Spotlight on Volunteers - A Vital Part of LUM
Meet Pat - LUM Good Samaritan Program Volunteer
Patricia S. Garrott and her husband, Floyd, were childhood sweethearts growing up in Battle Ground, Indiana, where they raised their family and eventually moved to West Lafayette. Pat earned a BS in sociology and an MS in Counseling & Personnel Services, both from Purdue University. She and Floyd are members of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and have three grown children (all who have earned at least one degree from Purdue) and four grandchildren. She has increased her service to the community since retiring as the Senior Executive Associate Director for the Center for Career Opportunities at Purdue.

At LUM, Pat has been volunteering with the Good Samaritan Program for over six years — and was one of the founding volunteers of the Immigration Clinic when it was established in 2014. She still occasionally teaches Citizenship Classes but regularly volunteers, one morning a week, meeting clients who need emergency financial assistance. Pat shared that, "LUM is a wonderful thing in our community. My role is so rewarding. LUM only pays a portion of what the family needs but more importantly we share other community resources, give them the tools they need to begin to develop skills to be more self-sufficient, which in turn gives them hope and dignity." Pat & Floyd are also LUM donors. "We're comfortable giving to LUM because we know that all of the money is going to help local children and families," Pat stated.

In the community, Pat also volunteers working with fifth grade students in Battle Ground with a reading initiative and serves on a local library board of directors. For fun, she travels, spends lots of time with her grandchildren, attends Purdue sports (women's basketball, men's basketball and football) as well as Purdue stage shows and Butler basketball games (her husband's alma mater). Pat also enjoys spending time with her mother who is 94 years old.

Pat encourages others to volunteer regularly with LUM, especially the recently retired, sharing that, "It will give YOU back so much more than you can ever give."
LUM Students - Gardening, Learning & Growing
LUM Garden Offers Opportunities for Learning
The students enrolled in the LUM 5th Quarter Summer Learning Program have been engaged in a garden project that gives them many opportunities for experiential learning. Dr. Tim Reutebuch, associate professor of social work at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, met with the students to begin the planning of the vegetable garden in March, and it was created in April, as a part of their Earth Day celebrations.

The garden has been incorporated into educational curriculum since then. This project was carefully designed to offer our students hands-on experiences planning, creating and maintaining a vegetable garden while learning about science, math and healthy choices as well as building their self-confidence, responsibility and self-sustaining life skills. Also, the students are now experiencing the taste of their own, fresh vegetables, while enjoying some fun, outdoor time. The freshly grown vegetables are also being shared with the children's families. This has been such a rewarding project and the students have loved being a part of it. Special thanks to Amanda Bajzatt , LUM Youth Programs Director, Dr. Reutebuch , Central Presbyterian Church for providing the space for the garden, and Purdue Extension and Grow Local Lafayette for the garden building & construction as well as curriculum development.

If you would like to invest in this project and our summer students, please make a donation today ( click below ). If you or your group wishes to volunteer — or sponsor an event or study trip for LUM students, please email or call Amanda Bajzatt, LUM Youth Programs Director ( abajzatt@lumserve.org | 765-423-2691).
Meet the LUM Summer Interns 2018
Summer Interns - Campaign for Hoosier Families
Meet Meron Tamene. Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Meron now lives in West Lafayette. She is matriculating toward a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science with minors in Arabic, Spanish, Human Rights & Global Studies from Purdue University, College of Liberal Arts. She will graduate in May 2020 and plans to attend law school. Meron hopes to work in immigration law and international human rights.

As an intern at LUM, Meron is working with the Campaign for Hoosier Families .
Meet Morgan Torres. Morgan grew up and lives in Monticello, Indiana. She is matriculating toward a Bachelor's Degree in Law & Society and Political Science with a minor in Forensic Science from Purdue University, College of Liberal Arts. She will graduate in May 2020 and plans to attend law school. Morgan hopes to work in international law & policy specializing in immigration policy.

As an intern at LUM, Morgan is working with the Campaign for Hoosier Families .
Be a Volunteer Camp Counselor - LUM Camp 2018
Make a Difference This Summer at LUM Camp
Would you, or someone you know, make a good  LUM Camp Counselor ?

LUM Camp is a week-long, overnight camp program for low-income children from 8 to 10 years old.

Volunteer camp counselors must be at least 18 years old, enjoy working with children and be able to spend the entire week at camp. Counselors are needed from 11 a.m. Monday,  July 30  to 4 p.m. Friday,  August 3 . 

For additional information, click  HERE . PLEASE SHARE.
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