LUM Volunteer of the Month – Marie Edmondson
Lafayette Urban Ministry is proud to honor Marie Edmondson as our Volunteer of the Month for July 2025. A longtime supporter and nearly 15-year veteran LUM Camp Counselor, Marie brings heart, humor, and a deep sense of purpose to everything she does—especially when it comes to giving back to the community that once supported her.
Rooted in Indiana, Driven by Purpose
Marie was born in Lafayette and raised in Millhousen, Indiana. She is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lafayette, IN. Marie graduated from South Decatur Jr./Sr. High School and pursued higher education through Ivy Tech, Purdue University, and Indiana Wesleyan’s Accelerated IT Program. Her career path has been as diverse as it is inspiring—spanning manufacturing (from microchip boards to semi-trailers), banking, administrative support, pharmacy, paralegal work, and client services. Through all of these roles, one dream remained: to be a teacher.
Life as a single mom of three didn’t always make that dream easy, but Marie is not one to quit. Although balancing work, school, and parenting led her to pause her college education, she never let go of her commitment to her children or her community. Now, as she prepares to semi-retire, she looks forward to returning to that dream by becoming an elementary school substitute teacher.
A Family Full of Strength and Heart
LUM Camp beams with pride when she talks about her children:
- Her youngest daughter, a gifted artist, self-funded her education and now holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Fine Arts.
- Her son, guided by compassion and fairness, chose a path in manufacturing, a choice that led Marie to reflect humbly and proudly on the value of meaningful work.
Her oldest daughter, a Master of Social Work graduate, lives by the mantra “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” She’s strong, diplomatic, and has always been drawn to helping children, something clearly reflected in her leadership at LUM Camp.
Marie shares, “I never envisioned myself becoming a single mother of three small children. But now, with three grown children, I wouldn’t change a thing because it might not have brought me—or them—where we are today.”
Paying It Forward Through LUM Camp
Marie’s connection to LUM is personal.
“As a single parent, my family was very grateful for the resources we received on occasion from LUM,” she says. “Being able to give back is an opportunity to pay it forward to countless children and their parents.”
What began as sending her own children to LUM Camp blossomed into a deep and lasting relationship with the program. Marie still remembers the nerves of sending her oldest daughter to camp for the first time and the comfort of recalling her own joyful camp memories. That first summer erased any doubts. All three of her children became campers, then junior counselors, and eventually counselors themselves. Today, her oldest daughter continues the legacy as LUM Camp Director.
More Than a Camp—A Community
Volunteering at LUM Camp is not just a week away for Marie; it’s a return to joy.
“At LUM Camp, it’s not just me giving of myself and my time—it’s also the gratification that comes from the smiling faces of the children, celebrating their achievements, and the camaraderie with other counselors. It takes me back to a time long since gone, when being raised in the country meant you were allowed to get dirty, yell with glee, run until you’re out of breath, or swim until your lips turned blue.”
When she’s not volunteering, Marie loves spending time with her grown children—whom she calls a hoot—and her granddaughter, who’s always game for whatever craft project Marie dreams up.
A Wish for the Future
Marie’s hope is simple but powerful:
“I can only hope and pray that each child of LUM Camp leaves at the end of the week with as many great memories as my children did, and that those memories carry into their own future as LUM Camp Counselors and beyond.”
Thank you, Marie, for your years of service, your generous heart, and the impact you’ve made on so many young lives. We are honored to celebrate you this month and every summer you return to camp.
Be Inspired
If you are inspired by Marie’s story and wish to volunteer with LUM, please check out all of the opportunities on the LUM website at LUMserve.org/volunteer. If you have questions or want to learn more, feel free to reach out to the LUM volunteer coordinator at volunteer@LUMserve.org or 765-423-2691.