All posts by Lafayette Urban Ministry

About Lafayette Urban Ministry

The Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM) is an organization of more than 47 Christian churches that serves as a social safety net for Lafayette, Indiana's needy children and families.

Purdue Students Honor Dr. King with Service

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Seven Purdue Students Volunteer at LUM Shelter

For many, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a long weekend, but for some it is a Day of Service. Seven Purdue University students, representing the Indiana NAACP Chapter, honored the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by volunteering this past Monday at LUM. These students helped advance the LUM Healthy Shelter initiative by cleaning the Emergency Shelter dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, lobby and stairwell. They also helped disassemble and removed wooden bunkbeds making room for new metal beds, which are easier to disinfect and help with pest control.

Please join us in thanking these students for choosing LUM and working hard to make the shelter cleaner, safer and healthier. LUM is grateful to be a part of such a giving community including the Purdue student body. Boiler Up!

Volunteer with LUM
Donate – Emergency Shelter

{PICTURED above L to R are Malique Williams, Shawn Washington, Quinn Ford, Carey Walls IV, Nigel Taylor, Jonathan Young, and Chris Jefferson.}

LUM Solar Energy Initiative – 3rd Year Savings

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So Far $14,500 Saved | $4,852 Saved in 2021

The LUM Solar Energy Initiative was switched on three years ago. The amount of energy generated daily has been substantial.

In addition to the environmental benefits of going solar, the savings to LUM has been close to $5,000 per year.

These savings include a reduction in energy needed as well as revenue from trading Solar Renewable Energy Credits.

To date, the LUM Office building has generated…

  • More than $14,500 worth of electricity, the equivalent of…
  • 100 megawatts of solar energy
  • 155,191.5 pounds of carbon dioxide were NOT emitted, the equivalent of…
  • 2,168 trees being planted

In 2021, the LUM Office building generated…

  • $4,852 worth of electricity, the equivalent of…
  • 32.9 megawatts of solar energy
  • 51,058 pounds of carbon dioxide were NOT emitted, the equivalent of…
  • 713 trees being planted

The money saved ($14,749.24) has been reinvested in LUM programs & services in support of local families, children and individuals experiencing homelessness. LUM plans on expanding this solar energy initiative in the future. Stay tuned.

Three Ways to Help LUM Students TODAY

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The LUM After School Program provides safe, fun and enriching childcare for children in Kindergarten to 8th grade. The program serves up to 60 children from elementary & middle schools in Tippecanoe County for three hours each school-day afternoon, enabling their parents to finish their workday. 

Three Ways YOU can help the LUM After School Program TODAY are as follows:

  • Make a Monetary DONATION, click HERE
  • Sign up to VOLUNTEER, click HERE
  • Donate NEEDED ITEMS, click HERE

The LUM After School Program needs VOLUNTEERS from 2 to 6 p.m., every weekday. Volunteers are needed to tutor, read to students, give spelling tests and supervise the children. Please consider signing up TODAY. To begin, click HERE.

VOLUNTEER – After School Program
¿Habla Español? Love Helping Others?
Sign up to Volunteer with LUM!

Meet the LUM After School Program Team

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62 Students| K – 8th Grade | 3 Hours Per Day

LUM is proud to introduce the talented LUM After School Program team. Led by Kristi Hogue, LUM Youth Programs director, the LUM teachers do an incredible job of caring for and educating the LUM students each weekday afternoon, especially during the COVID-19 surge. This school year 62 students are enrolled from all over Tippecanoe County. The 2022 ASP teachers are as follows:

KRISTI Hogue grew up in Logansport and currently lives in Lafayette with Jeff, her husband of 27 years, and their children, Jaedren (14) and Maekenna (10), who have been enrolled in the LUM After School & summer programs for the past few years. Her oldest daughter, Taelynn (21), also lives and works in the Lafayette area, and has volunteered, sharing art ideas and homework help. Kristi graduated from Logansport High School, earned a BS in Child Development & Family Studies from Purdue University, and is a member of the National After School Association. She has worked with children and families as a career for nearly 30 years and enjoys continuing to learn and grow with LUM Youth Programs. Thanks to LUM and Indiana’s TEACH Scholarship program, she started her Master’s in Education focused on Early Childhood Education and a Graduate Certificate in Autism this semester at Ball State.

