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.
At a celebration this week, it was announced that the 25th annual Hunger Hike reached its goal. For the second year in a row Hunger Hike has raised over $110,000 — and for the third year, over $100,000.
The 2017 Hunger Hike total is $110,083 plus numerous gifts in kind. Each sponsoring agency received $36,694.
The celebration was capped off with the presentation of checks to representatives of the three sponsoring organizations: Fr. Patrick Baikauskas OP, St. Thomas Aquinas Haiti Ministry; Katy Bunder, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.; and Joe Micon, Lafayette Urban Ministry. All major donors and event sponsors were also recognized.
A majority of the money comes from local churches ($58,498). The top six CHURCH fundraisers:
St. Thomas Aquinas ($36,932)
Bethany Presbyterian ($3,384)
Chapel of the Good Shepherd ($3,366)
St. Andrew United Methodist ($2,235)
Central Presbyterian ($1,155)
St. John’s Episcopal ($1,125)
The top six INDIVIDUAL fundraisers:
Rob Pahl ($8,340)
Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, OP ($7,551)
Jane & Duane Sellers ($7,280)
Michael Lockwood ($4,250)
John Ginda ($2,705)
The Eros Family ($1,770)
The top organization/group TEAMS:
Purdue English Department Poets & Critics ($2,475)
Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. ($1,060)
Purdue Boxing Club ($990)
Purdue Crew ($550)
Grandma’s Bunch ($862)
Alpha Gamma Delta – Beta Xi Chapter at Purdue ($275)
Special thanks to DIAMOND Level event sponsors:
the Lafayette Life Foundation ($5,000)
Walmart/Sam’s Club ($5,500)
Total Hunger Hike corporate gifts totaled $30,488. To view all of our event sponsors, click HERE.
The proceeds from Hunger Hike 2017 will have a tremendous & immediate positive impact on the Fight Against Hunger — locally, regionally & globally. Thank you all again for making history again this year at Hunger Hike.
Please mark your calendars for next year’s Hunger Hike event weekend — September 15 & 16, 2018 —
More information may be found on the Hunger Hike website at www.hungerhike.org.
If you wish to become a Hunger Hike 2018 event sponsor, please call or email Joe Micon (765-423-2691 | jmicon@lumserve.org).
At a celebration this morning, it was announced that Hunger Hike 2016 not only raised a record amount but also exceeded the 2016 fundraising goal. For the second year in a row the amount raised exceeded $100,000 — and for the fourth consecutive year it is the highest amount ever raised.
The 2016 total is $114,407 plus numerous gifts in kind.
The proceeds from Hunger Hike 2016 will have a tremendous & immediate positive impact on the Fight Against Hunger — locally, regionally & globally. Thank you all again for making history this year at Hunger Hike.
Please mark your calendars for next year’s Hunger Hike event weekend — September 16 & 17, 2017.
More information may be found on the Hunger Hike website at www.hungerhike.org.
If you wish to become a Hunger Hike 2017 event sponsor, please call or email Joe Micon (765-423-2691 | jmicon@lumserve.org).
Hunger Hike 2015 is one of the most well respected and longest running fundraising events in our community. What’s special about this event is the focus on simply Fighting Hunger & Feeding Families.
This year there will be face painting, Zumba, massages, hot dogs, and music — and you’ll be able to meet Purdue Pete & cheerleaders, the Purdue Volleyball & Women’s Basketball teams and three Purdue coaches as well as see the Boilermaker Special. Keep raising money for Hunger Hike until we meet our goal — and join us for the Hunger Hike events this weekend to celebrate.
Hunger Hike
Hunger Hike details and schedule is as follows:
Hunger Hike Kick-Off event Sunday, September 20 Riehle Plaza, N 2nd Street, Lafayette
1:15 p.m.
Purdue Cheerleaders perform
National Anthem: Sheila Klinker, Indiana State Representative & Kelly Jacobs
Zumba warm-up with Brooke from Studio b Dance & Fitness, Lafayette
Starting at Noon
Check-in and turn in your donations — Enjoy DJ Powder, Clowns, Face painting, Massages, snacks and more
1:45 p.m.
Kick-Off ceremony with
Coach Nadine Morgan, Coach David Kucik & Coach Dave Shondell, Coach Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton
State Representatives Sheila Klinker & Ron Alting
Mayor Tony Roswarski, Lafayette
Peter Bunder, West Lafayette City Council president
Sally Seigrist, Tippecanoe County Council member
Judge Faith Graham & Judge Sean Persin
Shamus from K105 Radio!
