In this edition of Wes's Weekly Wrap Up, Wes Tillett, LUM executive director, shares three stories of individuals who are putting "extra LOVE" into their work for LUM. Please take 59 seconds to watch the video and SHARE with others.

At a recent private ceremony, Purdue Crew athletes, leadership & coaches presented LUM with a check for $20,028.78 (half of what was raised through their annual Row-A-Thon) for the LUM Good Samaritan Program, the emergency financial assistance program. This year, everything changed except for the Purdue Crew team's determination to persist. Due to COVID-19, the team could not compete or travel but still recruited a stellar team of student athletes and trained harder than ever, on & off the river. This year the annual Row-A-Thon could only be approved if it was a members-only event and moved to a campus facility instead of the local mall. Despite all of these challenges, Row-A-Thon happened, exceeding fundraising expectations. It is important to note that the Purdue student athletes on the Crew Team solicited these donations from individuals outside of this community; and this donation each year is the single greatest gift to the LUM Good Samaritan Program from any group or individual. Words cannot adequately express how grateful LUM is -- and how heartwarming it is to know that with all that today's students are managing, these students continue to serve and support their community. Boiler Up!

The LUM Good Samaritan Program provides our community’s families and children with a strong & reliable safety net. Emergency financial assistance is available for utility bills, rent, prescription medications, work clothes, and food. No operating expenses are taken out of the Good Samaritan Fund — 100% of all donations go to help those in need. In 2020, assistance was provided to 2,017 families through the LUM Good Samaritan Program 1,393 times, totaling $229,833.82.

Indiana State Representative Sheila J. Klinker recently recognized the distinguished women leaders of the LUM member churches with a framed proclamation. Before the most recent LUM Board meeting, Representative Klinker offered remarks, praise and certificates to Dr. Karen Atcheson, Rev. Ashley Bonnes, Rev. Dr. Hilary Cooke, Rev. Lisa Hood, Rev. Pamela Jones-Horne, Rev. Tracey Leslie, Rev. Dr. Rachel Methany, Rev. Rosemary Morrison, Rev. Dr. Gladys Nwabah, Rev. Lucia Oerter, and Rev. Stephanie Smith. {Pictured L to R: Nwabah, Leslie, Cooke, Hood, Morrison & Bonnes.} To view more photos, click HERE.

LUM agrees with Representative Klinker that these religious leaders have been a vital part of the success of LUM governance, planning, outreach and leadership. Join us in recognizing these distinguished women religious & community leaders and ALL women leaders for their service to LUM and our community for the betterment of all.

Please contact your state legislators to let them know that you support expansion of TANF, $15 minimum wage, Child & Dependent Care State Tax Credit, not taxing unemployment compensation, and redistricting. Please join us in thanking Kathy Williams, LUM legislative advocate, and Patti O'Callaghan, LUM volunteer lobbyist, for working so hard on behalf of Hoosier Families.

Want to help make a difference while you shop in the Amazon app, at no extra cost to you? Simply follow the instructions below to select "Lafayette Urban Ministry Inc" as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app. They'll donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us.