Category Archives: Lafayette Urban Ministry

LUM Seeking Spanish-Speaking Volunteers

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Weekday Afternoon Volunteer Opportunity

LUM has a volunteer opportunity for an individual who is fluent in conversational & written Spanish.

  • Volunteers would be needed two hours per week
  • Hours are flexible, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Duties would include reviewing voice mail messages, following up with clients by phone or email, and translating marketing and information materials like event fliers, door signs & brochures

Join a dynamic team of volunteers who are passionate about serving our neighbors in need. For more information, email or call Terri Anderson, LUM volunteer coordinator (765-423-2691 | volunteer@LUMserve.org).

¿Habla Español? Love Helping Others?

St. John’s Donates Refrigerator to LUM

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LUM Protein Food Pantry has a New Fridge

The LUM Protein Food Pantry recently moved to a perfect space in St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette. Although it was a smooth transition from a “pop-up food pantry” to the new location at St. John’s, LUM needed a few essential items in the new space.

When Pastor Bradley Pace & St. John’s leadership heard that the LUM pantry needed a refrigerator, they did not hesitate to offer the funds ($1,200) to purchase a new one for LUM.

Pictured (L to R) is Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, accepting the new refrigerator-only unit from the Rev. Dr. Bradley Pace on behalf of St. John’s Episcopal Church. LUM is grateful to St. John’s for the refrigerator, the use of their space for the LUM Protein Food Pantry, and for their unwavering support of the Mission of Lafayette Urban Ministry. If you or your group would like to invest in the LUM Protein Food Pantries, please consider a monetary donation, a gift of food items, volunteer or participate in Hunger Hike 2021.

Donate – LUM Food Pantries

Hunger Hike 2021 – Returns to Riehle Plaza

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Support Food Programs Locally & Globally

Last year’s virtual Hunger Hike was an incredible success, raising more than $120,000 for Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders Food Bank, and the Haiti Mission at St. Thomas Aquinas. But even as the US economy begins to recover from the effects of the pandemic, millions of people are still out of work, facing eviction, and struggling to put food on the table.

The need is as great as ever, and but YOU can be part of the solution.  Sign up now, and help fight hunger! Let’s beat last year’s record and raise $125,000 for the hunger relief efforts locally, regionally & globally. Hunger Hike details are as follows:

  • September 12 to September 19 is Challenge Week. 
  • Set a personal challenge and share it with your supporters: walk 100 steps, bike 100 miles, fast for 2 days, go without meat for a week, or
  • Take the SNAP Challenge and try to feed your family on the average SNAP benefit of $30 a person for the week. 
  • Sunday, September 19 at 1 p.m. join us in Riehle Plaza for our annual celebration and 3K walk. Enjoy:
  • Live MUSIC from Briton Wiese, former LUM shelter director
  • ZUMBA with Studio b, clowns, face painting, balloon animals, massages, and a hotdog picnic
  • And NEW this year, pose for photos with our three costumed princesses
  • Three Easy Ways to sign up:
  • go to hungerhike.org | Click HERE | Text HHIKE to 71777

For more information, check out our short video, “How to Set Up your Hunger Hike Fundraising Page.” Hunger Hike is only 59 days away. Why wait? Get started TODAY!

The Best Week of the Summer – LUM Camp

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LUM Camp Starts Next Tuesday for 73 Local Kids

LUM Camp kicks off THIS Tuesday for approximately 38 girls & 35 boys from Tippecanoe County. This will be a week filled with fun, friendship and life-changing experiences.

The theme this year is Brain Builders. LUM Campers will be introduced to The 9 Types of Intelligence; and throughout the week, the campers will be reminded of how each activity and workshop helps “build” their “brains” and the way it relates to the “Nine Types of Intelligence.”

It’s not too late to sponsor a LUM Camper this year. Donations to LUM Youth Programs are still welcome. Individuals may sponsor a camper for only $200. Would you please invest in both their long-term life skills and their short-term fun by offering them the gift of LUM Camp?

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LUM Camp

LUM Camp Counselors Needed

LUM Camp also has a few more spots open for volunteer LUM Camp counselors. If you are interested in being a LUM Camp counselor next week, please email LUM Camp director, Marlena Edmondson, TODAY at medmondson@LUMserve.org.

Apply – LUM Camp Counselor

Please note: LUM is working closely with the professional staff at Hanging Rock Christian Camp, the long-time host site of LUM Camp. LUM Camp is being planned in compliance with and exceeding the guidelines developed by the American Camp Association and the YMCA of the USA. All donations to LUM Camp will be used entirely on the campers’ experience this year.

