Category Archives: Giving

Pumpkin Patch Benefits Hunger Hike

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Volunteer & Raise Money for Hunger Hike 2017

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Congress Street United Methodist Church has selected HUNGER HIKE as one of the benefactors of their annual Great Pumpkin Patch. This partnership includes Hunger Hike providing volunteers (3 hour shifts) to work at the 14th annual  Great Pumpkin Patch — as well as bake and ice cookies (2 – 2.5 hour shifts).

If you’re willing to either help with the Pumpkin Patch (Oct. 6 – 31) or with the Cookies (NOW thru Oct. 20) — here’s what you do:

  1. pumpkinpatch3Sign up — Pumpkin Patch, click HERE; Cookie Baking, click HERE; Cookie Icing,
    click HERE
  2. Enter “Hunger Hike” in the Comments section
  3. SUBMIT, Volunteer & have fun

Please sign up online TODAY — and volunteer, have fun, sell pumpkins, bake cookies, ice cookies and help Hunger Hike achieve its goal of $115,000.

Need some pumpkins? Please consider visiting the Great Pumpkin Patch of the Congress Street United Methodist Church. Each purchase you make supports Hunger Hike.

The Great Pumpkin Patch is open October 6-31 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. — rain or shine — across the street from Tropicanoe Cove & Loeb Stadium. In addition to pumpkins, you’ll also find a unique variety of gourds — plus their famous homemade sugar cookies (pictured below), homemade breads, candies, crafts & much more!

Since 2004 Congress Street United Methodist Church has grown in its Great Pumpkin Patch outreach — you must check it out. Remember ALL proceeds from pumpkin sales go to three local non-profit agencies — including Hunger Hike.

So please head out to the Great Pumpkin Patch, get in the Halloween spirit and support Hunger Hike.

 

 

Hunger Hike Keynote – Amanda Elmore – US Olympic Gold Medalist

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47056 Hunger Hike 2016Amanda Elmore, US Olympic Gold Medalist, Purdue Alumna & Harrison High Graduate to Speak at
Hunger Hike 2016 — Sunday, September 18

West Lafayette, IN – The Hunger Hike planning team is excited to announce that Amanda Elmore, Olympic Gold Medalist (US Rowing), Purdue Alumna & Harrison High Graduate is scheduled to attend and speak at Hunger Hike 2016 Kick-off event. Details are as follows:

  • Date: Sunday, September 18
  • Times: Noon – 2 p.m.; Remarks at 1:45 p.m.
  • Place: Riehle Plaza, N 2nd Street, Lafayette

amanda-elmore

Amanda Elmore and her US Rowing Team earned a GOLD medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Amanda is a graduate of Harrison High School, where she was a member of the band, competed in gymnastics, cross country and track and was valedictorian; and Purdue University, where she was on the Purdue Crew Team and earned many awards and honors.

Both the Harrison High School Raiders and the Purdue Crew Team are great friends of LUM in many ways — especially at Hunger Hike. Purdue Crew Team also supports LUM through their Row-A-Thon fundraising event which this past February donated $8,542 to the LUM Good Samaritan Fund.

There has always been a strong partnership between Purdue University & Hunger Hike. Here is how we connect this year:

  • Keynote: Amanda Elmore
  • Hunger Hike Honorary Co-Chairs: Sharon Versyp, Purdue Women’s Basketball head coach; Dave Kucik, Purdue Rowing Team head coach; and Dave Shondell, Purdue Volleyball head coach
  • Participating — Teams: Women’s Basketball, Rowing & Crew Team, Volleyball, Track & Field; and spirit squad: Boilermaker Special, Purdue mascot — plus the Purdue Cheerleaders and Purdue Pete will attend and start the event with a spirited cheer
  • Leading the actual Hunger Hike along the Wabash Heritage Trail will be the Purdue Crew Team with their sculls and sweep boats, Purdue Pete & the cheerleaders, the Purdue Volleyball & Women’s Basketball teams

Each Fall for over 50 years Hunger Hike has brought together the entire community—including Purdue—in a common goal of Fighting Hunger. For more information on Hunger Hike 2016, please visit and explore our new website at www.hungerhike.org. Individuals and group may still sign up to participate and business may still become event sponsors.

