Tag Archives: Mission Moment

Mission Moment – The Story of Tina

Good Samaritan Program, Lafayette Urban Ministry, LUM, Mission Moment, Volunteer, , , ,

LUM Helps Divert the Eviction of a Local Family

Her tears of desperation turned into tears of gratitude. Tina came to Lafayette Urban Ministry looking for some financial assistance with her rent. She had fallen behind on rent due to several COVID-19 related factors. With her kids at home (quarantined from school), Tina could not work the same number of hours at her job. When her employer reduced her hours on the next schedule, it compounded her financial loss. Tina found an additional job at a lower hourly wage and simply could not make up for the lost income. Her landlord’s patience wore thin. 

When a friend told her LUM might be able to help, Tina filled out the LUM Good Samaritan Program application online. When LUM was able to help her get caught up on rent, Tina’s tears of relief and gratitude streamed down her face. 

If you have given to the Good Samaritan Program, “Thank you.” Your generosity is changing lives like Tina and her family. May you be blessed for blessing others. 

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Good Samaritan Fund

{To protect the privacy of this individual featured above, the name has been changed.}

Mission Moment – The Story of Beth’s Journey

Good Samaritan Program, Lafayette Urban Ministry, LUM, Mission Moment, Volunteer, , , ,

As Told by Linda Hicks, LUM Program Director

Beth came to the LUM Office seeking assistance with the LUM Good Samaritan Program. She needed help with the deposit on her new apartment. Over the past five years Beth needed financial assistance twice, the LUM Emergency Shelter several times, and used the LUM food pantries regularly up through 2019. Beth wore a baseball cap tilted down to cover part of her face and hide the scars, both physical and emotional. Connie, the LUM receptionist, greeted her and soon learned that Beth had escaped an abusive relationship; and as a result of the abuse, had lost sight in one eye. She was having trouble finding permanent housing and difficulty finding employment. Beth felt that employers were hesitant to hire her because one of her eyes was white in color.

Beth now has a prosthetic eye and receives monthly disability payments, but is still emotionally fragile and managing her funds is a challenge. Just as she was about to secure housing, she panicked that it wouldn’t work out and she’d be homeless once again. She was in need of funding; but more than that, Beth needed compassion and understanding and a safe place. In tears (with her mask on), Beth sat in the LUM lobby telling Connie, of her fears. Connie listened (also masked), held her arms open and said, “Now come here.” Beth dropped into her arms and sobbed. The tears eventually stopped, Beth took a breath, gathered up her courage and was on her way.

She returned later that day with a smile on her face because she signed a lease for an apartment! Beth was relieved and grateful, not only for the funding, but also for the kindness. It was a day to be reminded of the magic that a hug and an open heart can hold. We all matter in the world no matter what our station in life. 

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Good Samaritan Fund

{To protect the privacy of this individual featured above, the name has been changed.}

Mission Moment – The Story of a Single Father

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Shirley Advocates For & Reunites Family

LUM Good Samaritan Program advocate, Shirley Robertson, spoke with Steven, a single father of three children, who had his gas & electric service disconnected. In the meantime, he was heating his apartment with the oven, and temporarily moved his children in with their grandmother.

This father had many difficulties pile on in quick succession beginning with a cancer diagnosis in early January. Steven’s work hours were then reduced due COVID-19 because he was consider high risk, but the cancer treatments continued.

Steven was having a hard time getting the help needed to restore his service. Shirley made a phone call to his utility provider to determine the amount he needed to get his service restored. She created a plan, which drew from a few different funds, to come up with the total amount this local family needed.

After the amount was pledged, his service was restored and his family was reunited, Steven called Shirley at LUM. Speaking with her, he became emotional. He was holding back tears of gratitude, not only for the help that was offered, but also for the opportunity to personally thank Shirley for her kindness and compassion in listening to his story and offering guidance through a new and scary experience.

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Good Samaritan Fund

{To protect the privacy of the family featured above, their names have been changed.}

Mission Moment – Meet Angela & Dante

Giving, Good Samaritan Fund, Lafayette Urban Ministry, LUM, Mission Moment, , , ,
A Letter from Joe Micon, LUM Executive Director

November 2018

Dear Friend,

Angela Williams moved to our community for the same reasons so many others have in recent years…

  • Plentiful jobs
  • Good schools
  • Affordable housing
  • Safe streets

She felt that this would be the best community in which to raise her three children: Freya, Dajon, and Dante.  She hoped that Lafayette would be the place to make a home and build their new life together.