LUM is fortunate and grateful to have these dedicated teachers on the ASP Team.

Please consider investing in or volunteering with the After School Program – the LUM students need you.

Make a Donation Button
After School Program

Winter Warming Station & Annex Offer Shelter During COVID

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A Journey of Compassion & Adaptability

No one in our community should have to spend the night outdoors in the harsh weather of the winter months — especially during a global pandemic. LUM Winter Warming Station, located in the LUM Office building, was open from midnight to 7 a.m. and allowed individuals to be in a safe indoor warm space.

Provided Meals – Annex & Winter Warming Station

Serving individuals experiencing homelessness during COVID-19 takes detailed planning and additional staffing. When the local day shelter has to lockdown because of a “positive COVID-19” tested individual, LUM collaborates with other local agencies to offer shelter for new individuals. The LUM Winter Warming Station became the place for these individuals at night, and “the Annex Day Shelter,” a new temporary day shelter was the place during the daytime hours.

LUM prevails despite all of the many challenges presented by the harsh weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to each volunteer as well as the families, groups, individuals and churches who provided meals for the Emergency Shelter, Winter Warming Station & Annex.

Make a Donation Button
Winter Warming Station

LUM Volunteer Opportunities in 2022

Emergency Shelter, Food Pantry, Lafayette Urban Ministry, LUM, LUM Camp, Tax Assistance, Volunteer, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Did You Know? Serving Others Helps YOU Too!

Did you know?
Volunteering with LUM is a Win-Win experience. There are many benefits to you when you serve your community. It helps others as well as benefits YOU!

  • You LEARN more | You FEEL more | You SMILE more | You STRESS less

LUM offers many different opportunities, from working one-on-one with a child to helping run the homeless shelter. To view all LUM Volunteer Opportunities, click HERE. To check out the current LUM volunteer needs, click the specific program link here:

| Tax Assistance Program | Shelter Overnight Volunteer | Immigration Clinic || Food Pantries | Afternoon Receptionist | After School Program |

Make this the year that you follow through on your New Year’s resolution to make a difference in the lives of your local neighbors in need by volunteering at LUM.

More Important Information

LUM EVENTS
— Sign up to volunteer at LUM Events online. Online Volunteer Sign Up Sheets, click HERE.

GROUP OPPORTUNITIES
— If your group would like to volunteer with LUM, sign up for a LUM Event online — or please email or call for more information (volunteer@lumserve.org | 765.423.2691).

LUM VOLUNTEER LISTING
— To view all LUM Volunteer Opportunities, click HERE.

SIGN UP ONLINE
— Sign up to volunteer with LUM online. It’s quick and easy — and you’ll get an email confirmation and email reminders. For a list of Online Volunteer Sign Up Sheets, click HERE.

¿Habla Español? Love Helping Others? Sign up to Volunteer with LUM!

Purdue Athletics Makes Unique Donation

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Women’s Basketball Hosts “Teddy Toss”

Kristi Hogue, LUM Youth Programs director; Wes Tillett, LUM executive director; and Kaitlyn Lilleberg, Purdue Athletics representative.

On December 19, the Purdue Women’s Basketball team hosted their annual Holiday Bash. Fans were invited to wear their ugly Christmas sweaters, meet Santa Purdue Pete, and participate in “Teddy Toss.”

During halftime of the game, Boilermaker fans threw lots of new stuffed animals onto the court. It was a fun holiday frenzy, and all of the stuffed animals were recently donated to LUM. The stuffed animals have since been distributed to the children of LUM clients and students enrolled in the LUM After School Program.