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Hunger Hike

Hunger Hike is an annual Fall community fundraising weekend which includes the traditional 3K Walk on Sunday as well as a 5K run on Saturday. This year Hunger Hike is Saturday, September 17 & Sunday, September  18, 2016.

All Hunger Hike proceeds directly support the Lafayette Urban Ministry food assistance programs including the St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc., and St. Thomas Aquinas Center’s Haitian Ministry including the Haiti Water Purification Project. Since early 1990s Lafayette Urban Ministry, St. Thomas Aquinas Center and Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. have been organizing a walk to support food programs locally, regionally and globally. Formerly known as the Crop Walk which dates back to the mid-1960s, it was officially renamed Hunger Hike in 1993.

Today, Hunger Hike gives companies, organizations, families & individuals many ways to be a part of a community event with a tremendous positive impact on “Fighting Hunger.”

Bethany Inspires Us to Do More for Hunger Hike

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HH logo 2014 SQ no borderHunger Hike participants and teams come in many shapes and sizes — some are high school teams, Purdue learning communities, businesses, sororities  — and local churches. Church teams are the most consistent and successful fundraisers for Hunger Hike each year — and many use creative methods to get their members engaged and get them to give. One of our best examples is what’s happening over at Bethany Presbyterian Church in Lafayette.

Through the leadership of their pastor, 20150914115227312_0001Rev. Kevin A. Bowers, members of Bethany have participated is some unique competitions over the years raising close to $3000 annually for Hunger Hike. One year, Bethany members were asked to donate to Hunger Hike and signify “Colts” or “Steelers.” The football team that had the most money would determine which jersey Pastor Kevin, who is a loyal Pittsburgh Steelers fan, would be wearing to the Steelers/Colts game in Indianapolis.

unknownLast year, capitalizing on the “ice bucket challenge” phenomenon, the top fundraiser had the privilege of dumping a bucket of ice water on the Pastor. This year as part of something they are calling “Block a Hymn,” any contributor of $75.00 or more will be able to select a Hymn that they will not sing at church services for an entire year. Those members whose favorite hymns have been blocked have the option of buying it back for $75.00. A stir was created when one member chose to block Silent Night. It has already been bought back several times over.

Pastor Kevin Bowers shares that he is OK with being a little bit more unorthodox when it comes to raising money for Hunger Hike. He stated,

“Food insecurity is a troubling issue for our community  — especially when it concerns children and the affect on their growth and development.
We can solve this problem — we just lack the will.”

Pastor Kevin’s hope is that each of the members of Bethany understands the importance of “sharing our blessings” and the responsibility we have for “reaching out and taking care of one another.” He also wants to create a fundraising plan that allows for really big donations as well as the smaller ones. Hunger Hike gives them a perfect opportunity to be a part of the something bigger — the Fight Against Hunger.

Bethany Presbyterian Church stands as an inspiration to all of us. Let’s take their lead and use the final two weeks leading up to Hunger Hike to reach the 2015 goal of $100,000.

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Hunger Hike

To participate as an individual or team fundraiser with Hunger Hike, start HERE.

Photos

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Check out the photos from Hunger Hike:

Hunger Hike 2019

Honorary Co-Chairs

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Dr. Anne Marie Edwards | Director | Black Cultural Center, Purdue University

Dr. Anne Marie Edwards serves as the director of the Purdue University Black Cultural Center.  Prior to this role, she held various roles in higher education including her most recent role as the director of the Center for Black Studies at Northern Illinois University. She received a B.S. and M.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University and worked in the hospitality industry for several years until returning to school to obtain an M.B.A. from Valparaiso University. She earned a doctorate in educational psychology in August of 2021 where her emphasis centered Black women and identity development in the higher education environment. Her other research interests include topics around race, motivation, leadership, and career development. Dr. Edwards is interested in ways of making research accessible to the public. Dr. Edwards is an active member of the Association of Black Culture Centers (ABCC), National Council for Black Studies (NCBS), NASPA, and her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She has presented at ABCC, NCBS, MWERA, NASPA, ACPA, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALAH) and at the International Self-Determination theory conference.  Dr. Edwards is one of the co-hosts of the podcast Blkwomynvoices, a biweekly show about Black womyn and higher education.