Then, little 3 year old Dante lost his appetite, started losing weight and became sluggish and fatigued.  The doctor diagnosed him with lead poisoning.  An assessment of their new apartment found lead paint virtually everywhere.

For the sake of the family’s health and well being, they were told they had to move from their new home – and quickly.

Even though Angela works full-time doing cleaning for a local staffing agency, her hourly earnings weren’t enough to cover a second move in the period of less than a year.  Unless she could pay off her current electric bill, in full, the family would be stuck in a contaminated apartment.

That’s where the Lafayette Urban Ministry came in.

Angela asked if it might be possible for LUM to pay her electric bill so the family could move to safer quarters.  She was overwhelmed with relief when she left our office with a Good Samaritan Fund check for $150 – enough to cover the entire amount of the bill.

In a matter of days, the family was moved into a new, safe, duplex and little Dante has been eating better and gaining weight ever since.  Thank goodness.

Last year, LUM’s Good Samaritan Fund expended $117,058 to resolve more than 2,030 financial emergencies.  Helping to keep families together in their homes was our first priority and much of our assistance was spent for rent and utility aid.  But we also helped with food, prescription medications and transportation.

The Lafayette Urban Ministry Good Samaritan Fund is made possible by those in our community who know how important it is for there to be a strong and reliable social safety net for our neighbors who fall upon hard times.  I hope you will consider making a generous financial gift today so that this important work can continue.

Your contribution of $50, $100, $250, $500 or $1,000 will allow the Good Samaritan Fund to be here for all the families, many with children, who call upon us for help.

And remember, not a single penny of what you contribute will ever be spent for administrative overhead.  Every gift to the Good Samaritan Fund is used directly for food, shelter, health care or transportation assistance.

Angela Williams favorite past time, actually her passion, is cooking.  She believes it is the most personal and intimate gift you can give to another.  Cooking and eating she says is an essential common bond that connects people of all races, nationalities and backgrounds.

So perhaps it should have been no surprise when Angela showed up at the LUM office with a fully cooked meal of chicken casserole, greens and biscuits to share with LUM’s staff and volunteers!

She said she just wanted to thank us for all we had done for her family.

As we were enjoying her gift of food and the warm conversation that surrounded our impromptu meal in the LUM break area, I couldn’t help but realize that Angela was really thanking you.  She was thanking you for the kindness shown to her family in their time of need.  And she was thanking you for your support of LUM’s Good Samaritan Fund.

I pray that you will continue that support.  Please, won’t you join me in sending a generous gift today?

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Good Samaritan Fund

Mission Moment – The Story of Patrick Renfroe

Emergency Shelter, Giving, Homeless Shelter, Lafayette Urban Ministry, LUM, Mission Moment, , , , , ,
A Letter from Joe Micon, LUM Executive Director

Fifty-eight year old Patrick Renfroe drank his first beer when he was just 12. At age 13 he was drinking hard liquor and smoking pot. By age 18 Patrick was buying and using crack cocaine.

He grew up in a home that was haunted by addiction. Both his father and sister lost their lives to drug and alcohol abuse. Patrick spent a total of 15 years in various Indiana prisons and the Tippecanoe County Community Corrections Program – all because of drug-related convictions.

Over the years, Patrick’s addiction took everything that was dear and important to him – his family, friends, employment, his freedom and even his physical health. In 2016, he suffered two strokes, one on each side of his brain, within the period of a single week.

It was during his rehab to regain his balance that Patrick realized he was powerless over his addiction. Unless he confronted his 45 year history of substance abuse soon, he knew his days would be numbered. Patrick shares,

“I was just so sick and tired of always being sick and tired.”

In May of this year, Patrick moved out of his apartment to escape the unhealthy influence of his roommates, and he started spending his nights at the LUM Emergency Shelter. Here he found a place that was not only bright, clean and friendly, but also a place that was supportive in his journey to sobriety.

At LUM, Patrick was exposed to various substance abuse helps, including…

  • Weekly AA meetings
  • Bi-weekly programs where resources are shared and testimony is provided by others who are fighting addiction
  • Immediate transportation for those who desire in-patient addiction treatment
  • A professional staff that understands addiction and speaks openly and honestly with guests about their illness

In addition, Patrick took frequent advantage of addiction groups and programs offered by various downtown Lafayette churches, all within short walking distance of the LUM shelter.

