her current electric bill, in full, the family would be stuck in a contaminated apartment.
That’s where the Lafayette Urban Ministry came in.
Angela asked if it might be possible for LUM to pay her electric bill so the family could move to safer quarters. She was overwhelmed with relief when she left our office with a Good Samaritan Fund check for $150 – enough to cover the entire amount of the bill.
In a matter of days, the family was moved into a new, safe, duplex and little Dante has been eating better and gaining weight ever since. Thank goodness.
Last year, LUM’s Good Samaritan Fund expended $117,058 to resolve more than 2,030 financial emergencies. Helping to keep families together in their homes was our first priority and much of our assistance was spent for rent and utility aid. But we also helped with food, prescription medications and transportation.
The Lafayette Urban Ministry Good Samaritan Fund is made possible by those in our community who know how important it is for there to be a strong and reliable social safety net for our neighbors who fall upon hard times. I hope you will consider making a generous financial gift today so that this important work can continue.
Your contribution of $50, $100, $250, $500 or $1,000 will allow the Good Samaritan Fund to be here for all the families, many with children, who call upon us for help.
And remember, not a single penny of what you contribute will ever be spent for administrative overhead. Every gift to the Good Samaritan Fund is used directly for food, shelter, health care or transportation assistance.
Angela Williams favorite past time, actually her passion, is cooking. She believes it is the most personal and intimate gift you can give to another. Cooking and eating she says is an essential common bond that connects people of all races, nationalities and backgrounds.
So perhaps it should have been no surprise when Angela showed up at the LUM office with a fully cooked meal of chicken casserole, greens and biscuits to share with LUM’s staff and volunteers!
She said she just wanted to thank us for all we had done for her family.
As we were enjoying her gift of food and the warm conversation that surrounded our impromptu meal in the LUM break area, I couldn’t help but realize that Angela was really thanking you. She was thanking you for the kindness shown to her family in their time of need. And she was thanking you for your support of LUM’s Good Samaritan Fund.
I pray that you will continue that support. Please, won’t you join me in sending a generous gift today?
Holder Bedding Inc. of Lafayette is once again offering the “$2,500 Match Program” in support of LUM. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to “double your donation” to LUM and increase your impact on strengthening local families thanks to the generosityof Holder Bedding Inc. It’s simple — click the “Match Program” button below, make a donation by November 30, and Holder Bedding will match all donations up to $2,500.
INCENTIVE – Holder Bedding is also offering an incentive of $200 toward your purchase of one of their Select Mattress Sets. Visit Holder Bedding (230 Farabee Dr N, Lafayette), mention Lafayette Urban Ministry, and get $200 off.
{Pictured (L to R) with Joe Micon, LUM executive director, from Holder Bedding are Merrick Steinmetz, owner; Benjamin Hernandez; Scott Holder, Jonathan Fields, owner; and Elijah Tague}
LUM is very fortunate and sincerely grateful to have this support from Holder Bedding. Holder Bedding Inc. is a local, family owned and operated business in Lafayette providing employment opportunities in our community since 1947. LUM encourages you to shop at Holder Bedding for your next mattresses.
Holder Bedding Inc. of Lafayette is once again offering the “$2,500 Match Program” in support of LUM. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to “double your donation” to LUM and increase your impact on strengthening local families thanks to the generosity of Holder Bedding Inc. It’s simple — click the “Make A Donation” button, make a donation by November 30, and Holder Bedding will match it.
Holder Bedding is also offering an incentive of $200 toward your purchase of one of their Select Mattress Sets. Visit Holder Bedding, mention Lafayette Urban Ministry, and get $200 off.
This is an exciting partnership because Holder Bedding is a local business and is also the preferred mattress of the LUM Emergency Shelter. In 2013, 42 mattresses were made in Lafayette by Holder Bedding and installed at the LUM Emergency Shelter.
LUM is very fortunate and sincerely grateful to have this support from Holder Bedding. Holder Bedding Inc. is a local, family owned and operated business in Lafayette providing employment opportunities in our community since 1947. LUM encourages you to shop at Holder Bedding for your next mattresses.
The annual 
{Pictured (L to R) with Joe Micon, LUM executive director, from Holder Bedding are Merrick Steinmetz, owner; Benjamin Hernandez; Scott Holder, Jonathan Fields, owner; and Elijah Tague}
