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LP Tables at Second McLean County Care Fair to Connect with Individuals in Need
Thursday, October 8th, 2026
Today, the Lumina Project had the opportunity to participate in the Center for Human Services Care Fair at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. We set up a table and connected with unhoused individuals and others in need of support, providing snacks, beverages, and a wide range of essential hygiene supplies, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, hand sanitizer, lip balm, body wipes, deodorant, Q-tips, feminine hygiene products, and Naloxone (Narcan).
Throughout the event, we had several meaningful conversations with individuals and fellow organizations interested in collaborating to better serve our community. I met Charlie and his partner, who received supplies and shared about their experiences living in the encampment near Adelaide - a place we’ve visited many times. They spoke candidly about the challenges of living outdoors, constant exposure to drug use, and the difficulty organizations face when trying to reach such a transient population. Conversations like these remind us that addressing health disparities requires more than simply providing resources. It requires meeting people where they are, listening to their experiences, and building relationships that can lead to meaningful support.
One conversation in particular stayed with me. I met Armando, an unhoused man living with diabetes, who described how difficult it has been to consistently access and store his insulin because of transportation and refrigeration barriers. He currently has to find ice, sometimes resorting to stealing it, and relies on a friend who helps him rent a storage unit for his belongings. His situation is a powerful reminder that something as basic as accessing a prescription can become an enormous challenge when someone lacks stable housing. We connected and are now working toward a way to help him pick up his prescriptions and identify a more sustainable way to store his insulin. For LP, this is what community outreach is all about.