In the past year, 704 individuals came to the LUM Emergency Shelter. Each stayed an average of 12 nights – 8,448 overnight stays. In addition, LUM provided an overnight warming station, ensuring that nobody was stranded overnight on the streets of our community without a place to be safe and warm during the harsh winter months. An additional 584 overnight stays took place at the LUM Winter Warming Station.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for the varied and complex problems facing our chronically homeless guests. Addiction, mental illness, poor life choices and emotional and physical disabilities are never easy to overcome. But with skill, perseverance and dedication, LUM staff members are often successful in helping our guests move off the streets into more self-sufficient living environments.

Please, won’t you support this important work with your dollars?

Your gift of $50, $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 will help the LUM Emergency Shelter provide addiction services and provide our homeless guests with the support they need to leave our shelter for a home of their own.

With money that Patrick was able to save from a brand new job at a local restaurant – and with a dollar-for-dollar match provided him by LUM – he was recently able to move out of the LUM Emergency Shelter and into a home of his own.

Patrick continues to attend daily NA or AA meetings and is proud that he has now been drug and alcohol free for seven months. He finds comfort and joy from being more active in his church and is grateful for everyone in his life who is helping him on his road to recovery.

In other words, Patrick Renfroe is grateful for YOU!

I hope you are as excited as I am about the positive changes that, together, we are making possible in the lives of those we serve. Lafayette Urban Ministry is providing more than just a well-run, safe and secure shelter for homeless individuals. We are providing the support, encouragement and tools our homeless guests need in their struggle with addiction. We are helping them to live more independent, self-sufficient lives. Please, won’t you join me today in making a generous financial gift to the Lafayette Urban Ministry Emergency Shelter?

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Emergency Shelter

Stories from the LUM Good Samaritan Program

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How Attending LUM Follies Helps Local Families

Last year the LUM Good Samaritan Program served families 2,032 times and distributed $115,314 to avert evictions, utility disconnects and other financial crises.
Here are three examples of how your support of LUM Follies helps local families.

Make Your Follies Reservation Online at www.lumserve.org/follies

Gregory had to move closer to his aunt, who had taken ill. He was suddenly homeless and unemployed. While he stayed in the LUM Emergency Shelter, Gregory looked for and found a new job in a local restaurant and soon after signed a lease for a new apartment. During this transition he needed “non-skid” shoes for his new job and some assistance with his security deposit for his new apartment. Gregory shared that he appreciates the support from the LUM Good Samaritan Program which gave him the stability and freedom to be close to and be there for his family — especially his aunt.

Freddie has nine children and 16 grandchildren. She lives with two of her grandchildren (her son’s two children). When Freddie agreed to help her son with his children she was working full-time and healthy. Unfortunately, Freddie fell and broke her leg, and after surgery and physical therapy still was not able to keep working. The LUM Good Samaritan Program was able to help Freddie with rent and food assistance. She shared that “LUM saved me and my grandchildren from being hungry and losing our home.”

Trisha & James are a happily married, hard working couple with three teenage children. When Trisha had to quit her job because of debilitating back pain, their family was in financial crisis. LUM Good Samaritan Program helped with the paperwork to receive food assistance and Medicaid and helped pay two months of electric bills to prevent their service from being disconnected. Trisha shared, “It was emotionally and physically difficult to go to LUM, but once inside everyone was so helpful and nonjudgmental that we left feeling positive about our financial situation and had hope for the first time in weeks.”

Make Your Follies Reservation Online at www.lumserve.org/follies

Mission Moment — Meet Carmen

Emergency Shelter, Homeless Shelter, Lafayette Urban Ministry, LUM, Mission Moment, Volunteer, , , ,

Carmen was recently honored by the LUM Board of Directors and given a small token to show their appreciation for her volunteer work with LUM.

CarmenBoardMeeting

{Pictured above L to R: Joe Micon, LUM executive director; Deb Parent, member, LUM Board of Directors; Carmen; and Cindy Haley, LUM After School program director.}

Carmen’s life changed during the final months of her high school career. She was scheduled to finish high school early and was directly enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corps. On the morning of February 4, 2006 though, her life’s path took a sharp turn.

On the way home from getting her hair done for her high school’s Valentine’s Day Dance, she was in a serious car accident. When Carmen awoke from a coma a month later on March 6, 2006, her doctors gave her little hope of walking again. She went through intensive physical therapy to learn how to talk, eat and eventually walk again. Living with her parents and her brother who also needed physical therapy due to a disability, Carmen was able to make significant progress while assisting her parents and caring for her brother.

