Category Archives: Lafayette Urban Ministry

Hunger Hike is THIS Sunday — Join the Cause

Fighting Hunger with Our Hearts & Soles

Hunger Hike is a fundraising event and also an exciting community event — THIS SUNDAY. It’s not too late to be a Participant!

Hunger Hike is a family event for individuals & teams whose mission is to Raise Awareness & Make a Difference in the Fight Against Hunger. (And it’s Dog Friendly.) The traditional Hunger Hike 3K Walk is THIS Sunday (September 22) from Noon – 3:30 p.m. at Riehle Plaza, N 2nd Street, Lafayette. There will be Zumba, DJ music, National Anthem, a Hot Dog Picnic, remarks & more!

For additional information on Hunger Hike 2019, please visit our website at hungerhike.org.

Hunger Hike 2019 Teams Up with Purdue Coaches


Purdue Coaches Versyp & Kucik – Fighting Hunger

Two prominent Purdue Coaches announced last week that they will be teaming up with Hunger Hike to join the Fight Against Hunger.
This year’s Honorary Hunger Hike Co-chairs are Coach Sharon Versyp (women’s basketball) & Coach Dave Kucik (rowing & crew). Both are passionate about the importance of Hunger Hike and the power of coming together as a community to Fight Hunger. They also put out a challenge to the entire community to start fundraising now to reach this year’s Hunger Hike goal of $100,000.
Coach Versyp & Coach Kucik, the 2019 Hunger Hike Co-chairs, are pictured above with the representatives from the three sponsoring organizations — Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. & St. Thomas Aquinas Center — who also share how important this annual fundraiser is to funding the food programs necessary to addressing the needs of the families in our community, regionally and abroad.

For more information on how you can begin fundraising for Hunger Hike see below or go to our website — hungerhike.org.


{Pictured above L to R: Katy Bunder, CEO/president, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.; Fr. Patrick Baikauskas OP, pastor, St. Thomas Aquinas Center; Coach Sharon Versyp; Coach Dave Kucik; Joe Micon, executive director, Lafayette Urban Ministry.}


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Hunger Hike

Become a Hunger Hike Event Sponsor

Dear Friend,

On Sunday, September 22, close to 1,000 people will gather at Riehle Plaza for the annual Hunger Hike. For over 27 years, Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. and the Haiti Ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Center have worked together to organize this community event to raise awareness and funds for food programs.

Your business now has the opportunity to be a Hunger Hike event sponsor, join the fight against hunger, and be a part of helping children and families with food insecurities in our community and in Haiti. Your sponsorship will help us reach our goal and will be used as follows:

  • Lafayette Urban Ministry will use this money to support its many food and nutrition programs for at-risk children and working families, including the new LUM Protein Food Pantry, meals for the homeless, snacks & meals for children in summer camp and after school & summer childcare programs, and special dietary needs of the elderly and sick.
  • Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. will use the money to enhance the programs offered in their Mobile Food Pantry, Back Pack Program and Food Resource & Education Center — an important initiative to educate clients in self-sufficiency as a means to reduce their food insecurity.
  • Haiti Ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Center will use these funds to expand the nursing outreach program, assist in establishing a community store, and further develop the hybrid seed & food storage programs to increase crop yields.

We hope that THIS is the year that you will consider being a partner with Hunger Hike. Below you will find the levels of sponsorship. We encourage you to choose a level that will give you the recognition you deserve. Together we can make important strides to reduce hunger and give hope to the least among us.

Sincerely,


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Hunger Hike

If you’re interested in becoming a 2019 Hunger Hike event sponsor, please call or email us (765-423-2691 | hungerhike@lumserve.org). Please respond ASAP so we may include your business in promotional materials like the posters & T-shirts.


Hunger Hike – Event Sponsorship Levels

Hunger Hike DIAMOND – $5,000 minimum; which includes:

  • At Hunger Hike events: Sponsor name & logo on T-shirts; opportunity to have promotional materials displayed; Sponsor name announced; Sponsor name displayed
  • Hunger Hike website: Sponsor logo with link to company website
  • Sponsor thanked on all social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), newsletters & bulletins of St. Thomas Aquinas, Food Finders Food Bank & LUM (reach: 15,000+)
  • Ad in St. Thomas Aquinas bulletin for two months
  • 4 – Hunger Hike T-shirts
  • Plaque – recognition of sponsorship; Letter of recognition for sponsorship
  • Sponsor name listed in the Food Finders Food Bank annual report

Hunger Hike GOLD – $2,000 (up to $4,999); which includes:

  • At Hunger Hike events: Sponsor name & logo on T-shirts; opportunity to have promotional materials displayed; Sponsor name announced; Sponsor name displayed
  • Hunger Hike website: Sponsor logo with link to company website
  • Sponsor thanked on all social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), newsletters & bulletins of St. Thomas Aquinas, Food Finders Food Bank & LUM (reach: 15,000+)
  • Sponsor name listed in the Food Finders Food Bank annual report

