LUM Focuses on Hope This Thanksgiving

Community Thanksgiving Feast – Restoring Hope

Thanksgiving at LUM is about restoring hope — and the LUM Community Thanksgiving Feast makes it happen. The “feast” is just winding down at Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Lafayette, IN, and it was a special event. For the first time since 2019 (pre-COVID), guests were able to eat their holiday meal together — restoring hope for all of us. In addition to the turkey dinner, there was live music featuring West Lafayette High School orchestra students, Blue Moon Rising, and Larry Guentert Jazz Duo.

The LUM Community Thanksgiving Feast takes two months of planning, engages more than 200 volunteers and requires approximately $10,000 in donations to make it happen. The meals included roasted & smoked turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce, stuffing (AKA dressing), bread/rolls, a variety of beverages, and slice of pie. More than 800 meals were distributed — including 82 turkeys and 112 homemade pies.

LUM is grateful to Central Presbyterian Church for use of their facilities. It was also special to have several local officials “breaking bread” with our guests, including Indiana State Representatives Sheila Klinker & Chris Campbell, Mayor Tony Roswarski, and Lafayette City Council members, Kevin Klinker and Nancy Nargi. Additional information and acknowledgements include the following:

• Food donations: Chick-fil-A, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, First Christian Church, Great Harvest Bread Company, Lafayette Brewing Co., Jane’s Gourmet Deli, La Scala, Oliverio’s Southland Restaurant, Phoenix Paramedics Solutions, Purdue Federal Credit Union, SmittyBread, St. John’s Episcopal Church, and St. Thomas Aquinas Center plus dozens of individuals.
• Table decorations and placemats were created by the students enrolled at the LUM After School Program, Creekside Growers, St. Boniface Elementary, St. Mary Cathedral Elementary School, and West Lafayette Elementary School.
• The Crew: Thanks to Josh Prokopy, who directed the event; Nina Morgan, who headed up the kitchen crew; Terri Anderson for working with the volunteers, Jackie Gracer for managing the dining room; and Wes Tillett for emceeing and hosting the event.

It was a joyous community event and a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday celebration for all. Please consider a donation to offset the expenses of this special LUM event. To view more PHOTOS, click HERE.