After some time, Carmen was not feeling productive enough and found a job in housekeeping at a local hospital and moved into an apartment of her own. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to keep her job after only three months; and without this income, Carmen soon lost her apartment and for a short time was sleeping in her storage unit.

She then found LUM.

Carmen became a guest in the LUM Emergency Shelter and was meeting regularly with the LUM staff to find a pathway to more permanent housing and employment. She was able to get disability benefits and found a part-time job. Carmen then found housing in Fowler House. Carmen was also seeking a companion. After two abusive relationships, Carmen met Joseph. Carmen and Joseph hit it off immediately and were married a year later.

carmenCarmen was appreciative of the emergency housing and counsel she received from LUM. So much so that once she found permanent housing again she was determined to give something back to LUM as a volunteer.

After a brief discussion with LUM staff, Carmen offered to clean the LUM Youth Center three days a week as a volunteer — and has been doing so for since last summer. Recently, she secured a part-time job that provides her with just enough hours (13.75 per week) without compromising her right to critical disability income.

When asked  what she would like people to learn from her story, she requested this line to be included:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13

This is the first scripture her father read to her when she woke up from her coma on March 6, 2006.

Through her faith, hard work and determination, Carmen has turned her life around. She is happily married and works part-time at a local coffee shop — and still continues to clean the LUM Youth Center. Carmen often shares,

“I am God’s dairy maid. I’m bringing you the cheese!”

Carmen is a remarkable person and a wonderful example of how important the LUM Emergency Shelter is for individuals in our community – and how it is equally important to be persistent, positive, hardworking and faithful.

Carmen praises God daily for the gifts He has given her to share.

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Emergency Shelter

LUM Follies Supports Local Individuals

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LUM Client Corner — Meet Jaron — LUM Follies Mission Moment

Meet Jaron Lintner, a LUM Good Samaritan 2016-04-12 JaronLintner 008 (2) (1278x1280)Fund client.

Jaron grew up and lives in Lafayette. Today, he is in a very good place. Jaron has a new job; his health is stable; he is living on his own; and has a better relationship

One year ago though he did not have a place to live was unemployed, and did not have contact with his family. For the past year, Jaron has been working hard to get his life on track again. After a brief time in the LUM Emergency Shelter, he started a job in food service and found a roommate. Although this was a positive step forward — it was not ideal.

Once Jaron secured a new job a month ago, he could afford to rent a house for himself. But he could not afford the fees associated with getting out of his current lease with his roommate and paying the security deposit for his new home. Fortunately he was able to get financial support for his housing from the LUM Good Samaritan Program.

Jaron shared that without the assistance from the LUM Good Samaritan Program he would not have been able to move forward with his new home. Clarinda Crawford, the LUM Good Samaritan Program director, was also helpful in connecting him to other resources for his additional housing expenses, food & furniture for his new place. Jaron stated that he was taught by his pastor years ago that when others help you, it is “God loving you through them — through their support and kindness.” Without the assistance of the LUM Good Samaritan Program, he would have had a setback in his journey for a better life.

Attending LUM Follies on Friday will directly
support local individuals like Jaron.

Please attend LUM Follies & support the LUM Good Samaritan Fund. If you are unable to attend and wish to make a donation directly to the Good Samaritan Fund, click HERE.

Ad - make reservation

You are cordially invited to attend the 5th Annual LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies on Friday, April 15. The LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies is a spectacular evening filled with great food, lively entertainment, wonderful company — and for an important cause.

Please join us and make your reservations today — it would be our honor. LUM Follies’ details and schedule are as follows:

  • DATE – Friday, April 15, 2016
  • PLACE – St. Andrew United Methodist Church, West Lafayette, Indiana
  • PRICE – $45 per person; $360 per table (max. 8)
  • TIMES –
    • 5:30 p.m. — Reception & Silent Auction
    • 6:30 p.m. — Dinner (see Menu below)
    • 7:30 p.m. — Follies Entertainment

All of the proceeds from the LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies go directly to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund. The Good Samaritan Fund primarily funds the LUM Good Samaritan Program, which is our community’s social safety net. Assistance is provided each weekday morning in averting eviction, utility disconnects, food shortage, and other emergency financial needs. Last year, 2,276 local families received $128,165 in emergency financial assistance from the LUM Good Samaritan Fund.

The LUM Good Samaritan Fund is such a vital assistance program for the families in our communities. Please support the Good Samaritan Fund by attending this year’s Follies. And Thank You!

