Newsletter
The SEED, July 2007
LUM Camp 2007—Animal Planet, here we come!
As another school year ends and the days turn hot, who can resist the temptation to recall childhood memories of summertimes past? Family vacations, county fairs, lemonade stands, and of course that trip to summer camp, all combine to make the summer season a magical time for children.
At the Lafayette Urban Ministry we work hard to make sure that children’s summer memories aren’t shortchanged due to a lack of family resources. When summer arrives, our thoughts turn to preparations for LUM Camp.
LUM Camp is a weeklong overnight camping experience for boys and girls who are 8, 9 and 10 years old who come from LUM client families. Along with all the traditional summer camp activities, we include a heavy dose of fun-learning and educational enrichment. Some of our community’s best children’s educators join us as program staff and counselors providing our LUM campers with one of the finest overnight camping programs available to children anywhere.
This year over 80 children and 30 camp staff will board the buses to beautiful Hanging Rock Camp near West Lebanon in Warren County. There will be swimming, hiking, arts and crafts, camp songs, great food, morning chapel, and sleeping in cabins. We’ll have a special “Animal Planet” theme and the children will learn about the farm animals and wildlife that are such an important part of our Hoosier experience. Our campers will explore God’s creation through music, photography and drama.
The children will make new friends, meet new challenges, grow in confidence and build the kind of wholesome summertime memories that they will cherish for years to come.
LUM Camp only happens because of the generous gifts of money and time donated by those in our community who have a special love and concern for children. Why not add some new summertime memories to the ones you’ve already grown to love? Keep reading to find out how you can help......
How Can I Contribute a LUM Camp Camper$hip?
LUM Camp is a very large undertaking that requires significant financial support. Campers would not have the opportunity to attend a summer camp—much less a camp like ours—if it weren’t for your friendship and financial support. If you’ve already contributed, thank you very much! If you haven’t, please know that your gift of a full ($125) or partial campership is still needed. Place your check in the enclosed envelope and return it today. If you’d like, you can contribute online using your credit or debit card.
Me? A Camp Counselor?
Volunteer counselors are the heartbeat of LUM Camp. They instill confidence, rejoice in accomplishment, build self-esteem and support each child through the wonderful week that is LUM Camp.
Would you, or someone you know, make a good counselor? Camp takes place during the week of August 6–10. Volunteers must be 18 years old, enjoy working with children and be able to spend the entire week at camp. A comfy bunk in a rustic (air conditioned) cabin awaits you! All you need is the availability and willingness to have a fun week with a great group of children. Call 423-2691 for additional information or visit www.lafayetteurbanministry.org.
Can you imagine...
by Mary Anderson, Executive Director
Lafayette Urban Ministry has been in the news quite a bit lately! And the words written and spoken about our plans for the future have not necessarily conveyed the entirety of the issues. A 15-minute conversation must be compressed to a single sentence or two. And so I’m going to take this opportunity to give you the full “fifteen minute” version!
Yes, Lafayette Urban Ministry is looking at ways to expand our ministry to needy children and families. Yes, we are looking at the possible purchase of additional office space to make program expansion possible. Yes, we are cognizant of the issues raised by the Historic Centennial Neighborhood Association. And yes, we are aware and supportive of the development of long-term supportive housing for homeless adults.
But did you know that:
LUM’s Afterschool program operates in the shelter space on the second floor of our program center. Twenty-five children come each day to a space without windows, without computers, without art or music. There is a waiting list for the program, which is regarded by teachers and parents as one of the best and most affordable programs in town.
Can you imagine...
the potential if these children could be on the main floor of the building with windows, an art center, a computer room and room for physical activity?
LUM’s tax assistance program has only been able to operate during certain hours when office space is available. Despite those limitations, the program helped 800 people claim over $1.3 MILLION in tax refunds and credits.
Can you imagine...
the impact if there were enough offices and computers for more volunteer preparers?
LUM’s summer lunch program was discontinued several years ago, in large part because of the difficulty in transporting and serving food safely at off-site settings.
Can you imagine...
hungry children being fed at our program center during the months that school lunches are not available to them?
LUM’s Dignity U Wear program, which distributes new, free clothing to children, has had to cancel two distributions because of lack of storage space.
Can you imagine...
the pride of wearing brand name, new clothing for a family that struggles to provide the basics of food and shelter?
And yes, LUM’s overnight homeless shelter needs a few more beds. We are considering adding 5-10 emergency beds to handle overflow when our current beds are at capacity and to eliminate sending people, on foot, to the Lincoln Center building ten blocks away through the surrounding neighborhoods. And if any other agency or group opens emergency shelter beds, we will gladly use the space for other programs. We hope that proposals for supportive housing continue to move forward and that some of our shelter guests can eventually find secure long-term housing.
