Just Another (Busy) Day at LUM
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Receptionist, Connie Decker, opens the doors and welcomes 12 people into the waiting room. Each is facing an eviction, winter utility disconnect, or perhaps a special food, health care or transportation emergency.
Good Samaritan Program Director, Linda Hicks, and her volunteers responded to 2,032 of these emergencies last year.
It is
9:00 a.m. and two blocks away on 6th Street, the
St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry opens its door to those in our community who are hungry and in need of food. Volunteers distribute food, stock shelves and complete simple administrative tasks. The food pantry offered food to 2,810 households last year.
It is
10:00 a.m. and back here on 4th Street, the Lafayette Urban Ministry
ID Clinic opens for business. Three individuals have come to LUM for help in re-establishing their legal identities after having lost their photo IDs. This vitally important service allows our clients to apply for jobs, health care, housing or public assistance. LUM helped 211 individuals regain lost or stolen IDs last year.
From
10:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m. the LUM
Tax Assistance Program volunteers are hard at work providing free tax preparation services to low-income working families in our community. Program Director Ben Murphy and his team assure that our clients receive every tax credit for which they are eligible. Last year 552 individuals received an average refund of $1,774!
It is
2:00 p.m. and the LUM
Emergency Shelter Director, David Heckert, begins meeting individually with each of the 42 homeless men and women who will be our guests at LUM tonight. What are their plans for getting off the street? How can LUM be of assistance? He calls a guest’s father in Florida. David is happy to hear the son is welcome to return home if only LUM can find a way to get him there. Later that afternoon, the man boards a Greyhound bus thanks to a ticket purchased by LUM.
It is
2:30 p.m. and four LUM activity buses are ready to roll. LUM
After School Program Director, Amanda Bajzatt, and her staff are picking up children from 15 local elementary schools and delivering them to the Education Building at Central Presbyterian Church. Last year, 113 children received snacks, homework help and educational enrichment in a safe and caring environment each day after school while their parents were finishing up their workdays.
It is
3:00 p.m. and LUM
Immigration Clinic Director, Susan Brouillette, is beginning her third case meeting of the day. She is working to help a legal work visa holder find the means to return home to her native country. Last year, 101 individuals received help navigating the US Immigration bureaucracy. Fifteen were helped in gaining U.S. Citizenship. Forty-six participated in U.S. Citizenship classes and 17 participated in Spanish conversation tables.
It is
4:00 p.m. and our first planning meeting for
LUM Camp 2018 has begun. This year, we will introduce our campers to astrophysics and the science of light! Before you know it, July will be here and 120 LUM campers and counselors will be boarding the buses for Hanging Rock Camp. “LUM Camp 2018: Let Your Light Shine!”
It is
9:00 p.m. and across the street the door to the LUM
Emergency Shelter opens. Forty-two homeless guests come in from the cold. Clean bedding, a simple meal, a hot shower and respect are offered to all. A resident of a local addiction treatment program has been invited to share the story of his own struggle with alcohol, and a staff member offers information to our guests about local addiction and mental health resources. 704 individuals stayed in the LUM shelter last year.
At
midnight, the LUM
Winter Warming Station opens for anyone needing protection from the winter elements. Staff member Jacob Day and two volunteers are on duty tonight. 206 individuals used the LUM Winter Warming Station last year.
It is
7:00 a.m. and our homeless guests are up, finished with breakfast and thankful for a safe night of restful sleep.
During other times of the year, LUM will provide math, reading, science and social studies learning to 60 low-income children enrolled in our
5th Quarter Summer Learning Program. Through
Jubilee Christmas, we will provide toys, hams, gift certificates, cookies and baskets to 1,900 children from 700 families. On Thanksgiving Day, 200 volunteers will provide a turkey meal with all the fixings to 900 adults and children at the LUM
Community Thanksgiving Celebration.
