On Saturday, September 17, local runners took part in the HH5K Run—the Race to Feed the Hungry—at Celery Bog Nature Area with start/finish on the Cattail Trail through the Celery
Bog Nature Area. The rain cleared up just in time for the run, and it was a cool but cloudy morning — not a bad day for a race.
The HH5K Run winners are as follows:
Youth —
1st: Rob Burton
2nd: Courtney Seger
Women —
1st: Katie Micon
2nd: Lauren Harer
3rd: Sarah Carignan
Men —
1st: Nick Burton
2nd: Colin Williams
3rd: Robby Stewart
These runners supported these outstanding local organizations while enjoying a 5K event on a scenic trail.
Participants gathered with one common goal—to raise awareness and raise funds for food programs locally, regionally & globally — through the work of Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders and the Haiti Ministry at St. Tom’s. The events this past weekend though — offered even more.
This year was special from beginning to end. Before it all began the crowd was treated to Zumba with Brooke & Kasie from Studio b Dance & Fitness and the National Anthem sung by Indiana State Representative Sheila Klinker & her daughter, Kelly Jacobs, director of music for the Cathedral of St. Mary. Throughout the entire event , there was live music by DJ Powder from Rat Pak Mobile DJs, face-painting & balloon animals from the Unlimited Smiles Clown Ministry, and massages from Lee Anne Akers of Essential Touch Massage.
Amanda Elmore, US Olympic Gold Medalist (pictured above), gave a rousing keynote address preceded by remarks from Sharon Versyp, Purdue Women’s Basketball coach; Dave Shondell, Purdue Volleyball coach; Dave Kucik, Purdue Rowing coach; Sheila Klinker, Indiana State Representative; John Dennis, West Lafayette Mayor; Tony Roswarski, Lafayette Mayor; Joe Micon, LUM executive director; Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, OP, pastor/director of campus ministries, St. Thomas Aquinas; Katy Bunder, CEO/president, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.; and Kyle Mann, Walmart Market Manager.
Amanda Elmore also kicked off the Hunger Hike. Purdue Pete, Purdue Cheerleaders, Purdue Crew Team, Purdue Women’s Basketball Team & Purdue Volleyball Team then led the hikers up the John T. Myers Bridge and on the Wabash Heritage Trail along the Wabash River. Hunger Hike concluded with a Celebration Picnic with hot dogs, chips & bottled water for all participants (Thanks to Texas Roadhouse, Frito Lay & Aqua Systems).
Hunger Hike once again successfully brought much needed attention & funds to the battle against malnutrition, food insecurity & hunger.
The Hunger Hike 2016 goal has not been met yet. BUT we’re “almost there.”
Thus far approximately $92,000 has been pledged & donated to Hunger Hike We’re so close to reaching our 2016 goal to raise more than $101,000.
Each year 15% of donations are made in the two months AFTER Hunger Hike.
3 Ways YOU Can Still Help Hunger Hike
Hunger Hike Fundraising Night at Texas Roadhouse.
Go out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse, Lafayette, next Wednesday, September 28 from 4 – 10 p.m. and present the voucher, and Hunger Hike gets 10% of your food purchases. You must have the voucher — which is below and online HERE
Buy a Hunger Hike T-shirt.
On sale at all Masses this weekend (Sat. 5:30p, Sun. 9a, 11a, 7p & 9p) at St. Thomas Aquinas Center (535 W State Street, West Lafayette) & at Texas Roadhouse, Lafayette from 4 – 10 p.m. next Wednesday, September 28.
GIVE directly to Hunger Hike, click HERE. GIVE to a Team or Hiker, click HERE.
Also — Fundraisers & Teams are encouraged to send another message to your friends & family. For a sample message click HERE. Use the tools in First-Giving to send messages & share your page on Facebook or Twitter.
Working together the 2016 Hunger Hike goal can be achieved — and surpassed.
You can still support Hunger Hike just by going out to dinner — WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28.