Can you imagine...
being able to help everyone who needs safe and secure emergency overnight shelter?
LUM has been a good neighbor. We made changes in response to concerns of neighbors when this structure was built. We pay for security at the shelter. We enforce a no-loitering rule for a several block radius. We require a police escort for anyone coming to the shelter after 10 p.m. We respond quickly when we hear of problems in the neighborhood that might be related to our shelter operations. We created a seat on our Board for a representative of the neighborhood association to facilitate communications.
We are proud to be a member of the Neighborhood Association, and proud of the improvements to this neighborhood. We celebrate its diversity and welcoming spirit, and we extend that welcome to the resident, the visitor, and the stranger in our midst.
God calls us to do no less.
If you have any questions about LUM’s future plans, please do not hesitate to contact your church’s board representative or any member of the LUM staff. We are excited about the possibilities that the future holds, and would like to share that excitement with you.
Is giving appreciated stock right for you?
When people think of making a charitable gift, such as a gift to the Lafayette Urban Ministry, they usually think of writing out a check or perhaps making an online credit or debit card gift. This outright form of giving provides you with the personal satisfaction of supporting LUM, plus you receive the financial benefit of a charitable deduction on your income tax return.
Another frequently used asset for charitable giving is that of highly appreciated securities such as stocks or mutual funds. By transferring your appreciated securities to the Lafayette Urban Ministry, you avoid the capital gains tax and receive a charitable deduction for the current value of the security. It’s easy to do and your investment broker will help you make the gift.
Whatever the method by which you choose to give, the Lafayette Urban Ministry is grateful for your continued friendship and generous support of the children and families we serve.
LUM says “hats off” to volunteers!
About 80 LUM volunteers gathered for an appreciation luncheon on May 8 as LUM said “thank you” to the many volunteers who make LUM’s work possible, including working in the homeless shelter, helping with mailings, serving as Advocates, and helping in the Food Pantry. Special thanks to Federated Church for their generous hospitality and to The Vagaband for their wonderful music.
LUM’s public policy initiatives make a difference!
In the 2007 session of the General Assembly, we were able to influence positive legislation for poor families and children:
- HB 1037—Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Making permanent the state sales tax exemption which we won in the last session. Passed.
- HB 1027—Increasing the state minimum wage. Passed the House 71-29 and amended in the Senate to make Indiana reflect the national minimum wage, which was just increased for the first time in ten years, from $5.15 per hour today to $7.25 by 2009.
- HB 1167—An Indiana state tax credit for child and dependent care. Currently, Indiana is one of only 14 states which do not have one. This bill would have provided $8.4 million to working families to help pay for child or dependent care that they need in order to enter or remain in the workforce. Passed the House but failed to get included in the final budget. We made tremendous progress and are hopeful for next session.
- HB 1074—Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This bill would make permanent the state EITC and increase it from 6% of the federal to 9%. This could provide about $28 million for working families. Passed the House but didn’t get into the budget. We will try again next year.
- Other successful legislative efforts we worked on included the Sudan Divestment Bill, the cigarette tax increase, and a security freeze bill to protect consumers from identity theft.
We continue to monitor the privatization of Indiana Family Social Services Administrative service. On a federal level, we have communicated with federal legislators about reauthorization of the Farm Bill. Most crucial to our clients is continuing and improving the Food Stamp program and continuing the government commodities, which provides thousands of pounds of food for the St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry.
You can make an impact, get legislative updates: pocallaghan@lafayetteurbanministry.org
Briefly noted
- You can be a shelter volunteer! Volunteers are especially needed in the emergency overnight shelter during the summer. Training is required. For more information and training dates, go to www.lafayetteurbanministry.org or call LUM at 423-2691. Also, volunteers are needed to provide meals at the shelter. Please contact Shelter Director Joyce Boehm at 423-2691 or jboehm@lafayetteurbanministry.org.
- Can you give one morning a week to help families in need? The Advocate Program (emergency financial assistance) is in need of a few new volunteers on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday mornings. If you would like to spend one morning a week helping families in need, please contact Mary Anderson at 423-2691 or
manderson@lafayetteurbanministry.org. Training is
provided.
- The 2007 Hunger Hike will be September 16—it’s not too early to begin planning! Start thinking about forming a team and maybe even creating an online fundraising page. Forms and information are now available at www.hungerhike.org. Through early July businesses may sign up to become corporate sponsors.
LUM’s Afterschool Program ended the year with lots of fun activities including playing at the playground, a trip to Fair Oaks Dairy, swimming at Happy Hollow pool, playing volleyball at Tapawingo Park, planting vegetables in a garden near the LUM building, making gifts for Mother’s Day, and a trip to Clegg Wildflower Garden. About 24 children participate in LUM’s Afterschool Program during the school year under the capable leadership of program director Kathy Schroth.
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