Your past support of the Lafayette Urban Ministry has been so important to everything that is accomplished here on a daily basis. Together, we have strengthened families, nurtured children and made our community a better place for everyone. I hope you will continue your support of LUM by making a generous Lenten season gift of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000, or more, today. I can think of nowhere else that your charitable dollars will have greater impact and of no better way to practice our Lenten discipline than to share with those less fortunate.
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LUM Follies 2018 is Coming Soon - Join the Fun
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Special Evening for a Special Cause
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You are cordially invited to attend the 7
th
annual
LUM
Good Samaritan Fund
FOLLIES
on
Friday, April 13
at
5:30 p.m.
at St. Andrew United Methodist Church.
LUM Follies
is a lighthearted evening of fine dining, entertainment, fun & good company, filled with joyful surprises. There will be a lovely dinner with fabulous people; a Silent Auction filled with unique & priceless items; and local entertainment that will bring laughter, fun and excitement to the room.
The best part of the LUM Good Samaritan Fund Follies is that 100% of the proceeds from this event go to the LUM
Good Samaritan Fund
, an emergency financial assistance program that supports local families. Last year the Good Samaritan Program served families
2,032 times
and distributed
$115,314
to avert evictions, utility disconnects and other financial crises
. Please support the Good Samaritan Fund by attending this year’s LUM Follies. Make Your LUM Follies Reservation
Online
at
www.lumserve.org/follies
.
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More ways to get involved in LUM Follies:
- Corporate Sponsors — sponsorship from businesses and groups is an important part of LUM Follies
- Silent Auction Donations — Donations of full baskets or individual items are welcome
If you or your company wishes to become more involved with LUM Follies this year, please call or email us (765-423-2691 |
pmalavenda@lumserve.org).
If you aren’t able to attend the “Follies” but still wish to make a donation to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund — click the button below.
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LUM Students Celebrate Reading Month
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Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss from the LUM Students
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March is
National Reading Month, and the LUM
After School Program students celebrated with a grand birthday party for the beloved children's author, Dr. Seuss.
The celebration was a pizza party which included reading groups with Dr. Seuss books, fun educational exercises, Dr. Seuss themed gelatin snacks, arts and crafts activities, games and more. The
Cat in the Hat, as well as
Thing 1 & Thing 2, even made a surprise appearance.
The LUM After School Program was bursting with excitement all focused on reading, writing and creativity.
Special thanks to the volunteers from Purdue Timmy Global Health, the MARK Tutoring program at St. Thomas Aquinas, and Purdue Pre-Pharmacy Club for their help with the event.
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Former LUM Board Member - New Dean at Notre Dame
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Sarah Mustillo Appointed Dean at Notre Dame
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Dr. Sarah A. Mustillo
, department chair and professor of sociology at the University of Notre Dame, has recently been appointed the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Notre Dame.
Read more.
Until her transition from Purdue to Notre Dame in 2014, Sarah was a long-time LUM Board Member and often offered her expertise as a sociologist to understanding and addressing the issues facing LUM. She and her family were members of St. Thomas Aquinas and were strong advocates and supporters of the annual Hunger Hike fundraiser.
As dean, she will lead Notre Dame’s largest and oldest college, comprising 20 departments and more than 550 faculty members. Please join us in congratulating Sarah Sarah for her new appointment as dean at her alma mater, Notre Dame. Congratulations, Dean Mustillo.
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LUM Summer Program Needs Teachers
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Full-time | Summer (May 29-Aug 3) | Paid
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The LUM
5th Quarter Summer Learning Program is seeking applications for two Teachers. The positions are full-time, paid ($15 per hour). Teachers are needed from May 29 - August 3, Monday - Friday from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Bachelor's degree in Education is required, and duties include supervising and teaching 40 children, pre-Kindergarten through 6th Grade.
Qualified candidates should
Email, Mail or Drop-off a resume with cover letter including a teaching philosophy to the LUM Youth Programs director, Amanda Bajzatt (765-423-2691 |
abajzatt@lumserve.org
).
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