Joe Micon, Lafayette Urban Ministry
Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, St. Thomas Aquinas Center
Katy Bunder, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.
2 p.m. — Hunger Hike begins, led by
Purdue Pete
Purdue Cheerleaders
Boilermaker Special
Purdue Women’s Basketball & Volleyball teams
Purdue Rowing & Crew Team
End of Hike —Riehle Plaza — Celebration Picnic with Hot dogs, chips & bottled water
HH5K Run Saturday, September 19 Celery Bog Nature Area, 1780 Cumberland Ave., West Lafayette
8 a.m. – 9 a.m. — Check-in
9 a.m.
Welcome – Joe Micon, Lafayette Urban Ministry
Celebrity runners introduced – Shamus from K105; Rev. Bradley Pace, pastor at St. John’s Episcopal Church; Joe Micon, executive director of LUM; and Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, OP – pastor/director of campus ministries, St. Thomas Aquinas Center, West Lafayette
Invocation – Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, St. Thomas Aquinas Center
After Run
Results posted
Trophies – top female, male & youth runners
More information:
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 19 & Sunday, September 20, 2015.
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, 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.”
Here are ten facts about hunger in Haiti, the poorest country in the northern hemisphere.
Two and a half million Haitians live in extreme poverty. Haiti is the poorest country in the northern hemisphere.
Two out of three Haitians live on less than US$2 per day.
Ten percent of the richest Haitians possess 70 percent of the country’s total income.
Fifty percent of urban Haitians are unemployed.
Shocks induced by climate change threaten over 500,000 Haitians every year.
Although agriculture is an important sector of Haiti’s economy, the country fails to produce enough food, and imports more than 50 percent for its population’s needs. It imports 80 percent of its main staple: rice.
Ninety percent of farmers depend on rain for their harvest as only ten percent of the crops are irrigated.
One-hundred thousand children under five years of age suffer from acute malnutrition, while one in three children is stunted, or irreversibly short for their age.
Less than 50 percent of households have access to safe water and only 25 percent benefit from adequate sanitation.
One-third of Haitian women and children are anemic.
Baudin, Haiti
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 19 & Sunday, September 20, 2015.
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’ Haiti Ministry including the Haiti Water Purification Project.
Hunger Hike 2015 gives companies, organizations, families & individuals many ways to be a part of a community event with a tremendous positive impact on “Fighting Hunger.”
Hunger Hike 2015 – Haiti Pastor visits Hunger Hike team
West Lafayette, IN – Hunger Hike 2015 supports the fight against hunger locally through LUM, regionally through Food Finders, and globally through the Haiti Ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas.
On Monday, August 24th, the pastor of the parish in Baudin, Haiti is making a rare visit to the Lafayette area and will be meeting with the Hunger Hike team to update us on their current situation and issues as well as the impact Hunger Hike has on the people of Haiti. Father Charles, the pastor at St. Francis Xavier Church in the Diocese of Jacmel, Haiti, will be available for question/answer and individual interviews. Fr. Charles will be joined by the St. Tom’s Haiti Committee members who will share their plans for upcoming visits to Haiti. Representatives from the three sponsoring organizations (Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. & St. Thomas Aquinas Center) will also be in attendance.
Details are as follows:
Date: Monday, August 24
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Place: Newman Hall, St. Thomas Aquinas Center, 535 W State Street, West Lafayette
FREE & Open to the Public
Hunger Hike is an annual Fall community fundraising weekend which includes the
Baudin, Haiti
traditional 3K Walk on Sunday as well as a 5K run on Saturday. This year Hunger Hike is Saturday, September 19 & Sunday, September 20, 2015.
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’ Haitian Ministry including the Haiti Water Purification Project.
Hunger Hike 2015 gives companies, organizations, families & individuals many ways to be a part of a community event with a tremendous positive impact on “Fighting Hunger.”
Last week, LUM Executive Director, Joe Micon, distributed the checks to the benefactors. On hand to accept for Food Finder Food Bank, Inc. was Katy Bunder, Executive Director; and for St. Thomas Aquinas Center, Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, Pastor and Director of Campus Ministry. Hunger Hike 2014 had over 1000 organizations, businesses and individuals involved in fundraising and making donations; over 900 hikers, walkers, and runners; and over 200 volunteers engaged before, during and after the event.
