Category Archives: Volunteer

LUM Volunteer Awarded Golden Gift of Time

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Nina Morgan Receives Prestigious Service Award

Last week, Nina L. Morgan was presented with the Golden Gift of Time Award as a part of the 24th Annual Volunteer Recognition Program sponsored by the United Way of Greater Lafayette.

At LUM, Nina has been the volunteer director of the Protein Food Pantry for 13 months. She also is a volunteer receptionist once a week, volunteers with Jubilee Christmas, and serves as the chair of the Personnel Committee on the Executive Council of the LUM Board of Directors, representing Grace Lutheran Church. Nina also has recruited many dedicated volunteers to LUM (including her husband, Robert), has engaged her church members and has sewn dozens of face masks for LUM staff and clients.

Nina is an absolute treasure to the community through her work with LUM and her church. She was presented with the award by Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis (pictured) along with representatives of United Way.

Please join us in congratulating Nina Morgan on this well deserved honor. To view more PHOTOS of the presentation, click HERE.

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Food Pantry – LUM Protein Food Pantry

LUM Camp Needs You! This Summer – July 27-31

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Would you, or someone you know, make a good
LUM Camp Counselor?

LUM Camp is a week-long, over-night camp program for low-income children from 8 to 10 years old. Volunteer camp counselors must be

  • 18 years old,
  • enjoy working with children,
  • attend training on Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m., and
  • be able to spend the entire week of camp from 11 a.m. Monday, July 27 to 4 p.m. Friday, July 31

Your transportation, housing and food will be covered — and you will get a LUM Camp staff shirt and the experience of a lifetime. Committed volunteer camp counselors are at the heart of a successful LUM Camp and play an important role with our LUM campers. For additional information, click HERE.

If you would rather support LUM Camp with a donation, consider sponsoring a camper for $150.

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LUM Camp

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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.

Got Milk? The LUM Protein Food Pantry Does!

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Free Gallon of Milk to the First 50 Families

Each week in June, the LUM Protein Food Pantry will be offering a free gallon of milk to the first 50 families. Greater Lafayette Commerce is assisting Prairie Farms in distributing gallons of milk to local families in need.

This partnership was made possible due to the USDA Farmers to Families program, which buys excess dairy products from farmers affected by COVID-19 and gives them to food pantries and homeless shelters like LUM’s. Nina Morgan, LUM food pantry director, and the volunteers pick up 50 gallons of milk on Wednesday, store it at Lafayette Brewing Company, and distribute it to local families on Thursday morning during the food pantry operating hours. 

Pictured L to R are Bernie Graser, LUM volunteer, and Greg Emig, Lafayette Brewing Company owner. This collaborative effort is heartwarming and beneficial to the families and children served by the LUM Protein Food Pantry and the guests in the LUM Emergency Shelter.

Volunteers are needed each Thursday morning from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and delivery of donated items will be received during that time.

Four Ways YOU can help the LUM Food Programs are as follows:

  • Make a Monetary Donation, click HERE
  • Sign up to Volunteer, click HERE
  • Donate Needed Items, click HERE
  • Participate in Hunger Hike, click HERE

If you have questions or need further information, go to lumserve.org/food-pantry, call 765-423-2691 or email food-pantry@lumserve.org.

Urgent Need – Overnight Shelter Volunteers

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Volunteer with the LUM Emergency Shelter

The LUM Emergency Shelter needs Overnight Shelter Volunteers 365 nights a year from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. or 8 p.m. to midnight. Duties include checking in guests, serving dinner, distributing toiletries and maintaining a welcoming, safe & clean environment. Must be at least 18 years old. Volunteers must attend a Shelter Training Session, offered every Monday at 6:30 p.m.

MEALS Are Needed, Too — If you or your group wishes to prepare a meal, click HERE.

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volunteer opportunities

LUM Needs You! Here are the CURRENT LUM Volunteer Needs:

There are many different opportunities for volunteering, from working one-on-one with a child to helping run the homeless shelter. Also, there are opportunities to fit every schedule, from regular long-term commitments to one time work with an event. Some volunteer positions require training while others require only a willing heart and a helping hand.

READ BELOW for more detailed information on current volunteer opportunities.

To view all LUM Volunteer Opportunities, click HERE.

LUM Events

Sign up online to volunteer at LUM Events like LUM Follies, Hunger Hike, Port of Hope, Thanksgiving Celebration, Turkey Trot 5K & Jubilee Christmas. 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 (lum@lumserve.org | 765.423.2691).

Volunteer Opportunities

  • To view all LUM Volunteer Opportunities, click HERE.
  • SIGN UP ONLINE — Sign up to volunteer with LUM online. It’s quick & easy and you’ll get email reminders.

Many more Volunteer Opportunities may be found HERE.

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Social Distancing – Preparing Recent Mailing

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LUM is getting creative — staff & volunteers recently helped the LUM office manager, Linda Hicks, prepare a mailing. To stay safe, they used separate work spaces and wore masks. Pictured L to R are Alexandra Hicks, LUM volunteer & Purdue student; and Connie Decker, LUM receptionist. 

Thanks to ALL of our volunteers & staff members for going above & beyond to keep LUM open for business through this crisis.

If you wish to volunteer with future mailing projects at LUM, click HERE.