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Nathan Walker | Director of Programs and Facilities & Head Men’s Coach | Purdue Rowing & Crew Team

Nathan began his rowing career at Purdue in 2000, was voted Most Valuable Oarsman twice (’03, ’04) and stroked the V8 in 2004 to a 2nd place finish at the Dad Vail Regatta. Since graduating from college Nathan has coached high school, college, and masters rowers all across the country, including serving as the Head Novice Men’s Coach at Purdue, a Masters Women’s Coach at Alexandria Community Rowing Club, the Head Coach at Fairfax High School, the Director of Rowing at The College of William and Mary, the Head Men’s Coach at Norcal Crew, and most recently the Director of Rowing at Culver Academies before being hired back at his alma mater Purdue. He has coached crews to medals at Dad Vails, ACRAs, Head of the Charles, Youth Nationals, and Scholastic Nationals, and coached athletes to spots on the U19, U23, and Senior National Teams.

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Resources

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Hunger Hike Resources — Quick Links

Hunger Hike Fundraising

  • Fundraiser – Registration Form – click HERE 
  • Launch Page – click HERE
  • Donate to Hunger Hike – click HERE
  • Collection Form (PDF) – click HERE

Promotional Materials — Feel free to use anything below to promote Hunger Hike and your Hunger Hike team’s fundraising efforts.

  • Hunger Hike Photos – HERE
  • Logo – HERE
  • Hunger Hike Flyer – HERE
  • Hunger Hike Poster PDF – | 11″x17″ | 
  • Social Media
    • Facebook Banner/Cover Photo JPG – HERE
    • Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Ad Photo JPG – HERE

Other Information

  • Sponsoring Organizations – HERE
  • Event Sponsors – HERE
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Sponsoring Organizations

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All Hunger Hike proceeds benefit the Lafayette Urban Ministry Food Programs, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. & St. Thomas Aquinas’ Haiti Ministry. Learn more about the Hunger Hike sponsoring organizations.

Lafayette Urban Ministry

The Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM) is an organization of more than 47 churches that serves as a social safety net for Lafayette’s needy children and families.

For more than 50 years, LUM has worked to give back the hope, the future, and the self-respect to low-income people in the Greater Lafayette area. LUM takes an active role in trying to change social injustices and improve the quality of life for the poor of Indiana.

Website | 420 N 4th Street, Lafayette, IN 47901 | (765) 423-2691

STA Haiti

Haiti Ministry – St. Thomas Aquinas Center

Several times a year, the Haiti Committee at St. Thomas Aquinas travel to St. Francis Xavier Church in Baudin, Haiti. St. Tom’s has over the decades offer medical treatment, administered medicine, improved the quality of water, assisted with strategies to grow food, store food and produce and store seeds.

St. Thomas Aquinas serves as the Catholic Center at Purdue University. The parish engages the youthful energy of all its members to nurture their faith journey across all generations through liturgy, spiritual and intellectual formation, stewardship, and justice with peace. They joyfully welcome all who wish to meet life’s challenges through lived faith in Jesus Christ.

Website | 535 W State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906 | (765) 743-4652

Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.

FFFB

Since 1981, Food Finders Food Bank has been a critical component of the welfare of Tippecanoe and 15 surrounding counties in Indiana: providing food to member agencies, advocating for the hungry, and educating the public about hunger-related issues.

Funded by United Way, foundations, grants, the USDA, corporations, sponsors, and individual donors, Food Finders Food Bank annually distributes more than 7 million pounds of food to a network of non-profit organizations that work to alleviate hunger throughout north central Indiana.

