LUM Offers a
Summer of Enrichment & Joy
During the summer months, LUM youth programming focuses on providing enrichment and joy for local children. Research warns that children suffer from the Summer Slide — the tendency for students, especially those from low-income families, to lose some of the achievement gains they made during the previous school year. That’s why Lafayette Urban Ministry is so passionate about the 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program and LUM Camp. LUM consciously creates learning opportunities throughout the summer to keep LUM students’ academic skills sharp.
5th Quarter Summer Learning Program – Recap
The LUM 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program offers children the chance to keep pace academically with their peers. It has been offered each weekday during the summer.
Sixty-four students were enrolled and, in addition to being served a nutritious breakfast, lunch and snack, they have been engaged each day in a mix of learning, reading, excursions, and recreation. This included trips to the park, local pool and library as well as guest presenters who ignited their excitement in science, fitness, and reading. Special excursions included a visit to Prophetstown State Park, Wolf Park and Imagination Station.
LUM “Culinary” Camp – Recap
LUM Camp is the best week of the summer for 76 local children (8-9-10 year olds), and this year was special. Campers experienced campfires, skits, horseback riding, s’mores, swimming, wall climbing, ziplining, pizza pudgy pies, giant swing, creek exploring, kickball, and fishing (catch & release) — often for the first time.
This year’s theme was LUM Culinary Camp. Special theme-related events included movie night feature Ratatouille, cooking demonstrations led by Purdue Extension, and a chance to be Pastry Chefs in the LUM Sweet Shoppe and create their own gourmet desserts. LUM friends were invited to camp one evening. They attended the camp meeting, sang camp songs, joined the campers for an indoor cook-out, and enjoyed informal interactions with the LUM Campers. It was a wonderful evening, and LUM is grateful for their support.
Support the LUM Food Pantries
This Summer
The LUM Food Pantries (Downtown Lafayette & West Lafayette, IN) need your support this summer. The pandemic and the cost of food and fuel are impacting local families. Below are a few ways YOU can help the LUM Food Pantries continue to meet the growing demand for basic food, paper products and personal hygiene items. Monetary donations to the LUM Food Pantries are ideal because it gives LUM the ability to use the money where it is needed the most. But if you are looking for other ways to the LUM Food Pantries— see below.
GIVING GARDENERS – The LUM Food Pantries welcome donations from “Giving Gardeners.” If you “grow a row” in your garden for LUM or simply wish to donate some of the fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit from your garden, simply drop off your items when the LUM Food Pantries are open (Thursday & Friday mornings). Learn more.
NEEDED ITEMS – LUM Food Pantries distribute “food plus more.” In addition to food, families need paper products, cleaning supplies, infant products and personal hygiene items. One way that the LUM Food Pantries keep expenditures down is by asking for donations of these “needed items” from the LUM Wish List. You may even purchase the needed items online and have them shipped. Plus, if you use Amazon Smile, LUM gets a percentage of your purchase. Go to smile.amazon.com, select “Lafayette Urban Ministry,” order needed items for the LUM Food Pantries, and LUM will get 0.5% of your eligible purchase. Learn more.
HOST A DRIVE – Coordinate a “drive” for the LUM Food Pantries at your church, organization or business — or at your next event, like a birthday party or business meeting/social. Check the LUM Wish List and keep it simple. For example, sponsor a Toilet Paper Drive or ask your guests to bring items needed for the LUM Food Pantries (dish soap, canned fish, canned meat, deodorant, diapers, feminine products).
For more information, email foodpantry@LUMserve.org or go to LUMserve.org/food-pantry. To invest in the LUM Food Pantries, make an online donation by clicking the button below.