In this edition of Wes's Weekly Wrap Up, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, invites you to the LUM LOGO LAUNCH event on June 11. Attendees will be the first to see the new LUM logo and brand. It's free, and there will be refreshments and free giveaways. See below for more event details. Please take 60 seconds to watch the video and SHARE with others.

The new LUM Westside Food Pantry opened last Friday morning with a "grand celebration." Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, hosted the Grand Opening which featured a ribbon cutting ceremony and a blessing by Bishop Timothy Doherty, Rabbi Karen Fanwick, Pastor Rosemary Morrison, Pastor Brandon Smith & Rev. Dr. Hilary Cooke.

Remarks were offered by West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis and State Representative Sheila Klinker, who presented LUM with a Proclamation from the State Legislature. In addition to Wes Tillett, Mayor Dennis & Representative Klinker, Lisa Dullum (Tippecanoe County Council); Peter Bunder, Kathy Parker, David Sanders & Gerald Thomas (West Lafayette City Council); Katy Bunder & Kier Crites (Food Finders Food Bank); and Cheryl Fowler (LUM Board of Directors) assisted with the ribbon cutting (pictured above). At 10 a.m., clients were welcomed into the food pantry to receive fresh fruit & vegetables, paper supplies, frozen chicken and a variety of other food staples. {To view more PHOTOS, click HERE.}

This new food pantry serves all residents of Tippecanoe County and is a partnership between LUM and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tippecanoe County with the support of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. The LUM Westside Food Pantry complements the LUM Protein Food Pantry, located in downtown Lafayette, and is the only TEFAP food pantry in West Lafayette.

Thanks to everyone who attended the Grand Opening and helped us celebrate the new LUM Westside Food Pantry. If you wish to support this new LUM food initiative in West Lafayette with a donation or by volunteering, click HERE.

The volunteers and staff who have been working with this year’s LUM Tax Assistance Program met for a picnic lunch in Happy Hallow Park (West Lafayette) to celebrate another successful year. Some interesting statistics about this year’s LUM Tax Assistance Program are as follows:

Join us in thanking the LUM Tax Assistance Program volunteers picture above as follows -- Standing L to R: Joan Marshall, KG & Bharathi Raghothama, Barb Sharkey, Kathy Hicks, Carol Robicheaux, Rob Patrick, Josh Prokopy (director); Seated: Tricia Sembroski, Ann Pellegrino & Andrea Schmidt; Not pictured: James Brinkley, Connie Decker, Ai Ai Lau, Karen Marty, Nina Morgan, Patti O'Callaghan & Ron Smith. If you wish to make a donation to the LUM Tax Assistance Program, click HERE.

As LUM celebrates 49 years of ministry to the Greater Lafayette community, the leadership is ready to "Launch" a new logo, a new look and a new brand. The event details are as follows:

At the LUM Logo Launch event, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, will honor the past and the enduring legacy of Lafayette Urban Ministry. In preparation for LUM's 50th anniversary, the new Logo signifies a new era with a renewed commitment to offering help and hope to our neighbors in need in a meaningful and sustainable way. Please join us for this historic event and renew your commitment to LUM.

The members of the Alpha Eta Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta women's fraternal organization at Purdue University recently collected money and food items for the new LUM Westside Food Pantry.

Alyssa Nettles, Alpha Xi Delta philanthropy vice president, delivered the check and food items to LUM and presented them to Wes Tillett, LUM executive director (pictured). Thank you to Alyssa and all of the members of Purdue Alpha Xi Delta for this thoughtful gift.

If you, your company or organization would like to collect items for LUM, please check out our list of “needed item.” Items are listed by “need” and also by program. Some of the Hot Needs are as follows:

You may either ship or drop off items to the LUM Office (420 N 4th Street, Lafayette, IN 47901). Cash donations are excellent because they allow LUM to purchase what is needed, when it’s needed. Donations of “needed items” are also welcome and appreciated. To view the LUM Wish List, click HERE.

Each night of the year, a simple meal is provided at the LUM Emergency Shelter. Planning and preparing a meal is a great activity for families, church groups, campus organizations and civic groups. You may stay and serve the meal or drop it off in advance. No contact drop off is an option as well. Monthly meals are greatly appreciated.

MEALS NEEDED on the following days: May 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, 31. To SIGN UP, click each month you’d like to prepare & serve meals to our shelter guests: May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December.

Prepare enough sandwiches or soup, stew or chili for 30-40 people. No side dishes or desserts are needed. Drinks are optional. Please SHARE with others, and THANKS.