On Wednesday, November 8, a truck rolled onto the Midwest Mission campus with an empty container that would soon be full of supplies for Guyana.

Guyana is a beautiful country, painted with waterfalls and rainforests, on the northern edge of South America’s coast. Guyana has a population of just over 800,000, and is about the size of Idaho. But, it is one of the most impoverished countries in the West, with 35% of the population living below the poverty line.

The items we send help spread hope to people who are in desperate need, and will empower them to make a better life for themselves. Sometimes, people are simply lacking resources. If we can meet those needs, they have an even better opportunity to get out of poverty. 

The container was packed-full (even the crib was filled!).

Included:

• 9,600 Rice Meal Bags
• 230 Feminine Hygiene Kits
• 160 Layette Kits
• 20 Cover Them With Love Quilts
• 4 Treadle sewing machines
• 73 Tarps
• 2 Home Care Beds
• 2 Mattresses
• 52 Electric sewing machines
• Medical supplies

Weight: 23,748 lbs

Value: $174,607.50

Back in August, we sent a container full of disaster relief supplies to Maui through our partner Convoy of Hope. This was instigated by devastating wildfires, a small spark that led to an incinerated historical town. (You can read more about this first shipment here.)

The days and weeks after the fire were marked with mourning and weeping, searching for lost loved ones, and planning for what would happen next. 

They needed help, and we were ready because of YOU.

After putting the call out, you responded. Within a couple of weeks, we raised over $27,000 to support Maui in their disaster relief efforts. When we have a specific disaster fund, it is our promise that all of the money donated towards the fund will only go towards that disaster and replenishing supplies that were sent to the disaster. 

We quickly sent the first shipment on August 28, once we connected with Convoy of Hope to find out how we could help.

But, there was still money left in the fund to send more supplies. So, we reached out to Convoy of Hope once again to find out what else was needed in Maui. They decided the need was rice — not our Rice Meal Bags, but solely rice. 

We reached out to our rice distributor, and moved forward with purchasing two full containers of rice which totals 77,200 lbs. WOW! 

The cost of this was $26,112. Thanks to YOU we had the funds to cover this cost!

Together we are able to bless those who are grieving, and provide for people who are lacking the resources they need to survive in Lahaina, Maui.

Saturday, November 4 was this year's Iowa Ingathering. Five sites across Iowa welcome physical donations for Midwest Mission, and monetary donations for Midwest Mission and other organizations. We look forward to Iowa Ingathering every year. They are huge supporters of Midwest Mission, and the donations will keep us really busy for the next several months!

This year, we received over $500,00 of support through monetary and in-kind supplies! Over 41,000 lbs of supplies were donated. Thank you Iowa Ingathering participants!

November Church Bulletin Insert

We offer monthly church bulletin inserts that you can slide in your church's bulletin. These inserts keep your congregation up-to-date on our current needs and upcoming events!

You can purchase these items at your local store, or make them, and take them to Midwest Mission or a Collection Site near you. You can also buy items online and have them shipped right to Midwest Mission.

Day Pads

Patterns

Go to Feminine Hygiene Kit

Purchase

Select the first ones listed

Receiving Blankets

28"x28" - 32"x32" — can be store-bought or handmade — purchase here

Diaper Pins

must have plastic closures — purchase here

Midwest Mission Weekly Projects

Work of the Mission Volunteers

Work Done

• 1,610 Student Kits
• 14 Electric sewing machines
• Sleeping Mats
• Bikes
• Desks
• Counting into inventory
• Tracing patterns

Rice Meals

• 2,040 Rice Meals — O'Fallon 1st UMC, O'Fallon, IL
• 500 Student Kits, Messiah Church, Plymouth, MN
• 498 Rice Meals, Macomb Wesley UMC, Macomb, IL

Disbursements

• CICIM, Decatur, IL: Redirect furniture, wheelchair Value: $2,756.00

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



Ready to Get Involved?

Volunteer at Midwest Mission

Dates are available in 2023, 2024, and 2025

Need a Saturday option for team volunteering

or assistance in booking? Contact Pat Wright at pat@midwestmission.org or 217-697-4063

Click below to check calendar openings and to reserve your spots.

Volunteer Reservation Calendar



2025 Volunteer Calendar is open for dorm reservations!

Go to our Reservation Calendar, log in, reserve your rooms, and submit payment for your Non-refundable Reservation Fee via credit card or electronic check. We will email you the Access Code to reserve Volunteer Shifts for your team. You must complete this step for your team to volunteer at Midwest Mission.

For local teams and individuals: Volunteer Shifts will only be available 3 months ahead of time. Beginning October 1, 2023 you will be able to reserve Volunteer Shifts for January of 2024.

Thank you for your patience as we try to improve the reservation experience for both local teams and those staying in the dorm.

Chuck & Karen Porter

Brighton, IL

Jane and Jeff Johnson

Glen Carbon, IL

First UMC

Algona, IA

Athens UMC

Athens, IL

Janet and Greg Kuras

Jackson, MI

Staves UMC

Des Moines, IA

Monticello UMC

Monticello, IL

Chase Family

Springfield, IL

Quilting Friends

Jacksonville, IL

Douglas Avenue UMC

Springfield, IL

Not pictured:

Carol Shipp and Jean Schneider — Springfield, IL

Flora UMC — Flora, IL