February 7, 2025 Newsletter
We have some exciting news, especially for our Iowa folks! There are now more volunteer opportunities at Midwest Mission Iowa.
There has been so much excitement around and support for our Iowa location that opened its doors in the summer of 2023. Since opening, its operation has gone through several changes as we adapted to what would best fit this location, its community, and the people who want to come and serve.
For the past year, volunteers could come and do a Midwest Mission Experience. During the Experience, participants would learn about several aspects of Midwest Mission, learn how to serve with their community at home, and participate in building a few Kits and other activities. Midwest Mission needed more people to know about Midwest Mission Iowa, and more people to be serving right where they were, as there were not yet many volunteer opportunities, especially for teams, at the Iowa site.Â
But at the end of 2024, more opportunities arose. Midwest Mission volunteers in Illinois traveled up to Iowa to set up a Bike Refurbishment Shop and a Sewing Machine Refurbishment shop.
Both bikes and sewing machines are part of our micro business program. These items create a long-lasting impact in the lives of the recipients, making them very important items to have ready to send out.
The problem was, there were more bikes and sewing machines donated than could be fixed in Illinois. The solution? Set up a shop in Iowa! So, Brad Boucher set up the Bike Shop, and Chuck Porter set up the Sewing Machine Shop. Immediately, volunteers from Iowa were very interested in the new initiative. Now, there are volunteers in the shops almost every day! (If you’re interested in volunteering in the bike or sewing machines shops — at Midwest Mission Iowa, email Alaire Willits at alaire@midwestmission.org; at Midwest Mission in Pawnee, Illinois, email Barb Hedinger at barb@midwestmission.org)
The shops were a great addition and success, but there were still more people, and teams, who wanted to volunteer at Midwest Mission Iowa.
In February, that dream became a reality!Â
Now, individual volunteers or teams can volunteer up to two days in Jefferson. There are many activities you will participate in, like:
Refurbish bikesÂ
Sort items
Clean
Refurbish sewing machines
Sew
Weave Sleeping Mats
Assemble Kits
Whatever is most mission-critical that day!Â
To learn more about volunteering and how to reserve your shift, go to midwestmission.org/iowa.
We are so excited to have more people serving with us, so more work can be done, and more hope can be shared in Christ’s name around the world and around the corner.
We need more bikes!
Our volunteers in Iowa and Illinois are working so fast, we are running out of bikes! If you have a bike that is in working condition, with minimal rust (and no thin-tired bikes), bring them to Midwest Mission in Illinois or Iowa!
PCS News
Midwest Mission has been blessed with volunteers across the Midwest who give of their time, energy and resources to assist us in carrying out God’s mission to help those in need.
Some of these volunteers use the facilities God has blessed them with to provide a donation collection point for needed supplies. These are our Permanent Collection Sites!
You can find their contact information at www.midwestmission.org/permanent-collection-sites.
What’s Happening @ Permanent Collection Sites?
Asbury UMC, Sioux Falls, SD – Lloyd Petersen and his wife have been to our Iowa location a couple of times and are planning to take a group soon! Asbury is one of our newest Permanent Collection Sites. Way to jump in!
Riverside UMC, Park Rapids, MN – Spike Wellman continues to work with nonprofits in his community. He is making connections and trying to find ways to get needed items to Midwest Mission.
Nebraska City FUMC, Nebraska City, NE – Dean Thomson will be traveling to our Iowa location next week with a delivery. He also worked to connect Midwest Mission to a local school that is tearing down their bleachers. We are scheduled to pick up the bleacher wood in May. So thankful!
Bethany UMC, Green Bay, WI – Ron Vinger has collected 8 bicycles, 50 Cleaning Kits, 25 boxes of Personal Dignity Kits, and school supplies at his location. Awesome!
Gay Street UMC, Mount Vernon, OH – Beth Prince has 55 Cleaning Kits, 286 Personal Dignity Kits, 88 shampoos and 66 lotions on site at her location. Keep it coming!
Glenview UMC, Glenview, IL & New Lenox UMC, New Lenox, IL – Ethel Doyle and Ray Trent are tag teaming to get needed supplies to Midwest Mission. Ethel has 100 Personal Dignity Kits onsite and Ray will be bringing those and more to our warehouse next month. Thank you both for working as a team!
If your congregation is interested in becoming a New Permanent Collection Site, please contact
Teresa@midwestmission.org for more information.