Greater Lafayette organizations make out their Christmas wish list
LAFAYETTE, Ind. – If you could have one gift under the tree this year, what would it be?
The Journal & Courier posed that question to a number of area nonprofits and organizations, and their answers were as diverse as the missions they champion.
And most Christmas wishes wouldn't fit under a tree.
One nonprofit president wanted a Home Sweet Home for everyone who needs it. Another wished for enough volunteers to complete the organization's mission.
Some need gloves, coats, toys for sheltered pets. All would greatly appreciate a financial donation to make 2022 a little easier.
The Journal & Courier highlights these wishes, letting the nonprofits tell you what they want – and most importantly need – this holiday season.
This story will be updated online throughout the holidays as we give additional nonprofits a chance to reach out and tell us: What do you want for the holidays?
Almost Home Humane Society
“We are always happy to accept any donations for our shelter animals," Brittany, a shelter manager at the Society, said. "Luckily, we have had a large donation of Authority and are no longer in need of that food brand for our shelter animals. Any food that is donated that our animals can not use is put into our food pantry for any residents of Tippecanoe County in need.”
Almost Home Humane Society, located at 1705 S. 2nd St. in Lafayette, also sent the Journal & Courier a list of the most needed items, including Kong toys; tennis balls; baby shampoos; clippers/nail trimmers; Oxbow Essential adult guinea pig and rabbit food; clay cat litter; cat toys; hand sanitizer; Lysol spray; E-collars and more. Interested donors can look through the shelter's Amazon wish lists to choose what needed-item they would like to donate.
COVER Lafayette
COVER Lafayette is a "grass-roots" project founded by Julia Pope, a native of Lafayette. COVER works to "cover" every citizen in Lafayette with any available, donated blankets, winter hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, boots and more, to keep everyone protected from the cold winter weather.
"We hear so much about everybody being bad, that's not true," Pope said. "People really do care about each other."
COVER Lafayette accepts donations of any winter wear and blankets in bins behind the Butter Shelf Eatery, located at 927 Main St. in Lafayette. Citizens are welcome to drop off what protective blankets and winter apparel that they can spare, as well as take what they need to keep warm this winter.
"(I wish) that COVER Lafayette didn't exist," Pope said when asked what she wants for this project for the holidays, "because that means no one's cold. Everybody’s got a place, everybody’s got warmth. That’s my wish, is that we didn’t have to have (COVER Lafayette). But we do, and until we don’t, we’ll keep doing it.”
Food Finders Food Bank
Food Finders Food Bank partners with other local organizations in order help provide food for people in need as well as educate and advocate for addressing food insecurity in north central Indiana, according to its website.
"Food Finders would like to have money for Christmas. We need to find a way to keep the very large pantry we call the Fresh Market open," Katy O'Malley Bunder, president and CEO of Food Finders Food Bank, said. "The community has had better nutrition and a better experience since we were able to lease this space. We hope to buy the space when the lease runs out but that will take money.
"Our second wish is for volunteers. We have only a third of the volunteers we need. Volunteer numbers have not bounced back from the decline that occurred when COVID hit the community."
YWCA Greater Lafayette
YWCA Greater Lafayette is an organization dedicated to empowering women and their families, to meet their vital needs and succeed in life. The organization helps give women access to health screenings and preventive healthcare among minority women through our Women’s Cancer Program to build confidence among school-age girls through recreational programming, YWCA Greater Lafayette empowers women and girls throughout Tippecanoe County and across Indiana.
"YWCA's Domestic Violence Intervention & Prevention Program hosts our holiday event "Kris Kringle" every year to provide toys and gifts to the families we serve," said Leah Giorgini, the chief program officer. "We ask businesses, student groups, churches, and similar groups to gather items from the list we provide and deliver them to us before the big day. For anyone interested in participating, please contact elee@ywcalafayette.org by December 10th, 2021."
"We also maintain an updated wish list for our ongoing organizational needs on our website www.ywcalafayette.org. Items we regularly need include bedding, kitchen items, cleaning, and hygiene items. We are also specifically looking for donations of security cameras to help maximize the safety of newly housed survivors. We appreciate the support we receive from our community, we couldn't do this work without you."
Bauer Inc
Bauer Inc. helps fund programs and services that aid the community and focuses on helping children and families find success. One way Bauer Inc., which operates several Subway franchises, tries to give back to the community is with their annual Subway Snowflake Christmas party, where kids from the community whose families may be struggling financially this year are showered with gifts and a big Christmas party.
“Anytime someone stops by a Subway Sandwich Shop, they’re able to see that we are collecting money for the Subway Snowflake Christmas party. They could contribute to one of the donation jars we have in the store. By doing that they could also write their name on a snowflake which helps us decorate the store,” said Mike Bauer, owner of Bauer Inc.
“We’re having an event on Dec. 5, at 1413 Teal Road, where we will be wrapping all of the Christmas presents that we bought on Black Friday. The event itself is going to be on Dec. 9, at the Great United Skate on Earl Avenue, and for that event we need help with people getting kids into roller skates, helping them figure out how to roller skate, getting their presents from Santa and more.”