Texas Roadhouse in Lafayette has scheduled a Fundraising Night for Hunger Hike on Wednesday, September 28 from 4 to 10 p.m. Hunger Hike will get 10% of all food purchase from party that present a Hunger Hike “invitation.” Here’s how it works…
Print the Hunger Hike “flyer” (below) — or for PDF, click HERE
Bring invitation to Texas Roadhouse, 3615 SR 38 E, Lafayette, on Wednesday, September 28 from 4 to 10 p.m.
Give invitation to your server
Hunger Hike gets 10% of your food sales — so, eat up!
Here are the Hunger Hike Fundraising Night details:
Hunger Hike Fundraising Night at Texas Roadhouse
Date: Wednesday, September 28
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!
Sunday, September 20 at Riehle Plaza, N 2nd Street, Lafayette. The Hunger Hike schedule is as follows:
Noon — Check-in and turn in your donations
DJ Powder, Boilermaker Special, Clowns, Face painting, Balloon animals, Massages, Voter registration and more
1:15 p.m. — Purdue Pete & Purdue Cheerleaders
— National Anthem: Sheila Klinker, Indiana State Representative & Kelly Jacobs
—Zumba warm-up with Brooke, Studio b Dance & Fitness, Lafayette
1:45 p.m. — Kick-Off ceremony with the following:
Amanda Elmore, US Olympic Gold Medalist
Coach Sharon Versyp, Coach David Kucik & Coach Dave Shondell
State Representatives Sheila Klinker & Ron Alting
Mayor Tony Roswarski, Lafayette
Mayor John Dennis, West Lafayette
Joe Micon, Lafayette Urban Ministry
Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, St. Thomas Aquinas Center
Katy Bunder, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.
Kyle Mann, Walmart
2 p.m. — Hunger Hike begins, led by
Purdue Pete
Purdue Cheerleaders
Purdue Crew Team
Purdue Women’s Basketball & Volleyball teams
End of Hike — Celebration Picnic—Hot dogs, chips & bottled water
Thanks to Texas Roadhouse, Frito Lay & Aqua Systems
Hunger Hike 5K Run event details and schedule is as follows:
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 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.”
Hunger Hike events are just two weeks away — and a lot of exciting things are planned for the Kick-off event and the 5K run. Hunger Hike gives YOU a chance to have a positive impact on your community AND have some FUN too! There’s a live DJ, Zumba, face painting, balloon animals, clowns, the Boilermaker Special, Purdue Pete & cheerleaders — and hot dogs, chips & water when you return from the 3K walk/hike.
Hunger Hike is also a wonderful team activity for your group. Each member raises money leading up to the big day — and the whole team gets together at Hunger Hike & celebrates their good work.
It’s a long weekend — so use this time to get started — and here is how in 8 easy steps:
Click “Register” — select “one” for yourself — and follow the steps
Join a “Team” or “Create” a Team
Confirm your Fundraising Page
Email all of your contacts asking them to support you and Hunger Hike.
You may simply email a message and the link to your fundraising page to all of your contacts —OR—upload your email addresses and let First Giving do the work for you.
Finally. Watch the donations come in — for you, for your team and for Hunger Hike!
If you choose to email your contacts outside of First Giving don’t forget to include the link to your fundraising page allowing your friends and family to donate to you online.
Also for your convenience, here is a sample message you may use or modify:
When I learned that millions of children go hungry, I decided to do something about it. I’m going to participate in the Greater Lafayette HUNGER HIKE and hope you will support me. I’m excited to be a part of this annual effort which raises funds for three nonprofits working to fight hunger locally, regionally & globally: Lafayette Urban Ministry, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. and the St. Thomas Aquinas Haiti Ministry. Any amount you can give will help! Please dig deep and donate through me online. Donating is simple, fast, secure and tax-deductible. Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. I really appreciate it. Together we will be helping hungry children and families. You can learn more by going to the Hunger Hike website(www.hungerhike.org). Thanks!
Call or email us if you need any help (765-423-2691 | hungerhike@lumserve.org).
So — take a few minutes this long weekend and get started fundraising for Hunger Hike.
We hope you’ll consider joining our Fight against Hunger.
If you are a company owner — you also may become a Hunger Hike sponsor.
For more information on how to become 2016 Event Sponsor, email hungerhike@lumserve.org.