Joe Micon stated that LUM will use the money to support the St. John’s/LUM Food Pantry which provides emergency food for over 2200 individuals each and every month and recently expanded its hours to include Saturdays.
Katie Bunder stated that Food Finder Food Bank will use the money to support and expand existing programs like the Mobile Food Pantry and the Back Pack Program.
St. Thomas Aquinas will use the money to support their mission work in Haiti. Several times a year St. Thomas Aquinas provides opportunities for individuals including Purdue students to travel to Haiti and to provide needed work especially efforts to purify water for drinking and introduce more efficient farming techniques. St. Thomas had the largest group of Hikers and raised the most from donations to Hikers again this year.
Joe Micon gave special recognition to the Hunger Hike Honorary Chair, Sharon Versyp, coach of the Purdue Women’s Basketball and the team for role in promoting and for their support the day of Hunger Hike. Micon also thanked David Kucik, coach of the Purdue Crew and the teams for their support and for leading Hunger Hike each year. Micon acknowledged the behind the scenes work of the the entire LUM staff.
Hunger Hike was a great success and will have a tremendous positive impact on our community and the world. LUM announced that the tradition will continue in 2015 with the next Hunger Hike on Sunday, September 20 with the HH5K Run taking place on Saturday, September 19th.
The Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM) is an organization of churches that serves as a social safety net for Lafayette’s needy children and families. For over 40 years, LUM has worked to give back the hope, the future, and the self-respect to low-income people in the Greater Lafayette area. We take an active role in trying to change social injustices and improve the quality of life for the poor of Indiana.
This year’s Hunger Hike raised more money to date than all past Hunger Hike events. Hunger Hike 2014 this past weekend was filled with excitement, energy and good will. The weather was perfect for both the HH5K Run on Saturday and the Hunger Hike Kick-off event and 3K Walk on Sunday. Hundreds of caring individuals walked, ran, hiked, and donated funds to the Fight Against Hunger.
Thus far approximately $95,000 has been pledged and donated to Hunger Hike — which exceeds ALL past years for the amount of money raised.
The crowd gathered together in Riehle Plaza with one goal in mind – Fighting Hunger. The event this year was special from beginning to end — starting with the National Anthem sung by Janelle Davis & Annalise Drake from the Harrison High School Performing Arts Program, Zumba with Emily from Parkwest Fitness — and closing with a Hot Dog & Chips picnic for all participants — and music throughout the entire event by DJ Powder from Rat Pak Mobile DJs.
The plaza was also filled with information tables focused on the issues of hunger, voter registration available courtesy of the League of Women Voters, face-painting from the Unlimited Smiles Clown Ministry, and massages from Essential Touch Massage. To welcome the hikers and to kick-off the hike, special guest speakers (see below) offered remarks which included information, words of inspiration and blessings to the hikers just before the main event.
Purdue Pete, the Purdue Crew Team, Purdue Women’s Basketball Team, and Purdue Volleyball Team led the hikers to the route along the Wabash Heritage Trail. The event was successful in bringing much needed attention to the battle against malnutrition, food insecurity and hunger.
Stayed tuned for the results for the following Hunger Hike awards: Top Individual Fundraiser, Top Church Fundraiser, 2nd Highest Church Fundraiser, & Top Team Fundraiser (non-church). Along with these winners — next week the Hunger Hike Heroes will be announced — those individuals who participated in both the HH5K Run and the Hunger Hike 3K Walk.
Hunger Hike 2014 Acknowledgements
left to right, standing, are West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis, Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, K105 Radio’s Shamus, Purdue Women’s Basketball Coach & Hunger Hike Co-chair Sharon Versyp, Gerald Thomas from Food Finders, Fr. Patrick Baikauskas from St. Thomas Aquinas Center, Joe Micon from Lafayette Urban Ministry; and in the front row: Purdue Crew Coach & Hunger Hike Co-chair Dave Kucik and Indiana State Representative Sheila Klinker.
Just before hundreds of Hunger Hikers hit the Wabash Heritage Trail for the 3K Walk, several local dignitaries shared their excitement and offered remarks on the importance of this event.
