In this edition of Wes's Weekly Wrap Up, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, reflects on LUM Day for Dads and the positive impact of engaged fathers. Learn more by watching 59 seconds and by reading below. Please watch & SHARE with others. See below for a recap of this year's LUM Day for Dads.

During the recent heatwave, the LUM Cooling Station at the LUM Office emerged as a vital sanctuary for the community, operating from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors were provided a cool place with essential amenities such as clean water, simple meals, use of restrooms, hygiene supplies, and new socks.

The LUM Cooling Station is a welcoming environment that nurtures a sense of community among its visitors. It is a space where individuals could feel valued and supported. The atmosphere of compassion and care helps to rekindle a sense of dignity and restore hope. By addressing both physical & emotional needs, the LUM Cooling Station plays a crucial role in supporting the unhoused during the challenging heatwave. The LUM Cooling Station will open each weekday that the feels-like temperature hits 100 degrees F.

Please consider investing in the LUM Cooling Station by making a donation to or volunteering with LUM Homeless Services, donating Needed Items or preparing bagged To-Go Meals. (See below for more information about the LUM To-Go Meals Program).

Christian Gallo, LUM Immigration Clinic director, and Margaret Hass, a LUM volunteer accredited representative, recently attended the annual CLINIC Convening, Upholding Dignity – Protecting Rights, in Minneapolis, Minnesota (pictured). The event featured workshops on topics such as asylum law updates, family-based immigration processes, advocacy strategies, and effective client representation techniques, providing Christian & Margaret with invaluable insights and tools to navigate immigration and naturalization effectively. The Convening fosters engagement with peers and experts, facilitating discussions on current challenges and emerging trends and interactions with policymakers to shape more equitable immigration policies.

For Christian Gallo, the CLINIC Convening was not just a professional development opportunity but also a source of inspiration and renewed dedication to his role at the LUM Immigration Clinic. As they return, Christian & Margaret remain committed to applying what they learned to promote fair and compassionate immigration practices, ensuring immigrants receive the legal assistance and advocacy they deserve. If you wish to support the LUM Immigration Clinic, please consider making a monetary donation.

This past Sunday, coinciding with Father’s Day, marked the fourth annual LUM Day for Dads event. The Day for Dads initiative is designed to encourage and celebrate fathers who are actively engaged with their children and families by offering them a day at the ballpark. This year, 75 individuals from 20 local families (comprising 27 parents and 48 children) attended the Lafayette Aviators baseball game at Loeb Stadium. In addition to complimentary game tickets, each father and their family members received a Day for Dads T-shirt, food & beverage vouchers, and an Aviators baseball cap.

The afternoon’s highlights included an exhilarating 11-0 victory for the Lafayette Aviators, the “first pitch” by a LUM father, the opportunity for attendees to run the bases post-game, and a special announcement acknowledging the LUM dads for their significant role in their children’s lives. The participating fathers expressed their gratitude for this special event and the opportunity to spend quality time with their children on Father's Day.

The LUM Day for Dads event was made possible by the generous contributions of individual donors and a significant gift in memory of Dr. Alan Foord, MD.

LUM has recently been awarded significant grants from both the Alfred J. & Dorothy N. McAllister Foundation and the SIA Foundation to enhance security at LUM.

The McAllister Foundation awarded LUM $20,000, which will be used to upgrade the exterior security camera system at the LUM Ray Ewry Center. This contribution is part of the foundation's continued support for LUM Youth Programs and the LUM Healthy Shelter Initiative, launched in 2022, focusing on health, cleanliness, accessibility, and safety at the LUM Emergency Shelter. Dave Webb, the McAllister Foundation representative, presented the check to Wes Tillett, LUM Executive Director.

Additionally, the SIA Foundation awarded LUM $9,607, which will also support the LUM Youth Programs and the LUM Healthy Shelter Initiative, specifically upgrading the internal security camera system at the LUM Ray Ewry Center. These improvements will benefit the Emergency Shelter, Winter Warming Station, and the After School and 5th Quarter Summer Learning Programs. Josh Prokopy, LUM Program Director, accepted the SIA Foundation check from Ed Wulbrecht, an SIA Foundation board member, during a recent celebration at Subaru of Indiana Automotive, where $150,881.77 was distributed to 16 Indiana nonprofits from nine counties for capital improvement.

LUM extends sincere thanks to both foundations for their generous support. These upgrades to the security systems at the LUM Ray Ewry Center reflect the ongoing commitment of LUM to providing safe & welcoming spaces for our community.

LUM needs bagged To-Go Meals to provide nutritious food to those in need each weekday — especially when the LUM Cooling Station is open. The LUM To-Go Meal Program invites families, youth groups, churches, classrooms, and businesses to participate. To-Go Meals are available year-round at the LUM Office (420 N 4th Street, Lafayette, IN), Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. while supplies last.

Sign up to provide 40 bagged To-Go Meals. Each meal should include:

This is a perfect way for families, youth groups, churches, classrooms, and businesses to get involved and make a difference. Your generosity ensures nutritious meals for those in need. Thank you for supporting your community through LUM!