LUM Financial Assistance is Changing Lives

Wes's Weekly Wrap Up - LUM Offers Help & Hope

Wes's Weekly Wrap Up - November 11, 2011

In this edition of Wes's Weekly Wrap Up, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, shares the impact that the LUM Good Samaritan Program. Your investment allows LUM to offer help and hope to our neighbors in need. Please take 58 seconds to watch the video and SHARE with others. See below for more details.

Donate - Good Samaritan Fund

Mission Moment - The Story of Tina

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.

COVID-19 Response to Local Financial Need

LUM Offers Direct Financial Assistance plus Hope

In 2019, the last “normal” year that any of us experienced, the LUM Good Samaritan Program disbursed $103,617 to 1,783 individuals. That money was used to help pay utility bills, keep people housed, and pay for prescription medications. The LUM Good Samaritan Program gives people a financial boost, empowering them to make it through a “rainy day” to a brighter future. THEN CAME THE PANDEMIC!

The financial needs of households in Greater Lafayette grew significantly. Thankfully, so did the generosity of individuals and partner organizations. The Good Samaritan Program provides practical help as well as a sense of hope to those who are helped. Clients are seen, heard, reassured, and valued. This program is one key way that LUM fulfills the mission to “restore human dignity.”

In 2020, an amazing $229,834 in financial assistance was provided
In 2021 (as of October 31), our neighbors were assisted 1,661 times with a total of $169,380

Would you please consider donating to the LUM Good Samaritan Program, providing this critical social safety net to our neighbors in need in Greater Lafayette? Not a single dollar of what you give to the Good Samaritan Program is ever used for administrative overhead or staff costs. Your contribution of $50, $100, $250, $500, or $1,000 will allow the LUM Good Samaritan Program to be here for all the families, many with children, who call upon LUM for help. And, THANK YOU!

Donate - Good Samaritan Fund

LUM Hosts Purdue Religious Leaders

University Religious Leaders - Lunch Meeting

Last week, LUM hosted the regular meeting of the University Religious Leaders of Purdue. URL is a consortium of religious leaders who serve Purdue students in West Lafayette. After a simple lunch in the LUM Ray Ewry Center, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, and Pablo Malavenda, LUM executive program director, gave an overview of the services provided through Lafayette Urban Ministry — emphasizing that the students and community members who are served by their churches and temples are eligible for this assistance. They focused on the Westside Food Pantry, Financial Assistance and the Immigration Clinic. URL members were also encouraged to take advantage of the numerous giving and volunteer opportunities at LUM through the Emergency Shelter, After School Program, Community Thanksgiving, and Jubilee Christmas.

LUM has enjoyed a good partnership with the University Religious Leaders at Purdue — and this was a great opportunity to reinforce that relationship.

LUM Outreach Information

Village Soup Day is Back by Popular Demand

Westminster Village Soup Day Benefits LUM

Back by popular demand, it’s the 2021 Village Drive-Thru Soup Day benefiting Lafayette Urban Ministry. A delicious, warm meal for two is only $14 and includes hot soup and fresh rolls -- plus you have a choice of loaded baked potato soup or chili.

The drive-thru will be held on THIS Tuesday, November 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Westminster Village, 2741 North Salisbury Street, West Lafayette. They’re offering a safe, convenient drive-thru pick-up at the main entrance. They can’t wait to see you there as YOU support LUM.