Website | 1204 Greenbush Street, Lafayette, IN 47904 | (765) 471-0062

Event Sponsors

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Event Sponsor – 2025

If you’re interested in becoming a 2025 Hunger Hike event sponsor, please call or email us (765-423-2691 | info@hungerhike.org).

Here are our Hunger Hike 2025 event sponsors. Please thank them for joining the Fight Against Hunger —  and support their businesses, please.

Diamond Level – $5,000 – $9,999

Gold Level  – $2,000 – $4,999

Silver Level – $1,000 – $1,999

Bronze Level – $500 – $999

  • 40 & 8 Voiture 364
  • Arni’s – gift cards for prizes
  • Centier Bank
  • City of West Lafayette
  • Essential Touch Massage – massages
  • Stuart & Branigin
  • Warren County REMC

Friend Level – $300 – $499

  • Greyhouse Coffee & Supply Co.

In Kind Gifts & Services

  • Dream Dinners Lafayette – freezer pops
  • Erika Smith & Amanda McNeff – Zumba
  • Meijer – hot dogs & watermelon
  • Scott Starkey – magic
  • Sharon McKnight & Friends – music
  • Smiles Unlimited clown – face painting & balloon animals and hats

Wish to be a Hunger Hike Event Sponsor?

If so, please call or email us (765-423-2691 | info@hungerhike.org).

Volunteer

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Support a Team or Hiker

Hunger Hike relies on dozens of volunteers for the Hunger Hike Kick-off event & walk and more. Please consider becoming a Hunger Hike volunteer as well as a Hunger Hike fundraiser. Sign up to volunteer online, click HERE.

Volunteer Sign Up – Hunger Hike
  • Hunger Hike (1.5K Walk) – Volunteers Sign up HERE
    • Set up, Check in, Water distribution, Route guides, Break down & more

Thank you.

Hunger Hike 2014 - BR - 006 (2) (1024x445)

Sunday

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Sunday, September 17 – Celebration & 1.5K Walk

At 1 p.m. on Sunday take part in our annual celebration and 1.5K walk. See below for details.

Hunger Hike is back in Riehle Plaza!! Join us to close out Hunger Hike and celebrate our success.

Celebration – 1:00 pm – Riehle Plaza 

  • Enjoy live DJ music from Rat Pak Mobile DJs
  • Plus:
    • ZUMBA Warm-up
    • PHOTOS — Pose for photos with the Glass Slipper Princess, Apple Princess, and Enchanted Rose Princess — and more to be announced soon
    • FACE PAINTING
    • MASSAGES
  • (No speeches.  Just fun.)

Walk – 2:00 pm 

  • Take part in a mass 1.5K walk along the Wabash Heritage Trail

T-Shirts

The average cotton t-shirt takes more than 700 gallons of water to produce and creates more than 30 pounds of carbon.  That’s a huge environmental cost.  So in an effort to be better stewards of our planet, our giveaways are going to look a little different this year.

Still want a Hunger Hike t-shirt?  No problem.  While we may not be placing a mass order for every donor and volunteer, our t-shirts are still available for purchase.  

  • Cost: $6 ($8 for XXL)
  • You can buy them right on the donation form.
  • Deadline is September 7
  • All t-shirts must be ordered in advance.

T-shirts may be picked up on September 17 at either Riehle Plaza.

Volunteer

We’ll need plenty of help on Sunday, September 17 to make Hunger Hike a success.  Have a little extra time?  Why not lend a hand? There are lots of tasks to choose from.  We need people to:

  • Set Up
  • Receive Donations
  • Handout T-shirts
  • Distribute Bottled Water and other food items
  • Help with Clean Up

Interested? Sign Up HERE

Photos – Check out the photos from Hunger Hike:

Special Thanks to our Event Sponsors! 

Thank our event sponsors —  and support their businesses, please.
Hunger Hike event sponsors, list HERE.