Prepare a Meal for the LUM Shelter Guests

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Individuals, Families, Churches & Companies

If you, your church, your company or your family wish to Prepare a Meal for the LUM Emergency Shelter, your options are as follows:

  • Prepare & Serve | Prepare & Drop-off
  • Donate the Cost of Meal
  • Donate Food for a Meal

Meals are needed on May 14, May 26 and several dates in June (9, 15, 19, 20, 29 & 30). For more information on preparing shelter meals and to SIGN UP ONLINE, click HERE.

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Emergency Shelter

 

Urgent Need – COVID-19 Disinfectant Items

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COVID-19 Supplies – High Demand, Urgent Need

As Lafayette Urban Ministry continues to serve local families and prepare for expanding in-person services, the supplies required by the CDC and state have been very difficult to find. Below are four of our most recent “donation heroes.” 

Pictured clockwise are Amy Engers donating disinfectant wipes, toilet paper and paper towels; Mammaw’s Sweet Shoppe donating food; Connie Decker donating face masks; and Issac Leichty donating paper towels.

THANK YOU to all of the families, churches and groups that have given their love and support to LUM during this crisis. A list of the COVID-19 supplies that are “out of stock” and LUM urgently needs are as follows:

  • Bleach
  • Disinfectant Spray (Lysol)
  • Disinfectant Wipes
  • Latex Gloves, Vinyl Gloves
  • Liquid Soap (1 gal.)
  • Hand Sanitizer (2 L)
  • Hand Wipes – Disinfecting
  • Paper Towels, Toilet Paper

If you with to donate NEEDED ITEMS to LUM, check out our “wishlist.” To view, click HERE.

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MEALS Prepared for LUM Shelter Guests

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Individuals, Families, Churches & Companies

LUM is thankful for everyone who has prepared a meal for the guests in the Emergency Shelter during this crisis. This week, the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, the Rev. Daniel Eggold, and his son delivered the shelter meal (pictured). 

THANK YOU to all of the families, churches and groups that provided meals these past few weeks including Central Catholic School, the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Cook Research-Medical, Elmwood Church of Christ, Federated, Grace Lutheran, Knights of Columbus, St. Alexis Orthodox, St. Andrew United Methodist, and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center.

If you, your church, your company or your family wishes to Prepare a Meal for the LUM Emergency Shelter, your options are as follows:

  • Prepare & Serve | Prepare & Drop-off
  • Donate the Cost of Meal
  • Donate Food for a Meal

For more information on preparing shelter meals and to sign up online, click HERE.

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Emergency Shelter

 

Donations of NEEDED ITEMS for LUM Shelter

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COVID-19 Supplies – High Demand, Urgent Need

The LUM Emergency Shelter is open with a strict protocol for intake, check in, food service, and sleeping arrangements, which requires cleaning supplies, bleach, soap, masks, gloves, and specialized equipment such as thermometers and portable sinks. LUM is thankful for the support of individuals, families, groups and churches.

Most recently, the Greater Lafayette Chinese Alliance Church, West Lafayette, donated 200 medical masks (pictured) and the Innovation Church, Lafayette, donated toilet paper and has scheduled a “cleaning supplies” drive. If you, your church, your company or your family wishes to make a cash donation or a donation of “needed items” to the LUM Emergency Shelter, click HERE. THANK YOU to all of the families, churches and groups that given their love and support to the LUM Emergency Shelter these past few weeks.

If you with to donate NEEDED ITEMS to LUM, check out our “wishlist.” To view, click HERE.

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Emergency Shelter

Meet Brandyn – Superstar LUM Volunteer

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Brandyn Stack – LUM Shelter Volunteer

Brandyn Stack grew up in Mahomet, Illinois and earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern Illinois University. He currently lives in Lafayette with his son, Aaron (13), and their two dogs, Molly & Chelsea; and they are members of Faith Church – East in Lafayette. Brandyn works for RFA Engineering as a consultant at Caterpillar Lafayette.

At LUM, Brandyn has been volunteering with the LUM Emergency Shelter. Two years ago, while working through a difficult time for his family, Brandyn decided to “start living a Christian life once again and love and serve God.” The LUM Emergency Shelter fit his schedule and served a clientele that excited him. Brandyn soon found opportunities through his church and other agencies where he could offer his time as well as build a rapport with individuals in need. He shared that, 

“There are times when I get to sit down and talk with folks and have a positive impact on them — and even sometimes bring them to Christ.”

Brandyn has been particularly helpful during the COVID-19 crisis and Indiana Stay-At-Home Order. When the LUM Emergency Shelter was losing volunteers, Brandyn stepped up and volunteered even more — and brought his own P95 mask for protection. Dave Heckert, the LUM Emergency Shelter director, stated, “It means so much to the shelter staff when he shows up to volunteer. Brandyn has been such a blessing to LUM as well as to the community at large.”
Brandyn shared that, 

“No one should have to sleep outside. It gives me joy to get to know each individual, humbling to hear what they’re going through, and inspiring to know that they are on a path of recovery and forgiveness. I am happy to do a little of God’s good work by helping individuals experiencing homelessness.” 

In his free time, Brandyn loves spending time with his son, Aaron. They enjoy playing advanced board games, boating, watching movies, attending live concerts —and of course volunteering at LUM together. LUM and the guests at the shelter are fortunate to have someone like Brandyn as a part of the team.

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Emergency Shelter