Thanks to the Purdue Women’s Basketball team and Athletic Marketing & Fan Experience crew for their kind donation.

Meet the New LUM Spring Interns

Interns, Lafayette Urban Ministry, LUM, LUM Staff, ,

Beth Kupsis & Anneke Radelich
Purdue Human Services Students

Meet Beth Kupsis and Anneke Radelich, the new LUM Spring Interns (pictured below L to R). At LUM, Beth & Anneke will be working with each of the assistance programs including Financial Assistance, Immigration Clinic, Tax Assistance & ID Clinic; with the children in the After School Program, with the Westside & Protein Food Pantries and Emergency Shelter, and in planning the 50th Anniversary Celebration. Read more about Beth & Anneke below.

Beth Kupsis & Anneke Radelich, LUM Interns

Elizabeth “Beth” Kupsis grew up in Valparaiso, IN and now lives in West Lafayette. She graduated from Valparaiso High School and is currently enrolled at Purdue University. Beth will earn a bachelor’s in Human Services with minors in Psychology and Law & Society. After graduation in May, she plans on working with families and children.

Beth is the youngest of five children and an aunt to five children. She is a member of the Theta Nu Chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority at Purdue. In her free time, Beth enjoys spending time with her family, painting, and rock climbing.

Anneke Radelich grew up in Middlebury, IN, graduated from Northridge High School, moved to Three Rivers, MI after graduation, and now lives in West Lafayette. She is currently enrolled at Purdue University and will earn a bachelor’s in Human Services. After graduation in May, Anneke will be a missionary with EveryHeart Movement.

Anneke is the youngest of four children and her family is truly global. Her mother is from South Africa, her grandfather is from Croatia, her grandmother is from Italy, her uncle is from Australia, and she has aunts and uncles who live Wales and England. At Purdue, Anneke is a member of the Stewart Cooperative. In her free time, she loves to travel, play volleyball, and play the piano.

LUM is fortunate to have Purdue students with Beth & Anneke’s energy and passion join the LUM staff as interns. Join us in welcoming them.

Significant End of the Year Gifts

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Support for Shelter, Financial Assistance, Food Pantries & Youth Programs

Other significant end-of-the-year gifts to LUM include the following:

Thank you to all who gave support to LUM in 2021, especially those listed above. Cheers to 2022!

Donate – Lafayette Urban Ministry

New Year’s Resolution – Volunteer with LUM

Emergency Shelter, Food Pantry, Lafayette Urban Ministry, LUM, LUM Camp, Tax Assistance, Volunteer, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Did You Know? Serving Others Helps YOU Too!

Did you know?
Volunteering with LUM is a Win-Win experience. There are many benefits to you when you serve your community. It helps others as well as benefits YOU!

  • You LEARN more
  • You FEEL more
  • You SMILE more
  • You STRESS less

LUM offers many different opportunities, from working one-on-one with a child to helping run the homeless shelter. To view all LUM Volunteer Opportunities, click HERE. To check out the current LUM volunteer needs, click the specific program link here:

Make this the year that you follow through on your New Year’s resolution to make a difference in the lives of your local neighbors in need by volunteering at LUM.

More Important Information

LUM EVENTS
— Sign up to volunteer at LUM Events online. Online Volunteer Sign Up Sheets, click HERE.

GROUP OPPORTUNITIES
— If your group would like to volunteer with LUM, sign up for a LUM Event online — or please email or call for more information (volunteer@lumserve.org | 765.423.2691).

LUM VOLUNTEER LISTING
— To view all LUM Volunteer Opportunities, click HERE.

SIGN UP ONLINE
— Sign up to volunteer with LUM online. It’s quick and easy — and you’ll get an email confirmation and email reminders. For a list of Online Volunteer Sign Up Sheets, click HERE.

¿Habla Español? Love Helping Others? Sign up to Volunteer with LUM!