Meet Sue & Tom – Volunteers of the Month
Sue & Tom – A Family Enriched by Service
Sue & Tom Harmeson are the March “LUM Volunteers of the Month.” They are partners both in life and in the community. Sue & Tom are being honored for their work with the LUM Emergency Shelter. The shelter staff are grateful for Sue & Tom because they are reliable, prepare a great meal, engage with the shelter guests, and bring more volunteers with them. As a result, they give love and hope. When asked to reflect on their service at LUM, they shared that,
God has blessed us with different gifts — Tom’s culinary skills in the kitchen and Sue’s ability to connect with guests in the dining room. We never know what kind of day the guests have had, so we always strive to make it end well with a nice meal, warm place to sleep and know they are loved.
We are following God’s call to serve others. It has been a blessing to be able to provide meals and fellowship with the guests.
Sue & Tom currently live in West Point, IN. Tom is from Attica, and earned a bachelor’s from Butler University. He is an event production manager with Elliott Hall of Music Productions at Purdue University. Sue grew up in Illinois, and moved to Lafayette closed to 30 years ago to begin her career as a journalist. She earned a bachelor’s from Western Illinois University and a Master’s from the University of Illinois, Springfield. Sue is the communications coordinator with the Tippecanoe School Corporation and has worked at WASK/WKOA Radio and WLFI TV-18.
They have been married for 12 years and have found that engaging in the community together, with their son, Brett, is fulfilling, strengthens their relationships, and enriches their entire family. They stated that,
We enjoy serving the Lord by volunteering to serve meals at the LUM shelter. We appreciate LUM’s ministry and the volunteers & staff members who make sure the guests are taken care of every night.
LUM is grateful to Sue & Tom for choosing to volunteer with the LUM Emergency Shelter. They encourage anyone who is thinking about helping out to “find a partner” and get started together. They shared that,
For many, serving at the shelter is an eye-opening experience, it helps break down stereotypes and can be one of the most rewarding experiences. We know we are where God wants us to be when we get smiles, laughter and, on some occasions, singing and dancing. It may sound strange to some, but we have fun when we serve and enjoy sharing that joy with others.
If you, your family or your group wish to volunteer with LUM, please check out all of the opportunities on the LUM website at LUMserve.org/volunteer. If you still have questions or need more information, please email or call the LUM volunteer coordinator (volunteer@LUMserve.org | 765-423-2691).