Despite the rain, the Hunger Hike fundraiser carried on with spirited determination, and the results were nothing short of spectacular! The turnout was remarkable, demonstrating the incredible support from our community. It was heartwarming to see a range of participants, from Zumba enthusiasts to Purdue Pete, elected officials, religious leaders & groups, local businesses, school groups, and the Purdue Crew Team, all coming together for this important cause. The day was filled with joy, music, popsicles, a delightful hot dog picnic, clowns, face painting, princesses, and even soothing massages – a true celebration of unity and compassion.
Even more astonishing, the fundraiser didn’t just meet its goal – it exceeded it! With a goal of $110,000 in mind, Hunger Hike is thrilled to announce that a total of $113,000 has been raised so far. This incredible generosity will undoubtedly make a significant impact on the fight against hunger. But the good news doesn’t stop there – donations are still welcome! Every additional contribution will further strengthen our mission to combat hunger and support those in need in our community.
A heartfelt thank you to all who participated, donated, and made Hunger Hike a resounding success. Your kindness and dedication inspire us to continue this vital work, rain or shine. Together, we are making a positive difference in the lives of others and taking significant strides in ending hunger. To view more PHOTOS, click HERE.
Join us THIS Sunday for the lively Hunger Hike kick-off event, taking place at Riehle Plaza from 1 to 2 p.m. Your emcee and dance music provider for the occasion will be DJ Powder from Rat Pak Mobile DJs.
The kick-off festivities will also showcase the presence of some special guests, including Purdue Pete and the Purdue Crew Team. As if that weren’t enough, there will be a range of FREE activities to enjoy, including Zumba sessions, face painting, balloon animals, rides on the Boilermaker Special, appearances by clowns and princesses, and even soothing massages. Don’t miss out on this fantastic start to Hunger Hike!
At 1:45 p.m., a brief ceremony will mark the commencement of Hunger Hike. Indiana State Representative Sheila Klinker will sing a stirring rendition of the US National Anthem alongside Fred Koning. This will be followed by an invocation delivered by Reverend Jennie Barrington from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tippecanoe County.
At 2:00 p.m., Hunger Hike supporters will embark on a 1.5K walk, tracing a family-friendly path that winds over the pedestrian bridge and through Tapawingo Park. Along the route, “hikers” can enjoy live boat demonstrations at the Purdue Boathouse, listen to live music from Sharon McKnight, snack on popsicles, and marvel at a magical performance by Scott Starkey, known as the Wizard of the Wabash. The journey culminates at Riehle Plaza with a Meijer picnic featuring hot dogs, chips, and bottled water.
Hunger Hike 2023 proudly presents its honorary co-chairs, Dr. Anne Marie Edwards, the esteemed director of the Purdue Black Cultural Center, and Nathan Walker, the dedicated head coach of the Purdue Rowing & Crew Team.
Dr. Edwards & Coach Walker exemplify ideal ambassadors for Hunger Hike. They consistently raise the bar, both in their personal endeavors and in leading their respective students. Their commitment to community service, particularly in the realm of supporting food assistance and nutrition programs, is truly commendable.
Don’t miss the opportunity to meet Dr. Anne Marie Edwards & Coach Nathan Walker at the Hunger Hike kick-off event THIS Sunday at 1:45 p.m. (Riehle Plaza, Lafayette, IN).
Take action NOW and begin your fundraising efforts for Hunger Hike 2023, making a significant impact in the fight against hunger! Hunger Hike is a family-friendly, community-driven celebration that welcomes individuals and teams dedicated to raising awareness and joining the battle against hunger. (Plus, it’s dog-friendly!) Join the effort to exceed the goal of raising $110,000 to support hunger relief efforts at the local, regional, and global levels. It’s easier than you think to get involved:
Launch your fundraising journey today by clicking HERE
To make a quick donation, simply text HHIKE to 71777
With just three days remaining until Hunger Hike, there’s still time to assemble a team and start collecting donations. Don’t hesitate – let’s make a difference together!
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,
Hunger Hike
If you’re interested in becoming a 2019Hunger 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
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 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.
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.
On Sunday, September 22, we will be joining with hundreds of participants in the annual Greater LafayetteHunger 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., yourgift 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.
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:
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-chairs, Dave 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 DJs, face-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.
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:
Sign up — Pumpkin Patch, click HERE; Cookie Baking, click HERE; Cookie Icing,
click HERE
Enter “Hunger Hike” in the Comments section
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.
Amanda 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 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.
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.”
Sign up — Pumpkin Patch, click 
Amanda Elmore, US Olympic Gold Medalist, Purdue Alumna & Harrison High Graduate to Speak at