Hunger Hike SILVER – $1,000 (up to $1,999); which includes:

  • At Hunger Hike events: Sponsor name on T-shirts; opportunity to have promotional materials displayed; Sponsor name announced; Sponsor name displayed
  • Hunger Hike website: Sponsor name with link to company website
  • Sponsor thanked on all social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), newsletters & bulletins of St. Thomas Aquinas, Food Finders Food Bank & LUM
  • Sponsor name listed in the Food Finders Food Bank annual report

Hunger Hike BRONZE – $500 (up to $999); which includes:

  • At Hunger Hike events: Sponsor name on T-Shirts, announced and displayed
  • Hunger Hike website & Facebook event page: Sponsor name
  • Sponsor name listed in the Food Finders Food Bank annual report

Hunger Hike FRIEND – $300 (up to $499); which includes:

  • Hunger Hike website: Sponsor name

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Hunger Hike

If you’re interested in becoming a 2019 Hunger Hike event sponsor, please call or email us (765-423-2691 | hungerhike@lumserve.org). Please respond ASAP so we may include your business in promotional materials like the posters & T-shirts.

How YOU Can Participate & Make a Difference

Needed: Fundraisers, Hikers, Walkers & Teams

Hunger Hike is a community fundraising event for individuals & teams whose mission is to raise awareness & funds for food programs — locally, regionally, & globally. We hope you’ll want to be involved.

  • Donate to Hunger Hike – click HERE
  • Register for Hunger Hike and create or join a Hunger Hike Team – click HERE
  • Donate to a Hunger Hike Team – click HERE
  • Donate to a “Hiker” – click HERE
  • Collection Form (PDF) – click HERE
  • Texas Roadhouse Restaurant Fundraising Night (Oct. 1) info & coupon – click HERE
  • Hunger Hike Flier (8.5″x11″) PDF – HERE

Hunger Hike(Official Kick-off & 3K Walk) event details are as follows:

  • Sunday, September 22
  • Noon – Check-in & DJ music; 1 p.m. – Kick-off event begins; 1:15 p.m. – Zumba, Purdue Pete & Boilermaker Special; 2 p.m. – Hike starts; 3 p.m. – Hot Dog Picnic
  • Riehle Plaza, 2nd Street, Lafayette, IN

Hunger Hike is the perfect event for a team or group — church group, student organization, civic group or your family. Put together a Hunger Hike team and start raising money using our  online fundraising site  — or any other way you choose. We hope you’ll consider joining our Fight against Hunger. 
For information on how to get involved in Hunger Hike 2019 — click HERE.


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Hunger Hike

Hunger Hike 2019 Needs YOUR Support

Dear Friend,

On Sunday, September 22, we will be joining with hundreds of participants in the annual Greater Lafayette Hunger Hike at Riehle Plaza in downtown Lafayette, and we need your help to make our efforts matter!

Here in Central Indiana, surrounded by the most productive farmland on the planet, in the wealthiest nation on earth, food insecurity remains a baffling reality for far too many of our neighbors. A full 70% of the students enrolled in Lafayette School Corporation participate in the federal free and reduced school lunch program.

They are children whose parents constantly worry about whether food at home will run out before they get enough money to buy more. They live in households where there isn’t always enough to afford well-balanced, nutritional meals.

Altogether, about 14 percent of U.S. households – roughly 48 million people or one in seven Americans – go hungry at some point during the year. This number actually underestimates the problem because the survey excludes the homeless and transients, groups that almost by definition lack enough food.

Yet despite the widespread and complex nature of the problem, the solution to food insecurity in our community is surprisingly basic: we must respond by providing food to children and adults who don’t have enough to eat.

One of the most important ways to do this is through your continued support of Hunger Hike.

Hunger Hike is a 3K fundraising walk along the beautiful Wabash Heritage Trail in Lafayette. It takes place on Sunday, September 22. Our goal this year is to raise $100,000 for the hunger relief efforts of Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. and Haiti Ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Center. I hope you will come out and hike with us this year. You can find out how by visiting hungerhike.org. I also hope that you will make a generous gift to Hunger Hike, right now, prior to the event.

Your gift of $50, $100, $250, $500, $1,000 or more, will allow our three, hunger-fighting partners to better fulfill their missions of feeding hungry children and strengthening families who are experiencing food insecurity.