Menu:

  • Starter — Wedge salad and Crusty bread
  • Main —
    • Chicken cacciatore with polenta, green beans -or-
    • Savory nut loaf with cranberry orange sauce, green beans (vegetarian)
  • Dessert — Carrot cake or Coconut cake with ice cream; Coffee & tea

Talent:

  • Brad Bodine — guitar — St. Thomas Aquinas
  • Robert Poynter — roving magician — St. Mary Cathedral
  • Eileen Weiss — singer — Elk Grove Village, Illinois
  • Linda Hicks & the Riff-Tides — jazz combo
  • His In Song — trio — First United Methodist Church
  • Kelly Jacobs & Mark Buche — duet — Cathedral of St. Mary
  • Indiana State Representative Sheila Klinker
  • Fred Koning — singer — Cathedral of St. Mary
  • The Magic of Marcus Lehmann
  • Joe Peters & Linda Hicks — duet — University Church
  • Work in Progress — bluegrass — St. Andrew United Methodist Church

follies event link FolliesOnlineRegistration  FolliesFBpage  FolliesGSF

Make your Reservations TODAY!
Start the Follies Reservation process NOW, click HERE.

If you aren’t able to attend the “Follies” but still wish to make a donation to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund — click:

Make a Donation Button
Good Samaritan Fund

Volunteer

If you or your group would like to volunteer with Follies, click HERE to sign up.

Photos

Check out the photos from the 2015 LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies:

Check out all of the photos from the LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies:

| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | ALL |

View a sampler VIDEO of the LUM Follies’ performers

 

LUM Follies Supports Local Families Like Gwen’s

Giving, Good Samaritan Fund, Good Samaritan Program, ID Clinic, Lafayette Urban Ministry, LUM, LUM Follies, , , , , , , , , ,
LUM Client Corner — Meet Gwen Brown Driver
2016-03-31 GSP Client - Gwen Brown Driver 009 (2) (1280x1280)

Meet Gwen Brown Driver, a LUM client from Lafayette.

Gwen is a single mom who lived with her mother and her daughter, Chanel. When her mother unexpectedly passed away last summer, things changed for Gwen & Chanel.

In order to move forward, Gwen soon discovered that she needed to get a new Birth Certificate. Her current birth certificate does not include her first name because her parents did not name her until a later time. This has created problems for Gwen in a few situations. Gwen has a fixed income and is on a tight budget; so, when faced with dealing with this process and paying the fees — she was overwhelmed and needed assistance.

2016-03-31 GSP Client - Gwen Brown Driver 007 (2) (1280x854)After searching on the internet for local resources, Gwen found and turned to the LUM Good Samaritan Program & ID Clinic. LUM staff helped Gwen get a new birth certificate with her first name included, a new Social Security card with her full name and finally an Indiana Driver’s License. The entire process took over seven months and included a number of fees. LUM assisted with the process, covered the ID fees, and even helped get some items for her food pantry at home through the St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry.

Without the assistance of the LUM Good Samaritan Program, Gwen would not have been able to get this accomplished as quickly — and would have had to cut her food budget for her and her daughter — and all at a time when she is grieving the death of her mother.

Gwen shared that Rev. Clarinda Crawford, LUM Good Samaritan Program director, has been a blessing to her and her family — and is thankful that such a wonderful and important program exists in her community.

Attending LUM Follies next Friday will directly support families like Gwen’s.

Please attend LUM Follies & support the LUM Good Samaritan Fund. If you are unable to attend and wish to make a donation directly to the Good Samaritan Fund, click HERE.

Ad - make reservation

You are cordially invited to attend the 5th Annual LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies on Friday, April 15. The LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies is a spectacular evening filled with great food, lively entertainment, wonderful company — and for an important cause.

Please join us and make your reservations today — it would be our honor. LUM Follies’ details and schedule are as follows:

  • DATE – Friday, April 15, 2016
  • PLACE – St. Andrew United Methodist Church, West Lafayette, Indiana
  • PRICE – $45 per person; $360 per table (max. 8)
  • TIMES –
    • 5:30 p.m. — Reception & Silent Auction
    • 6:30 p.m. — Dinner (see Menu below)
    • 7:30 p.m. — Follies Entertainment

All of the proceeds from the LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies go directly to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund. The Good Samaritan Fund primarily funds the LUM Good Samaritan Program, which is our community’s social safety net. Assistance is provided each weekday morning in averting eviction, utility disconnects, food shortage, and other emergency financial needs. Last year, 2,276 local families received $128,165 in emergency financial assistance from the LUM Good Samaritan Fund.

