Midwest Mission staff travels to Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio

November 11, 2022

Midwest Mission Staff Members Travel Around the Midwest for Midwest Mission

It was a busy, busy week and weekend at Midwest Mission with staff members working from different parts of the Midwest.

Michigan Permanent Collection Site Pickup

At the start of the week, our Operations Specialist, Ramon Ortiz, took a semi to Michigan to get donations that had been dropped off at our Michigan Permanent Collection Sites out there. He brought back more than half of a semi full of donated items.

According to Ramon, “although it was an extremely long trip, it was very fulfilling to know that there are people willing and ready to share what they can with others. It is always a blessing.”

The donations were unloaded by volunteers at Midwest Mission last week. The donations were from a total of five pickup locations: Caledonia, Clio, Detroit, Plymouth, and Kalamazoo.

United Methodist North Central Jurisdiction Conference

That same Monday, our Development Manager, Lisa Rigoni, went to Fort Wayne, Indiana for the United Methodist North Central Jurisdiction conference where she was an exhibitor for Midwest Mission.

At the conference, she met people from different organizations, some of which work in areas we ship to. She received beautiful pictures of Guatemala from one exhibitor. Lisa was also able to connect with partners and like-minded organizations.

“UMVIM was one booth over from me, the Global Missions that UMCOR is a part of was a booth away from me, and I met with Bishop Frank Beard of the Illinois Great Rivers Conference," Lisa said.

International Conference on Missions

On Wednesday, our Communications Manager, Mallory Webster, traveled to the International Conference on Missions (ICOM) to represent Midwest Mission.

Mallory was able to meet and share about Midwest Mission with people and organizations from around the world.

"I got to see the American Indian Christian Mission team," Mallory said.

"It was encouraging to hear how much our previous shipment to AICM impacted those on the Reservation, and to hear about the work they are doing out in Arizona. It was also great to talk to so many organizations who are doing amazing things around the world."

Iowa Ingathering

The busiest day of the week was on Friday when three members of staff went to the Iowa Ingathering to collect the supplies that had been put together for Midwest Mission.

They visited various areas of Iowa, collecting and picking up donations from the 5 Ingathering Sites: Cedar Falls, Greenfield, Webster City, Cherokee, and Mount Pleasant.

The donations contained a total of 21,036 donated items, which included

6,450 Personal Dignity Kits (PDKs)

676 Layette Kits

11,441 Student Kits

1,493 One-handled school bags

245 Birthing Kits

147 Feminine Hygiene Kits

363 Cover With Love Quilts

221 baby sweaters

Our Operations Manager, Brad Walton, went to the Cherokee Site to pick up donations, Ramon Ortiz went to the Webster City Site, and Gene Turner went to the Mount Pleasant Site. Semis with Midwest Mission representatives were sent to the other two locations, Cedar Falls and Greenfield.

Iowa Ingathering is one of our major material supply drives.

A BIG thank you to everyone who was involved with the Iowa Ingathering!

Prayers to Lift Up

This week, please praise God with us for all he has done for Midwest Mission.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Psalm 107:1

Midwest Mission Weekly Projects

Work of the Mission Volunteers

Projects completed

256 Birthing Kits
18 Desks - built, sanded, applied polyurethene
140 Feminine Hygiene Kits
1090 Personal Dignity Kits (PDKs)
216 UMCOR Cleaning Kits
10 Student Kits
48 Home Care Kits
1781 Rice Meals
901 Lexington UMC in Lexington, IL
480 Wesley UMC in Macomb, IL
400 First UMC in Normal, IL

Other work done

Bikes - repaired
Cleaned facility
Sewing machines - repaired
Counted items into inventory
Grounds keeping

Disbursements

Salvation Army, Springfield, IL: redirected twin bed mattresses, Value: $1,100
Seaton, IL: redirected hygiene supplies, Value: $874.00
Hazelton UMC, Hazelton, IA : redirected cleaning and hygiene supplies and baby items, Value: $320.00
Troy UMC, Troy, IL: redirected hygiene supplies, Value: $60.00
Cookson Hills Center, Cookson Hills, OK: redirected hygiene supplies, Value: $2,160.00
CICIM Decatur, IL: redirected blankets, home, medical and hygiene supplies Value: $6,172.00
Maryville Food Pantry, Maryville, IL: redirected cleaning, hygiene, and school supplies Value: $514.00
Chatham Micropantry, Chatham, IL: redirected hygiene supplies Value: $48.00
SPARC, Springfield, IL: redirected cleaning supplies Value: $96.00

*Redirected items are those items received that do not fit into the parameters of our kits and projects.

Midwest Mission is able to do this work because of your generous donations and willingness to volunteer. Thank you!

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