  • At Lafayette Urban Ministry, your gift will allow the new LUM Protein Food Pantry to provide healthful meat, fruit, vegetable and dairy products to 2,100 families who will come for help during the next year. It will cover the cost of infant formula and baby food. It will help to provide the paper products that SNAP assistance won’t. It will also help to pay for 20,000 meals to the homeless and 35,000 nutritious snacks to low-income children that LUM provides each day.
  • At Food Finders Food Bank, Inc., your gift will allow for the expansion of the classes and programs offered in their Mobile Food Pantry and Food Resource & Education Center – an important initiative to educate clients in self-sufficiency as a means to reduce their food insecurity.
  • At St. Thomas Aquinas, your gift will reach beyond our community to allow the Haiti Ministry to expand the nursing outreach program, assist in establishing a community store, and further develop the hybrid seed & food storage programs to increase crop yields.

Hunger Hike is our community’s oldest and most well-respected fundraising walk, dating back to the early 1970’s. Last year more than 1,000 people participated in the event. Over the years, more than $2 million dollars has been raised, providing a critical social safety net to thousands of hungry children and adults. Your past support of Hunger Hike has allowed us to wage an aggressive fight against hunger in both our own community, the region and in Haiti.

We hope you will join us again this year by walking a little farther – and digging a little deeper. Please, won’t you make a generous gift to Hunger Hike today?
Make your check payable to “Hunger Hike” and place it in the enclosed envelope – or give online at hungerhike.org/donate.

Gratefully,


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Hunger Hike

Hunger Hike is Only 3 Months Away – Why Wait?

Hunger Hike is only a short three months away. Why not get started NOW? Here’s what you need to know to begin raising money and “fighting hunger.”

Hunger Hike is an annual community fundraising event whose mission is to Raise Awareness & Make a Difference in the Fight Against Hunger — locally, regionally & globally. Hunger Hike (Official Kick-off & 3K Walk) event details are as follows:

  • Sunday, September 22
  • 2 p.m. – hike starts
  • Riehle Plaza, Lafayette

Hunger Hike is the perfect event for a team or group — church group, student organization, civic group or your family. Put together a Hunger Hike team and start raising money using our online fundraising site — or any way you choose. We hope you’ll consider joining our Fight against Hunger. Here’s how to get started:

Donate | Online Fundraising Site | More Information: go to www.hungerhike.org

If you run and/or own a business — you also may become a Hunger Hike Event Sponsor.

If interested, email hungerhike@lumserve.org for more information.


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Hunger Hike

Hunger Hike 2018 – Beautiful Weekend for a Hike


Fighting Hunger with Our Hearts & Soles!


Hunger Hike participants gathered this past Sunday to to raise awareness and funds for food programs locally, regionally & globally — through the good work of Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. and the Haiti Ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas.

The weather was perfect — and the “hike” along the Wabash River was pleasant and picturesque. The Kick-off event was highlighted by an inspiring keynote from Race Johnson, Purdue Football alumnus as well as remarks from our two Honorary Co-chairsDave Kucik, Purdue Crew & Rowing coach, and Nadine Morgan (for Sharon Versyp), Purdue Women’s Basketball coach. Remarks were also offered by Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, West Lafayette City Council President Peter Bunder, Tippecanoe County Council President Tom Murtaugh and by Joe Micon, Lafayette Urban Ministry; Fr. Patrick Baikauskas OP, St. Thomas Aquinas Center; and Katy Bunder, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. — our sponsoring organizations.

It began with the crowd cheering with the Purdue Cheerleaders & Purdue Pete and participating in Zumba with Miss Brooke & Kasie from Studio b Dance & Fitness. The US National Anthem was then sung by Jay Alan, Harrison High School senior and YouTube sensation. Throughout the entire event, there was live music by DJ Powder of Rat Pak Mobile DJsface-painting & balloon animals from the Unlimited Smiles Clown Ministry, massages by Lee Anne Akers of Essential Touch Massage, and Voter Registration.

After a blessing from Fr. Patrick Baikauskas OP, the “hikers” were led by Purdue Pete, Purdue Cheerleaders, Purdue Crew Team and Purdue Women’s Basketball Team up the John T. Myers Pedestrian Bridge and along the Wabash Heritage Trail. Hunger Hike concluded with a Celebration Picnic with hot dogs, chips & bottled water (courtesy of Texas Roadhouse, Sam’s Club & Aqua Systems).

Hunger Hike for the 26th straight year was successful in bringing much needed attention & funds to the battle against malnutrition, food insecurity & hunger — locally, regionally & globally.

Thanks to all who participated, raised funds, volunteered and donated.


Hunger Hike 2018 – QUICK LINKS:

  • Photos – Hunger Hike 5K Run
  • Photos – HH5K Run – Runners
  • Photos – Hunger Hike Kick-off event & 3K Walk
  • Results – HH5K Run by Category
  • Results – HH5K Run Overall

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Hunger Hike 5K Run — Picture Perfect


Running & Fighting Hunger – One Step at a Time

2016-09-16-hh5k-013-2-1280x856


More than 60 runners and walkers participated in the 2018 Hunger Hike 5K Run this past Saturday. The Hunger Hike 5K Run is open to runners of all ages and abilities who share a goal: Fighting Hunger with their Hearts & Soles!