LUM is Thinking About Christmas in July

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Jubilee Christmas – Saturday, December 14

LUM Jubilee Christmas is only 142 days away, and many of local churches are thinking about “Christmas in July.” Please consider getting engaged in Jubilee Christmas 2021 on Saturday, December 11.

Four Ways YOU & your church, family, business and organization can support Jubilee Christmas are as follows:

  • HOST Families at your own Jubilee Christmas event
  • PARTNER with Host Site and enable them to sponsor more families
  • VOLUNTEER
  • Register Families (10/18-19)
  • Staff the Donation Center (M-F: 11/29-12/7)
  • Jubilee Christmas Day (12/11) – Host Families
  • DONATE – invest in Jubilee Christmas in two ways:
  • Host a “Toy Drive” & Donate Items – to view needed items, click HERE
  • Make a Monetary Donation, click HERE

Last year, 30 churches at 27 events and numerous individuals, businesses and clubs provided for 526 local households, impacting 1,499 local children. Jubilee Christmas gave these parents a chance to be the heroes on Christmas morning as they gave their children gifts of new toys, books, clothing, and food from Santa Claus.

If you need more information or have questions, please go to LUMserve.org/jubilee, email jubilee@LUMserve.org or call 765-423-2691. Thanks…and Merry Christmas!

LUM Camp Offers a Life-Changing Experience

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Your Gift to LUM Youth Programs Makes It Happen

On July 27, LUM Camp begins and 80 children will participate in a week filled with nature hikes, arts and crafts, boating, swimming, morning chapel, wall climbing, zip-lining, the giant swing, snacks, delicious meals, and diverse and caring counselors.

LUM Camp is a scholarship-based camp, meaning we only invite children whose parents are not able to pay for the actual cost of camp. (The actual cost is more than $200 per camper.) Campers’ parents pay $5 per child, and donations from individuals, organizations, churches and businesses cover the rest. Join us in thanking all of our individual donors as well as our other donors, which include: Central Presbyterian Church ($10,000), Covenant Church ($5,000), Cutler Presbyterian Church ($1,000), DRLF Consulting ($800), First Presbyterian Church – Rensselaer ($500), Lafayette Rotary Club Foundation ($475), Laura’s Kids Inc. ($1,000), and Trinity United Methodist Church ($1,530). These gifts will help pay for a child’s transportation, room and board, camp activities, educational programs and supplies – everything campers need to attend LUM Camp.

If you or your group would like to support the LUM Youth Programs make a donation today. And thank you.

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LUM Youth Programs

A Glimpse at the Fall Happenings at LUM

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Mark Your Calendars – Save the Dates – Engage

HUNGER HIKE | Sunday, September 19 at 1 p.m. | Riehle Plaza, Lafayette, IN

PORT of HOPE – the Immigration Clinic Fundraiser | Thursday, November 4 at 5:30 p.m. | Lafayette Brewing Co., Lafayette, IN

TURKEY TROT 5K Run | Thursday, November 25 at 8 a.m. | Celery Bog Nature Area, West Lafayette, IN

Community THANKSGIVING Feast | Thursday, November 25 at Noon | Central Presbyterian Church, Lafayette, IN

LUM Camp Needs YOU! Join the Team

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LUM Counselors LOVE Their Camp Experience

During the LUM Summer of Service, there is no better way to volunteer than being a LUM Camp counselor! Counselors are needed from 11 a.m. Monday, July 26 to 4 p.m. Friday, July 30. 

Volunteer camp counselors must be at least 18 years old, enjoy working with children and be able to spend the entire week at camp. Individuals 16 to 18 years old may apply to be a “Junior” counselor.

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Our LUM Camp volunteers consistently share how much they LOVE their camp experience. LUM Camp volunteer-counselors recently shared, “What LUM Camp means me.“

  • As a former LUM Camp camper, I was excited to volunteer and provide a happy experience as a counselor. It was the highlight of my summer. ~Ash
  • LUM Camp means a week of being outdoors, doing things I never do in my normal life. I meet new people and get lots of exercise. ~Tricia
  • So refreshing to be around young energy! They gave me quite a lift! ~Linda
  • This being my ninth year as counselor, LUM Camp is a blessing to me, seeing the kids go from shy and wanting to go home to not wanting to leave. LUM Camp has enabled me to be recognized around town by my campers and puts a smile on the kid’s faces. ~Savannah
  • Over the past four LUM Camps, I’ve observed more than 100 campers grow in self-confidence, knowledge and respect for others, as they experience a week filled with fun, food and faith. ~Gayle
  • Being a LUM Camp counselor means I get to help kids learn the fun of being a kid and be one myself again. ~April
  • Being a LUM Camp counselor has rewarded me the satisfaction of seeing the excitement, energy, confidence and joy when a child scales the climbing wall, splashes in the pool, navigates a canoe, zips through the trees. What a fun and exhausting week! ~Mary Ann (pictured)

This could be YOU! Be a LUM Camp counselor this year. It will be the best week of your summer.

