Category Archives: Homeless Shelter

Central Presbyterian Serves Shelter Meal

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Church Members Offer Healthy Meal & Fellowship

Pictured L to R are Harriet Smith, Chip & Carolyn Goldsberry, and Nancy Nargi.

Recently, members of the Central Presbyterian Church (Lafayette, IN) prepared and served a meal to the guests of the LUM Emergency Shelter — and offered fellowship as well. Thanks to Central Presbyterian Church for their commitment to our community and continued support of LUM.

If you or your group would like to prepare and serve LUM Emergency Shelter Meals, here’s what to do:

For more information or to sign up, click HERE or the button below — or email or call us (shelter@LUMserve.org | 765-423-2691).

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Prepare a Shelter MEAL
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Sign up to Volunteer with LUM!

Please share with others.

LUM Winter Warming Station Persisted

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A Ministry 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. Since November 15, LUM Winter Warming Station was open from midnight to 7 a.m. and allowed individuals to be in a safe indoor warm space. Each guest was also provided with coffee, water, and a bagged meal to take with them in the morning. This winter, the Winter Warming Station persisted and served more than 226 individuals for 1,390 bed-nights, and 78 guests were new to LUM.

Serving individuals experiencing homelessness during COVID-19 took detailed planning and additional staffing. This winter was colder than usual with 24 days of dangerously cold temperatures. On these nights, LUM provided buses from the local day shelter to the LUM Emergency Shelter and Winter Warming Station and opened three hours early (at 9 p.m.).

Now that the spring season has arrived the LUM Winter Warming Station is closed until it is needed again in mid-November. LUM persisted and prevailed despite all of the many challenges presented by the harsh weather and the COVID-19 resurgence. Thanks to each overnight shelter volunteer as well as the families, groups, individuals, businesses, and churches who provided meals for the Emergency Shelter and the Winter Warming Station.

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Winter Warming Station

Purdue Delta Tau Delta Serve Shelter Meal

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Delta Tau Delta Volunteer Yearlong at LUM

The members of the Gamma Lambda Chapter of Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity at Purdue recently prepared and served a meal for the guests at the LUM Emergency Shelter.

Delta Tau Delta fraternity volunteer at LUM yearlong at the Protein Food Pantry and with the After School Program, bring the holidays (Easter, Halloween & Christmas) to the LUM students, and raise funds for the LUM youth programs. They recently added the LUM Emergency Shelter to their service initiatives. LUM is grateful for the continuous support from Delta Tau Delta. They are a big help to our programs.

FOUR WAYS that YOU can Help the LUM Shelter

Would YOU or your GROUP like to support the LUM Emergency Shelter? Here are FOUR WAYS that YOU can help the LUM Emergency Shelter are as follows:

  • Make a Monetary DONATION, click HERE
  • Sign up to VOLUNTEER, click HERE
  • Donate Needed ITEMS, click HERE
  • Prepare a MEAL for LUM Shelter Guests, click HERE

Your financial generosity is not only an act of hospitality toward those with no home of their own, but it is also an investment in the health and safety of the greater community. VOLUNTEERS are also needed each night of the year, and it is a meaningful and unique opportunity. If you’re interested or need more information, click HERE — or email or call Terri Anderson (volunteer@LUMserve.org | 765-423-2691).

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Volunteer – Homeless Services

French Knot “Warms Up” the LUM Family

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Local Business Donates 320 Knitted Items to LUM

French Knot Team – Luciana (Vizsla & Golden Doodle mix), Jonas, Ryan & Chelsea

Recently, our neighbors, French Knot, donated winter hats, hand accessories (mittens & handwarmers), and headbands to Lafayette Urban Ministry. More than 320 items were delivered to LUM by Luciana (Vizsla & Golden Doodle mix), Jonas, Ryan & Chelsea (pictured L to R). These items are already being shared with LUM families, children, and homeless shelter guests. LUM is grateful to the French Knot team for this incredible gift, which is already “warming up” our community. If you wish to make a donation to LUM, click the buttons below.

French Knot creates vintage-inspired winter accessories designed in Lafayette, Indiana, and handcrafted in Nepal. French Knot’s products are made in Nepal by women artisans who take pride in their work. There are approximately 1,000 artisan knitters who create French Knot’s production. French Knot was founded in 2012 by designer Lindsay Mason.

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List of Needed Items

Snacks Needed for LUM Students & Shelter Guests

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LUM’s Top 10 Favorite Donations

SNACKS needed every day! LUM serves a snack to our Shelter guests every morning with coffee and to our students every weekday after school. Please consider donating snacks to LUM today.