Our Hunger Hike dignitaries were West Lafayette Mayor John Dennis, Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski, K105 Radio’s Shamus, Purdue Women’s Basketball Coach & Hunger Hike Co-chair Sharon Versyp, Gerald Thomas from Food Finders, Fr. Patrick Baikauskas from St. Thomas Aquinas Center, Joe Micon from Lafayette Urban Ministry, Purdue Crew Coach & Hunger Hike Co-chair Dave Kucik and Indiana State Representative Sheila Klinker.
Special thanks to all of our dignitaries and K105 Radio for their continued support of Hunger Hike.
Today at a media event at Lafayette Urban Ministry, the Hunger Hike 2013 committee was thrilled to announce that the $90,000 goal for this year has been reached.
The Hunger Hike committee has been working hard for the past three months to raise money for the event. It was announced on September 19th that the fundraising for the Hunger Hike event held on Sunday, September 15, 2013, fell $30,000 short of the $90,000 goal. A decision was made following the event to extend the fundraising through December 1, 2013, in an attempt to reach that goal.
The goal was not only reach but it was exceeded. The Hunger Hike committee is pleased to announce that Hunger Hike 2013 raised $92,685.
Hunger Hike 2013 Acknowledgements
Special Thanks to the McAllister Foundation for their generous donation of $5000 to Hunger Hike 2013
The following companies and organizations donated $1000 toward Hunger Hike 2013:
Edocyte, Inc.
Evonik Degussa Corp.
Franciscan Alliance
Greyhouse Coffee & Supply Co.
Global Impact/Alcoa Employees
Tipmont REMC
Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc.
Subway
System Concepts & Consulting, Inc.
Walmart Foundation
The Hunger Hike Committee also wishes to thank and acknowledge the:
53 Hunger Hike 5K Run Donors
75 Hunger Hike Donors
38 Hunger Hike Sponsors
“Every step makes a difference in the fight against hunger.”
Join LUM online and help us serve children and families even better.
This morning, LUM Executive Director, Joe Micon, and Board President, Deb Parent, distributed the checks to the benefactors. On hand to accept for Food Finder Food Bank was Katie Bunder, Executive Director, and Cheryl Precious, Development Director. Also in attendance were Ron Smith, Hunger Hike director, and Eileen Weiss, LUM business manager. Hunger Hike 2012 had over 1000 organizations, businesses and individuals involved in fundraising and making donations; over 900 hikers, walkers, and runners; and over 200 volunteers engaged before, during and after the event.
Food Finders Food Bank, St. Thomas Aquinas’ Haiti Ministry and the food programs at LUM each were presented with a check for $26,095.72.
Katie Bunder stated that Food Finder Food Bank will use the money to fund the maintenance costs for storing and delivering food that are not currently covered by other organizations. It currently costs 25 cents per pound to store and distribute food and other organizations pay 19 cents. This money will cover the rest. Hunger Hike money also pays for the distribution for ripe produce which is distributed without collecting any maintenance fees. Produce supplies have increased by 400% which is positive but it costs more to distribute before it spoils. On behalf of Food Finders, Bunder stated that “we hope we can help all of greater Lafayette eat healthier because we have all of these dollars to spend on healthy, fresh food.”
St. Thomas Aquinas will use the money to support their mission work in Haiti. Several times a year St. Thomas Aquinas provides opportunities for individuals including Purdue students to travel to Haiti and to provide needed work especially efforts to purify water for drinking. Joe Micon acknowledged and thanked St. Thomas Aquinas for their work in Haiti as well as the support of Hunger Hike. St. Thomas had the largest group of Hikers and raised the most from donations to Hikers.
Joe Micon gave special recognition to the Hunger Hike Honorary Chair, Sharon Versyp, coach of the Purdue Women’s Basketball and the team for role in promoting and for their support the day of Hunger Hike. Micon also thanked David Kucik, coach of the Purdue Crew and the teams for their support and for leading Hunger Hike each year. Micon acknowledged the behind the scenes work of the LUM business manager, Eileen Weiss; and the LUM Director of the Hunger Hike Program, Ron Smith.
Hunger Hike was a great success and will have a tremendous positive impact on our community and the world. LUM announced that the tradition will continue in 2013 with the next Hunger Hike on Sunday, September 15, 2013.
The Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM) is an organization of 42 Christian churches that serves as a social safety net for Lafayette’s needy children and families. For over 40 years, LUM has worked to give back the hope, the future, and the self-respect to low-income people in the Greater Lafayette area. We take an active role in trying to change social injustices and improve the quality of life for the poor of Indiana.