In this edition of Wes's Weekly Wrap Up, Wes, LUM executive director, reflects on LUM Camp 2020. Looking at the photos from this year's LUM Camp, reminds us that children are precious. Please take 61 seconds to watch the video. Feel free to SHARE.

LUM Camp kicked off on Tuesday, July 28, for 39 local youth. LUM Camp is an overnight summer camp for children, aged 8, 9 and 10 years old, who come from families served by Lafayette Urban Ministry, which has happened every summer since the early 1960s. The fun, friendship and life-enhancing benefits were the same, but LUM Camp 2020 looked different due to COVID-19.

This year the theme was Join the Green Side. The week focused on interactive and experiential learning and was filled with traditional “camp” activities. There were also opportunities to teach the children how to be safe and stay healthy during the pandemic, especially in preparation for what they will deal with when they return to school later this month. There were fewer campers and more counselors. Campers practiced social distancing, wore face masks, interacted in small groups, had their temperature checked & washed their hands throughout the day, and had staggered meals and activities. As expected, the LUM Campers had a blast!

Through your donations, campership gifts, and volunteer time, you made it possible for our LUM Campers to have a life-changing experience that they will remember fondly for the rest of their lives. If you wish to make a donation to LUM Camp, go to lumserve.org/donate.

There are only 38 DAYS to Hunger Hike. Why not get started NOW?  Here’s what you need to know to begin raising money and “fighting hunger.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this will be a year of great changes for Hunger Hike, and the event is going to be unique and more exciting than ever.

Hunger Hike 2020 will kick off on Sunday, September 13 starting a week-long challenge for “Hikers” and “Teams.” Individuals & groups can create online fundraising pages for themselves and their team and begin fundraising today. They will also be encouraged to create a “personal challenge” for the week or participate in a leaderboard challenge with other members of their fundraising team to see who can get the most steps -- using a mobile app.

The centerpiece of the event will take place on Sunday, September 20 at 1:00 pm with the Hunger Hike livestream event, featuring local celebrities, speakers and entertainment to help celebrate and raise funds for Hunger Hike. The hike raises money to support the important work of Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc., and the St. Thomas Aquinas Haiti Ministry.

Maria Gonzalez, a client at the LUM Immigration Clinic, recently became a US citizen. Originally from Mexico, she has lived in the United States since she was 9 years old. Her mom supported her throughout the process, telling her “Maria, please become a U.S. Citizen.” Maria’s children have been another important motivator to become a citizen, as she wants them to safely grow up in the United States. 

Maria found the citizenship classes incredibly useful, even though she was nervous and apprehensive at the start. Maria is grateful to the entire LUM Immigration Clinic team and would like to thank her family, the Rev. Susan Brouillette, and especially God for helping her through the citizenship process. 

The U.S. Census Bureau is ending all counting efforts for the 2020 census on September 30, a month sooner than previously announced. 

Shape your future. Start here. Visit 2020CENSUS.GOV