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LP Partners with Chick-fil-A and HSHM's "The Bridge" Shelter Village to Serve Meals to Residents
Saturday, May 9th, 2026
Today, the Lumina Project had the opportunity to begin what we hope will become a meaningful and lasting partnership with Home Sweet Home Ministries and their “Bridge” Tiny Home community. "The Bridge" provides temporary housing and a more structured environment for individuals experiencing housing insecurity, offering residents stability while they work toward getting back on their feet. For our team, this setting also created a different kind of outreach experience compared to our usual engagement with local encampments and transient living areas. It gave us the chance to slow down, sit with people, and have more intentional conversations in a comfortable environment.
"The Bridge" Shelter Village in Bloomington, IL
This outreach event was made possible through the generosity of the local Chick-fil-A in Normal, which donated 40 individual chicken sandwiches and condiments for residents in the community. Support like this from local businesses makes a real difference and allows us to continue connecting directly with underserved members of our community in tangible ways. What may seem like a simple meal to many people can become something meaningful when shared in a welcoming environment with sincere people.
LP co-founders Quentin Irwin and Drew Hinderer spent the afternoon serving sandwiches and talking with residents at the community clubhouse. One of the most encouraging parts of the day was recognizing several individuals we had previously met during outreach events at local encampments throughout Bloomington-Normal. Seeing familiar faces again - this time in a safer and more stable environment - was genuinely rewarding. Afterwards, we took the few remaining sandwiches and provided them to people under the adjacent S. Main Street bridge and those we encountered outside the shelter. Everyone we spoke with was incredibly receptive, and we were welcomed with open arms from the moment we arrived.
One conversation in particular stayed with us after the event ended. While casually talking over lunch, several residents shared that they had never really had the opportunity to eat food from restaurants many of us have become so accustomed to. It was a simple comment, but a sobering reminder of how different daily life can look depending on someone’s circumstances. Throughout the afternoon, we also learned about additional needs within the community that we hope to help meet during future outreach events, including hygiene products, coffee, kitchen supplies, laundry materials, and other everyday essentials that are easy to overlook until you do not have access to them.
LP Outreach Team with "The Bridge" residents & at Chick-fil-A in Normal
We are extremely grateful to everyone who helped make this outreach possible and hopeful that this is only the beginning. We look forward to continuing our work alongside Home Sweet Home Ministries while building relationships with local businesses like Chick-fil-A and others who want to support underserved members of the Bloomington-Normal community. Days like today are an important reminder that meaningful outreach often begins with something simple: sharing a meal, listening to someone’s story, and showing up consistently for people who deserve to be seen and supported.
