At St. Andrew, we are committed to being the hands and feet of Jesus in the local community. At this time, we are partnered with and committed to serving the following organizations with our time, talents, and treasure.

Yarn ‘n Plarn is a ministry whose purpose is to bring comfort to folks in and around Lafayette and West Lafayette. Those receiving hand-knit or crocheted items (generally mittens, socks, slippers, afghans) range from the homeless to folks in a care facility who never have a visitor or family member stopping by, to Matrix Lifecare Center to the Isaiah 117 House serving children entering foster care. Some volunteers also work with plarn (plastic yarn) to make sleeping mats for the homeless of Lafayette by either crocheting or weaving with it. Whenever possible, the gifts are delivered personally to the recipient.

Volunteers represent an ecumenical gathering, with members from St. Andrew and neighboring churches. However, not being a member of a faith group does not exclude volunteers from Yarn ‘n Plarn. One group meets Monday mornings from 9:30-11:30, another on Tuesday afternoons from 3-5. Both groups usually meet at St. Andrew in the Commons. Anyone and everyone is invited to join us. Learn to loom knit, needle knit, crochet or to make plarn from recycled plastic bags for those who do crochet or weave with it. We will also teach you to crochet or weave with plarn so you can continue to donate sleeping mats to Lafayette Transitional Housing Homeless Center (LTHC). Contact Julie Conlon for more information about this ministry.

St. Andrew is one of the sponsors of Family Promise of Greater Lafayette.

A few times a year, we volunteer to make evening meals for the residents of the Family Promise housing. The families who reside at the housing change, sometimes on a weekly basis, so the amount of food needed will vary.

During Covid-19, we are unable to provide volunteers for staffing but will eventually return to providing volunteers for that as well. 

If you would like to help provide meals, please contact Susan Foster

Habitat for Humanity builds affordable housing for working families earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income. By utilizing volunteer labor, generous in-kind donations, and community support, Habitat for Humanity sells mortgages to their partner families at a rate that allows them to save money, build capital and provide a stable home from their families. 

For information on current St. Andrew projects with Habitat for Humanity contact Alan Riendeau. 

LTHC Homeless Services is the coordinating point of entry and initial assessment for anyone experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis in Tippecanoe County as well as veterans from surrounding counties. Services include counseling, meals, laundry, and showers. St. Andrew members contribute to this effort in many ways including assisting in the kitchen, donation items, and an annual monetary donation from our Missions budget.

Contact Carol Clark-Elliott for more information about the variety of volunteer opportunities available at LTHC.

Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM) is an organization of more than 40 churches that serves as a social safety net for Lafayette’s low-income children and families. They take an active role in trying to change social injustices and improve the quality of life for the financially insecure. St. Andrew provides monetary support and participates in the following programs:

Jubilee Christmas

St. Andrew participates in Jubilee Christmas as a host site each year. Families who participate in Jubilee Christmas are invited to a host site and are able to select new toys for their children. Watch for information in early November to get involved. In addition to donations of toys, money, cookies, stocking stuffers, books, hats, gloves, volunteers are needed to prep for the event and assist at the event in mid-December. Contact Melissa Martin for more information. 

LUM Meal Ministry

The LUM Meal Ministry supplies a meal for overnight guests of Lafayette Urban Ministry (LUM) shelter six times a year. You can stay to assist in serving the meal or just drop the meal off. 

An individual, a family, and/or church group are welcome to volunteer to provide the meal. A simple meal, such as soup or stew in the winter (October–March), and sandwiches/salad in the summer months (April–September) is requested for approximately 44 people. See the LUM Shelter link for complete details. Meals are to be delivered to the LUM Shelter on 4th Street between 8-9 p.m. Contact Peggy Hoover for more information or to volunteer. 

Hunger Hike

Hunger Hike is an annual initiative in conjunction with LUM to help fight hunger in Greater Lafayette and in Haiti. St. Andrew traditionally fundraises and walks in the Hunger Hike as a team. Look for more info each fall or checkout the Hunger Hike website.  

The Panera Bread Ministry is a unique fundraiser for many groups at St. Andrew. Each weekend a group collects leftover bread from Panera after they close and wraps it in plastic for it to be available to church members on Sunday mornings. Congregants make a donation for the bread they choose, and funds raised support the individual ministries. The ministries that are supported by this ministry include Lafayette Transitional Housing (LTHC), Partners in Hope, Pastors Assistance Fund, and Tippecanoe County United Food Pantry. If you are willing to pick up the bread on a Saturday night and help prepare it for Sunday morning please contact Berdine Martin.

The Tippecanoe County United Food Pantry (TCUFP) is an ecumenical project of Church Women United of Tippecanoe County.  St. Andrew UMC is one of 35 member churches that sponsor TCUFP. Their mission is to supplement food resources of individuals and families. The pantry relies on donations and is entirely volunteer run. You can make monetary and non-perishable food donations through St. Andrew.

St. Andrew is scheduled to staff the pantry eight days during the year. Service opportunities include distributing food in the pantry, checking in clients (training required), and unloading and sorting food.

TCUFP, located at 1320 Tippecanoe St., Lafayette, is open Tuesday 3:30–6 pm and Wednesday, 12–2:30 pm. For more information or to volunteer, contact Susan Foster.

Trinity Life Ministry is a biblical based, non-profit organization providing residential intensive addiction services to men 18 years of age and older without regard to financial status, insurance, creed, national origin or religion. Trinity Life’s residential facility is located in Crawfordsville, IN, while the business office is in Lafayette, IN.

St. Andrew provides annual financial support and responds to other needs for this ministry as requested. If you have questions or would like to get involved with this ministry, contact Berdine Martin.

Free garden plots are available in season to those who are willing to donate at least 10% of the produce to the food insecure. Plot assignments are usually made in early spring.

Contact: Anita Sanford

For more information or to get involved, contact Berdine Martin.

SERVICE TIMES

Traditional Worship - Sundays at 8:30 a.m.
Contemporary Worship - Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

OFFICE HOURS
Monday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Friday 9:00 a.m. - noon

 

St. Andrew United Methodist Church
4703 N 50 W | West Lafayette, Indiana 47906
765-497-7755