If anyone would be interested in donating to the Subway Snowflake party or would like to participate in any of the events, they can reach Mike Bauer at mike@bauersubway.com or call him at (765) 337-2941.
Harvest Chapel
Harvest Chapel, a non-denominational church at 2028 S 22nd Street in Lafayette, is accepting donations of warm clothing for the winter season.
"We're collecting for Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM)," April O'Brien, member of Harvest Chapel, said. "We've been collecting socks, hats and handwarmers for LUM for the homeless."
Harvest Chapel also advocates donating to other local nonprofits, such as Matrix LifeCare Center.
Matrix LifeCare Center
The LifeCenter offers services to expecting mothers and preparing fathers, including pregnancy and STD testing, ultrasounds, pregnancy options education, mental health resources and more.
April O'Brien urged the importance of donating diapers and formula to Matrix. All services provided through Matrix are free and confidential.
Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette
Civic Theatre is the oldest, active theater organization in Indiana, according to its website. Founded in 1931, Civic Theatre celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.
"Civic Theatre is Greater Lafayette’s community theatre in the purest sense of the word," Civic Theatre's website states. "A theatre that entertains the community, serves the community, reflects the community, and involves the community."
While monetary donations are always appreciated and needed by the theater, two specific pieces of equipment are on Civic's holiday wish list this year.
"We have a couple things that come to mind," Raquel Lopez, producing artistic director for Civic Theatre, said. "One being funding to update our hearing loop system in the theater. The system we have now is completely outdated and is not compatible with the newer sound equipment we have acquired over the last couple of years. We tried for funding from a donor at CFGL but it fell through.
"Another item, (that would probably fall under want rather than need) is a 'follow spot' for improved lighting purposes," Raquel clarified." It is also pricey, although a bit less than the hearing loop equipment. But I would prioritize the hearing loops over a follow spot since our hearing-challenged audience members really need the loops."
Group Homes for Children
Group Homes for Children has been around for almost 50 years, and they're dedicated to providing a home for children in crisis as an alternative to institutions or detention. The organization currently operates one home that houses teenage girls, ranging from the ages of 10 to 18. Many of the girls are placed in the care of the organization by the Department of Child Services and Probation.
“I think the biggest thing that would help us is monetary donations. With Christmas coming, monetary donations would help us celebrate a nice Christmas for each child that’s in our program,” said Jessica Smith, director of Group Homes for Children.
“Christmas is the big thing right now, but we have been working on updating our space and we just received a grant for new flooring and painting. We have a small list of things that we’re currently saving for to replace in the house. Like we want to remodel our smaller bathroom and just things like that. Monetary donations would really help us with that and with Christmas for the girls in our care.”
Pawswap of Greater Lafayette
Pawswap of Greater Lafayette is a volunteer-run animal rescue organization that started back in 2015. Almost all of the dogs under their care are housed with volunteers who are willing to foster the dog until they find their new family.
“Monetary donations would help us tremendously when it comes to affording the vetting for the dogs. Almost one hundred percent of our money goes to vetting and supplies,” said Jessica Smith, director of Pawswap of Greater Lafayette.
“Foster volunteers would also be fantastic because with the more people on our foster roster, the more dogs that we can help. Being able to help more dogs would be amazing.”
LTHC Homeless Services
What Jennifer Layton wants for Christmas is to see everyone who needs a place to call home get one. It's a tall order, the president and CEO of LTHC recognizes, but when the Journal & Courier asked if she had one wish for Christmas, that's what first came to mind.
"If LTHC could ask for one thing for the holidays," said Layton, "we would ask for housing. No one in our community should ever experience homelessness. We can only make that come true by providing people with not only affordable housing, but the support need in order for them stay housed.
"If there are any landlords interested in partnering with LTHC to provide an opportunity for someone, we would welcome that chance."
Such a request may not fit under the tree, but Layton did have a second wish for the downtown Lafayette nonprofit, financial support.
"Over the last year and half, LTHC has remained open to provide services and housing to those who are experiencing homelessness," Layton said. "We need additional financial resources to continue this work. All of our fundraisers have been changed due to the pandemic and we have much less financial support than ever before."
Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM)
LUM is a group of over 45 churches that serve as a "social safety net," according to its website, for people of all ages within Tippecanoe County.
"Lafayette Urban Ministry is focused on 'tackling basic human needs & uplifting the people of Greater Lafayette' through youth programs, financial assistance, immigration services, food programs - including two food pantries - and emergency shelter," Pablo Malavenda, executive program director for LUM told the Journal & Courier.
Wes Tillet, the LUM executive director, went on to explain what donations LUM is in need of.
"This year, LUM opened a new food pantry in West Lafayette, found a better location for the downtown food pantry and expanded our youth programs and homelessness services. Tillett said. “Cash donations are most appreciated, but donations of ‘needed items’ are also welcome. We are also ready for volunteers to come back to help at the Emergency Shelter and with the After School Program.”
To donate, volunteer or and see the LUM Wish List of needed items, visit LUMserve.org
Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mtroup@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.
Noe Padilla is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email him at Npadilla@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter at 1NoePadilla.
Deanna Watson is the executive editor at the Journal & Courier. Contact her at dwatson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @deannawatson66.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Greater Lafayette organizations make out their Christmas wish list