The LUM Good Samaritan Fund is such a vital assistance program for the families in our communities. Please support the Good Samaritan Fund by attending this year’s Follies. And Thank You!

Menu:

  • Starter — Wedge salad and Crusty bread
  • Main —
    • Chicken cacciatore with polenta, green beans -or-
    • Savory nut loaf with cranberry orange sauce, green beans (vegetarian)
  • Dessert — Carrot cake or Coconut cake with ice cream; Coffee & tea

Talent:

  • Brad Bodine — guitar — St. Thomas Aquinas
  • Linda Hicks & the Riff-Tides — jazz combo
  • His In Song — trio — First United Methodist Church
  • Kelly Jacobs & Mark Buche — duet — Cathedral of St. Mary
  • Indiana State Representative Sheila Klinker
  • Fred Koning — singer — Cathedral of St. Mary
  • The Magic of Marcus Lehmann
  • Joe Peters & Linda Hicks — duet — University Church
  • Work in Progress — bluegrass — St. Andrew United Methodist Church

follies event link FolliesOnlineRegistration  FolliesFBpage  FolliesGSF

Make your Reservations TODAY!
Start the Follies Reservation process NOW, click HERE.

If you aren’t able to attend the “Follies” but still wish to make a donation to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund — click:

Make a Donation Button
Good Samaritan Fund

Volunteer

If you or your group would like to volunteer with Follies, click HERE to sign up.

Photos

Check out the photos from the 2015 LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies:

Check out all of the photos from the LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies:

| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | ALL |

View a sampler VIDEO of the LUM Follies’ performers

 

Mission Moment — The Tax Man

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 Dr. Schwarz — “Hooked on LUM”

schwarz_lee_2010The LUM Tax Assistance Program’s success is due to the quality and passion of our volunteers. One such volunteer is Dr. Leroy “Lee” Schwarz, who is the Louis A. Weil, Jr., Professor of Management, Krannert School of Management, Purdue University. Three years ago, Lee was listening to a local public radio interview when the LUM coordinator for the Tax Assistance Program described the many volunteer opportunities during tax season. He decided that very day to answer the call.

“I was looking for a meaningful way to use my expertise and talents to serve the community,” Professor Schwarz said.

Once Lee met with the LUM coordinator, he realized this was “serious business”. Each volunteer tax preparer must pass one or more tests in order to become certified by the IRS. He was given a thick (2.5 inches) packet and went to work. Lee thinks the IRS certification exams are “tough and tricky” in parts; but he became certified and started working with clients exactly three years ago. He was impressed with how professional and organized the service is. “I was inspired by veteran volunteers like Ann Pelletier and Andrea Schmidt,” Professor Schwarz said.

“I went into this program thinking that I wanted to ‘give’ but wound up getting back so much more than the little bit I gave.”

There were several things Lee learned about the community, LUM, tax preparation, and himself during this process. Some of those are as follows:

  • LUM offers a unique service because of how this program complements other LUM programs like the Good Samaritan Program, Case Management, and the Emergency Shelter
  • LUM volunteers become experts in the specific IRS tax credit allowances that only apply to low income like the “Earned Income Credit”
  • LUM tax volunteers give their clients personal one-on-one counseling and spend as much time as needed to complete the tax return
  • Most individuals and families who use the LUM tax assistance program need their tax return money for necessities like rent, food, work clothes, and car payments and not luxuries
  • Lastly, he realized that the LUM tax assistance program is not providing for luxuries but rather is providing basic sustenance

Lee particularly enjoys being a LUM tax volunteer because of the joy and fulfillment it gives him.

“The LUM tax assistance team is serious about the work, but we have fun too.”

He also enjoys celebrating with his colleagues when they are able to assist a client in getting a large tax return.

Professor Schwarz stated “I love that we have so much fun and good cheer.”

He has many great stories and memories and has discovered he gets back so much satisfaction from this work and has met many good people in the past three years.

Lee has also become slightly “hooked” on LUM in general. In addition to volunteering an average of 15 hours per week during tax season, he is a trained substitute bus driver for the LUM After School Program and a Good Samaritan case advocate once a week, year round. Professor Schwarz also volunteers in the community teaching English and math and promoting literacy.

The LUM Tax Assistance Program is powered by highly skilled and expertly-trained volunteers. Lee’s story is just one of dozens (40+) volunteers who serve each year during tax season. The LUM Tax Assistance Program begins next week and continues through mid-April. We are sincerely grateful for the volunteers and coordinators of this valuable and successful program.