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

LUM Day for Dads – First Event – Big Fun

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Dads & Kids Enjoy a Day at the Ballpark

LUM Day for Dads is a new initiative designed to encourage and celebrate fathers who are engaged with their children and families. Sixty-five individuals from 12 families (12 parents and 41 kids) participated in the inaugural event — a trip to the Lafayette Aviators baseball game this past Sunday at Loeb Stadium. Each dad and their family members received for free — a Day for Dads T-shirt, game ticket, food & drink vouchers, and an Aviators baseball cap. Highlights of the afternoon were seeing LUM executive director, Wes Tillett throw out the first pitch, an exciting win for the Lafayette Aviators, the LUM logo appearing on the jumbotron (pictured), and hearing the announcer thank the LUM dads for “their important role in their children’s lives.“

The participating dads expressed their gratitude for this event and the chance to be with their children. LUM plans on continuing to celebrate “Dads” with periodic events. The next event is the Dads & Kids Pizza & Game Night on Saturday, August 28. LUM Day for Dads event was made possible by individual donors and corporate sponsors; including, Gold Level sponsors: The Russell Company, Trueblood Real Estate & Alan Foord; Bronze Level: Bears Auto Sales, JR Kelly Company & Rieth Riley Construction Co.; and Friend Level: Blevins Insurance Agency.

PHOTOS – LUM Day for Dads

LUM Food Pantry – Commitment to Downtown

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Grand Reopening – Relocation to St. John’s Church

The LUM Protein Food Pantry opened this morning in a new and improved downtown Lafayette location. Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, hosted the Grand Reopening which featured a ribbon cutting ceremony and a blessing by the Rev. Andrea Arsene, the Curate at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lafayette.

Remarks were offered and a citation was presented by State Representatives Sheila Klinker & Chris Campbell. The individuals who participated in the “Ribbon Cutting” were (pictured L to R above) the Rev. Arsene, Teresa Lohrman (St. John’s), Wes Tillett, Rep. Chris Campbell, Rabbi Karen Fanwick, the Rev. Brandon Smith (Heartland Community Church), Rep. Sheila Klinker, Amy O’Shea (United Way), Kathy Parker (West Lafayette City Council), and Nina Morgan (LUM Board member & Protein Food Pantry volunteer director). At 10 a.m., clients were welcomed into the food pantry to receive fresh fruit & vegetables, paper supplies, frozen meat and a variety of other food staples.

Grand Reopening – PHOTOS

Both the LUM Protein Food Pantry and Westside Food Pantry serve all residents of Tippecanoe County. Thanks to everyone who attended the Grand Reopening and helped us celebrate the new location of the LUM Protein Food Pantry. Individuals can help the two LUM Food Pantries in FOUR ways:

  1. Food Drive – Sponsor a food drive at your church, business or in your neighborhood. Extra Credit – Make it a MONTHLY food drive
  2. Donate – Make a monetary donation or Donate “needed items“
  3. Volunteer – Sign up to volunteer at one of the LUM food pantries
  4. Promote – Tell your friends, family, and members of your church, group, business or organizations
Donate – LUM Food Pantries

If you wish to sponsor a food drive or donate needed items, the list of items the food pantry needs is as follows:

  • Paper products: toilet paper, paper towels, napkins & facial tissues
  • Peanut butter; Eggs
  • Canned meats (beef, chicken) & canned fish (tuna)
  • Beans, legumes & lentils – dry or canned
  • Fresh produce: fruits & vegetables
  • Baby diapers & wipes; Infant formula
  • Feminine Hygiene Products: liners, napkins, pads, tampons, wipes
  • Adult incontinence protection aids (unisex briefs)

If you wish to make a monetary donation, volunteer, donate needed items, register for Hunger Hike — or simply have questions or need further information, go to lumserve.org/food-pantry, call 765-423-2691 or email foodpantry@lumserve.org.