LUM’s Top 10 Favorite donated items are as follows:

  1. Snack Bars (youth programs & emergency shelter) — Granola Bars, Fruit Bars, Breakfast Bars, Cereal Bars, Rice Krispies Treats
  2. Drinks
    (youth programs) — 100% Fruit Juice, Bottled water, Milk
  3. Healthy Snacks
    (youth programs) — Peanut butter, Fresh fruit, Carrots (snack size), Raisins, Yogurt cups, Applesauce cups, Fruit cups, Pudding cups, Gelatin cups (Jello)
  4. Toilet Paper (all programs)
  5. Paper Towels (all programs)
  6. Bleach – Clorox (all programs)
  7. Trash bags – 13 gallon/tall kitchen draw-string & 55 gallon can liners
  8. Coffee – Caffeinated
  9. Disinfectant Spray & Disinfectant Wipes
  10. Toilet Cleaner, Glass Cleaner & All Purpose Cleaner

Cash donations are preferred because they allow LUM to purchase what is needed, when it’s needed. Donations of “needed items” are also welcome and appreciated. If you wish to donate items to LUM, please either ship or drop off items to the LUM Office (420 N 4th Street, Lafayette, IN 47901).

Click HERE to view the complete LUM Wish List for the After School Program, Emergency Shelter and more. Check out and follow our Pinterest board too. Click HERE.

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Meet the LUM Homeless Services Team

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Meet the Shift Supervisor & Security Staff Members

The LUM Homeless Services depends on a team of highly skilled, trained & hardworking staff and volunteers. Together they provide a safe space every night of the year for individuals experiencing homelessness.

LUM is excited to introduce the LUM Homeless Services staff members. The LUM shelter staff members manage the nightly operations of the LUM Emergency Shelter & Winter Warming Station. Led by Jeffrey Auguste, LUM Homeless Services director, these frontline LUM shelter staff members are hardworking, caring and dedicated to keeping our shelters open and safe.

Donate – Homeless Services
Volunteer – Homeless Services

4 Ways to Help the LUM Emergency Shelter

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LUM Emergency Shelter Needs You!

Will you help us continue to serve individuals in our community who are experiencing homelessness?A gift to the LUM Emergency Shelter will help LUM continue to provide help and hope to those experiencing homelessness especially during this global health crisis and recent severe snow storm.

Four Ways YOU can help the LUM Emergency Shelter are as follows:

  • Make a Monetary DONATION, click HERE
  • Sign up to VOLUNTEER, click HERE
  • Donate Needed ITEMS, click HERE
  • Prepare a MEAL for LUM Shelter Guests, click HERE

Your financial generosity is not only an act of hospitality toward those with no home of their own, but it is also an investment in the health and safety of the greater community. VOLUNTEERS are also needed each night of the year, and it is a meaningful and unique opportunity. If you’re interested or need more information, click HERE — or email or call Jeffrey Auguste (jauguste@LUMserve.org | 765-423-2691).

Donate – Homeless Services
Volunteer – Homeless Services

Meet the LUM Homeless Services Team

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Meet the Director & Security Staff Members

The LUM Homeless Services depends on a team of highly skilled, trained & hardworking staff and volunteers. Together they provide a safe space every night of the year for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Jeffrey Auguste is the LUM Homeless Services director. He is responsible for the LUM Emergency Shelter and the Winter Warming Station. Jeffrey grew up in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and currently lives in Lafayette, IN. His mother, father and two younger brothers also live in Lafayette. Jeffrey graduated from Jefferson High School and earned an associate degree in Human Services from Ivy Tech Community College. He is currently enrolled at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis pursuing a bachelor degree in Social Work. His goal is to complete his Master of Social Work by 2025. To read more about Jeffrey, click HERE.

LUM is excited to introduce the LUM Homeless Services staff members. The LUM shelter staff members manage the nightly operations of the LUM Emergency Shelter & Winter Warming Station. Led by Jeffrey Auguste, LUM Homeless Services director, these frontline LUM shelter staff members are hardworking, caring and dedicated to keeping our shelters open and safe.

Donate – Homeless Services
Volunteer – Homeless Services

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. Thanks to the Quick Response Team for staffing the Annex and to First Baptist Church (Lafayette, IN) for providing the space.

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.

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Winter Warming Station

LUM Emergency Shelter Needs Bath Towels

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towelsThe LUM Emergency Shelter needs bath towels. New, white, 100% cotton, bath-size towels are preferred. Please consider a gift of towels today.

Cash donations allow LUM to purchased what is needed, when it’s needed, but donations of “needed items” are also welcome and appreciated. This holiday season instead of a gift exchange consider asking your party guests to bring items for LUM — and make a donation as a group.

If you wish to donate items to LUM, check out the LUM wish list — click HERE.

Items on the wish list are listed by “need” and also by program (Shelter, After School Program, Thanksgiving Dinner, Jubilee Christmas, Food Pantry, etc.). You may either ship or drop off items to the LUM Office (420 N 4th Street, Lafayette, IN 47901) M-F, 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Please email or call us if you have any questions (lum@lumserve.org | 765-423-2691). And Thanks.

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Emergency Shelter