It was sunny and cool — a picture perfect day for a race. The Hunger Hike 5K Run 2018 followed the beautiful, paved Cattail Trail Loop through West Lafayette and the scenic Celery Bog Nature Area — giving runners and walkers an opportunity to support three local organizations while enjoying a professionally timed 5K event.

Pictured above L to R: Joe Micon, LUM executive director; Sheila Klinker, Indiana State Representative; Assemgul Bissenbina, #1 Female; Kyle Morales, #3 Female; Colin Frier, #1 Youth; Phoebe (Colin’s dog); Aauba Aditye, #1 Male; Sarah Sellers, #2 Female; Lucy Edmundson, #3 Youth; and Kenny McCleary, #2 Male.

Thanks to our donors – Awards Unlimited, Panera Bread – West Lafayette, and Pay Less Super Market – West Lafayette.


Hunger Hike QUICK LINKS:

  • Photos – Hunger Hike 5K Run; Photos – HH5K Run – Just the Runners
  • Results – HH5K by Category; Results – HH5K Overall
  • Photos – Hunger Hike Kick-off event & 3K Walk

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Hunger Hike


Hunger Facts – 2018


HUNGER HIKE – Did you know?


General Facts/Statistics

  • 1 in 8 people in Indiana struggle with hunger
  • An estimated 26% of individuals who are considered food insecure live in households that earn incomes above 185% of the poverty line, making them likely ineligible for most federal nutrition assistance programs.
  • Food insecure adults are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, and high blood pressure. They are also more likely to report mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, and poor general health. Seniors who are food insecure have a decreased capacity to maintain independence with aging.


Child Hunger Facts/Stats

  • 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger
  • 23,340, or 17.7%, of children in Food Finders’ service area struggle with hunger. In Tippecanoe County, alone, nearly 7,000 children struggle with hunger. More than a quarter of the 23,670 children do not qualify for federal nutrition programs, leaving Food Finders Food Bank’s programs as their only resource.
  • Children who face hunger are more likely to struggle in school and experience developmental setbacks. Kids who struggle to get enough to eat also face higher risks of health conditions like anemia and asthma.
  • In addition to decreased intellectual and emotional development and poor academic performance, children living in food insecure households are at higher risk of poor physical and mental health. They are substantially more likely to be diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, asthma, mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, cognitive impairment, and behavioral disorders. They are also at higher risk of being hospitalized. These health problems and the resulting time demands placed on caregivers impact the ability of caregivers to maintain stable employment.
  • For more information on general hunger statistics, visit Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap site: click HERE 


Senior Hunger Facts/Stats

  • Indiana has one of the highest rates of senior hunger, with 11.7% of seniors struggling with hunger–that’s 631,800 seniors in Indiana. Women are disproportionately affected by food insecurity, 6 out of every 10 food insecure seniors are women.
  • Seniors struggling with hunger often have to make the difficult decision between paying for rent, medication, or transportation and food.
  • For seniors, lack of access to healthy foods, or even a stable diet, can lead to life threatening medical conditions, such disability, deteriorating health/ mental health conditions, serious infections, lengthy hospitalization, and malnutrition. The number one health condition caused by food insecurity among seniors is clinical (severe/major) depression. For more information on senior hunger, read The State of Senior Hunger, click HERE

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Hunger Hike – HH5K Run registration

Introducing the Hunger Hike Keynote – Race Johnson


Purdue Football Alumnus to Give Keynote

Race Johnson, Purdue alumnus & former Boilermaker football player, will offer remarks to kick off this year’s Hunger Hike THIS Sunday, September 16 at 1:30 p.m. at Riehle Plaza (N 2nd Street, Lafayette). Throughout his life, Race has worked hard and has had a special commitment to serving his community as an individual, as an athlete and with his family and church — and he’s eager to share his story THIS Sunday.

Son of Bill & Jill Johnson, Race was born in Indianapolis and grew up in Carmel. Race has a younger brother, Steele, and younger sister, Hollyn. Steele is a diver at Purdue who has won four NCAA championships and a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics.

A high school athlete, Race joined the Purdue football team as a walkon in 2013. He was an Academic All-Big Ten player who played in three games in 2015, and eight games in 2016. Race earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Purdue University (West Lafayette) in May 2017. He is currently a member of the Lugar Real Estate Team in Indianapolis.

Join us THIS Sunday to meet Race and hear his remarks at the Hunger Hike kick-off event at 1:30 p.m. (Riehle Plaza).


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