All posts by Lafayette Urban Ministry

About Lafayette Urban Ministry

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

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

Has HUNGER HIKE Reached the Goal? Not Yet!


4 Ways You Can Still Help – Reach $115,000 Goal


Each year at this time about 85% of the Hunger Hike goal has been reached. So it’s important that you still raise funds and give generously.

Here are 4 ways you can still help Hunger Hike reach its goal:

  1. Make a Donation NOW, HERE
  2. Support a Hiker or TeamHERE — then click the TEAM tab
  3. Purchase Hunger Hike T-shirts – $10 | 2 for $15 | 6 for $30 – To get yours, please email hungerhike@lumserve.org. While supplies last.
  4. If you have a First Giving page or team — send it out again to all of your contacts asking for more donations, HERE

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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

Has HUNGER HIKE Reached the Goal? Not Yet!


4 Ways You Can Still Help – Reach $115,000 Goal

Each year at this time about 85% of the Hunger Hike goal has been reached. So it’s important that you still raise funds and give generously.

Here are 4 ways you can still help Hunger Hike reach its goal:

  1. Make a Donation NOW, HERE
  2. Support a Hiker or TeamHERE — then click the TEAM tab
  3. Attend the Dine for $$ Fundraising Night at Texas Roadhouse (Lafayette) on Tuesday, September 25, view coupon sheet HERE.
  4. If you have a First Giving page or team — send it out again to all of your contacts asking for more donations, HERE

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Hunger Hike


Dine at Texas Roadhouse for Hunger Hike


THIS Tuesday – 20% Donated to Hunger Hike

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Support Hunger Hike while you enjoy your meal at Texas Roadhouse . P resent the coupon to your server when you order and Texas Roadhouse will donate 20%  of your purchase to Hunger Hike.

Here’s how it works…

  1. Print the Hunger Hike “Coupon”
  2. Bring invitation to Texas Roadhouse, 3615 SR 38 E, Lafayette, on Tuesday, September 25 from 4 to 10 p.m.
  3. Give “Coupon” to your server
  4. Hunger Hike gets 20% of your food sales — so, eat up!

Here are the Hunger Hike Fundraising Night details:

  • Hunger Hike Fundraising Night at Texas Roadhouse
  • Date: THIS Tuesday, September 25
  • Time: 4 to 10 p.m.
  • Place: Texas Roadhouse, 3615 SR 38 E, Lafayette

Please share this with others. THANK YOU. 


The Texas Roadhouse Story


It all began on February 17, 1993, when Kent Taylor opened the first Texas Roadhouse in Clarksville, Indiana.  Kent’s goal was to own not just a family restaurant and not just a steak restaurant, but a place where everyone, of all ages, could come and have a great meal and great fun for a great price.

We like to brag about our Hand-Cut Steaks, Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs, Made-From-Scratch Sides, and Fresh-Baked Bread. Everything we do goes into making our hearty meals stand out. We handcraft almost everything we serve. We provide larger portions so you get more food for your dollar. And if you want an Ice Cold Beer or Legendary Margarita to wash it all down — well, we have those, too.

Our food’s not the only thing that’s Legendary at the Roadhouse — our fun is too! From our line dancers to our jukebox to our friendly servers, you’ll enjoy every second you spend in a Texas Roadhouse.

At Texas Roadhouse our team has an incredible sense of pride in everything we do. Our passion ensures you have a Legendary Experience every time.  Because of our passion for our guests and our communities, our team members are involved outside the restaurants in their local communities as a way to give back.

The Texas Roadhouse story is simple. Legendary Food, Legendary Service®
all with lots of Legendary Fun!


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Hunger Hike


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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Hunger Hike


Introducing the Hunger Hike Co-chairs


Introducing the Hunger Hike 2018 Co-Chairs
Coach Sharon Versyp & Coach David Kucik

The Hunger Hike 2018 co-chairs are Purdue Coaches Sharon Versyp (women’s basketball) & Dave Kucik (men’s & women’s crew & rowing).

Coaches Versyp & Kucik are perfect ambassadors for Hunger Hike. Both have a high standard for their own work, hold their teams to a high standard and have a serious commitment to serving their community — especially in supporting food assistance and nutrition programs. As wonderful role models they will also be engaging the collegiate athletes on their teams in this Hunger Hike event.

Join us THIS Sunday to meet Coaches Sharon Versyp & Dave Kucik and hear their remarks at the Hunger Hike kick-off event at 1:30 p.m. (Riehle Plaza).


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Hunger Hike


Hunger Hike – Drinks, Snacks, Printing & More


Hunger Hike is fortunate to get the support of many sponsors. All of the printing, food & drink, massage services, banners & trophies at Hunger Hike have been donated. Here are some of our generous donors:

  • Printing – Instant Copy Printing, Lafayette
  • Bottled Water – Aqua Systems, Lafayette
  • Hot Dogs – Texas Roadhouse, Lafayette
  • Chips – Sam’s Club, Lafayette
  • Water, Bananas, Granola Bars – Pay Less Super Market, West Lafayette
  • Trophies – Awards Unlimited, Inc., Lafayette
  • Massages – Essential Touch Massage, Lafayette
  • Face Painting – Smiles Unlimited Clown Ministry, Laffy-ette Chapter
  • Banners – Sign Art Etc., Lafayette
  • Bagels – Panera Bread, West Lafayette
  • 5K Prizes (gift certificates) – Lafayette Brewing Co., Arni’s, Christos New City Grill, Wabash Landing 9, Digby’s Pub & Patio, Cafe Literato, Purdue Convocations

At Hunger Hike on Sunday, September 16, there will be free hot dogs, bottled water, face painting and massages. At the HH5K Run on Saturday, September 15, there will be bagels, bananas, granola bars & bottled water available for all of the 5K run participants . Please thank our Hunger Hike sponsors by visiting them soon. For more information on Hunger Hike 2018, go to hungerhike.org.


Fighting Against Hunger with all of our Hearts & Soles!


| Hunger Hike – Kick-off Event | Sunday, September 16 |
| Riehle Plaza | 2 p.m. |
| HH5K Run | Saturday, September 15 |
| Celery Bog Nature Area | 9 a.m. |

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Hunger Hike