This past Sunday, September 17th, was Midwest Mission Serving Sunday. This is an annual day of service and celebration of the joy of serving. This was the second year of Midwest Mission Serving Sunday, and we were in awe of how God worked through his people. 

There was such energy in the air at each of the Rice Meal Packs that were hosted around the Midwest. Churches who hosted other events such as collections and kit assemblies told us how much fun it was to get together and serve with their congregation. It was truly a celebration!

Over 995 volunteers served with us from more than six states. At the six Rice Meal Packs, 27,604 Rice Meal Bags were packed. These nutritious meals will feed 165,624 people in need around the world. 

Thank you to everyone who served with us, whether that was through volunteering, donating, or praying for the weekend! We hope you were filled with all the joy God had for you. Our prayer is that God will continue to work in and through your congregations, reinvigorating the Church through the power and joy of serving with one another.

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Mark your calendars for next year’s Midwest Mission Serving Sunday on September 15th, 2024!

Start thinking about how your congregation can get involved — maybe you want to host a Rice Meal Pack or a Kit Assembly! 

On September 20, North Central Jurisdiction Bishops, Assistants to the Bishops, and Directors of Connectional Ministries, joined Midwest Mission in the joy of serving during the College of Bishops meeting.

Those in attendance modeled a missional mindset as they joined together and participated in hands-on mission projects with the Midwest Mission staff.

Our Executive Director, Chantel Corrie, and other staff members shared ways the local church can engage through simple mission opportunities to reinvigorate their congregations while making a global and local impact. The churches in our nation are getting more and more polarized. Serving brings people together and reminds them that we are called to love first and serve one another. 

Each person packed nutritious Rice Meal bags, assembled Student Kits and Personal Dignity Kits, and wove sleeping mats using recycled plastic grocery bags. The group was able to fellowship with one another as they worked, and began to dream up ways these mission opportunities could be used with their local churches and conferences. 

Within two hours, 153 Student Kits and 107 Personal Dignity Kits were assembled, ½ of a sleeping mat was woven together, and 600 Rice Meal Bags were packed that will feed 3,600 people.

“What we do is send tangible resources to make an intangible difference in people's lives,” Chantel said when she spoke to the Bishops. “And on the other side of that … we are also providing a tangible mission experience, a tangible faith experience, to make that intangible difference in the lives of the people serving.”

We are so grateful for the opportunity to speak with the Bishops and to serve alongside them and their teams in meeting the needs of people in crisis around the world.

September Church Bulletin Insert

We now 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.

RECEIVING BLANKETS

28"x28" - 32"x32"

Bed Pillows

must be new!

Midwest Mission Weekly Projects

Work of the Mission Volunteers

Work Done

• 2,049 Student Kits
• 288 Home Care Kits
• 120 Rice Meals
• Count into inventory
• Refurbish Bikes
• Build Desks
• Cleaning
• Polyurethane desks

Off-Site Events

• 100 Student Kits - Urbana FUMC, Urbana, IL
• 5000 Rice Meals - MM Sunday
• 2,604 Rice Meals - Avon UMC, Avon, IN
• 3,600 Rice Meals - Memorial UMC, Terre Haute, IN
• 8,400 Rice Meals - Webster City, IA
• 3,620 Rice Meals - Asbury UMC, Sioux Falls, SD
• 160 Rice Meals - Capital Areal Dietitians

Disbursements

• Mt. Pleasant UMC, Greenbriar, TN: 72 UMCOR Hygiene Kits, 30 Menstrual Hygiene Kits Value: $1,656.00
• St. Vincent Depaul, Streator, IL: 40 twin mattresses Value: $4,000.00
• Riverton Birth to Three, Riverton, IL: Redirect cleaning supplies Value: $24.00
• St. Martin De Porres, Springfield, IL: 2 canes Value: $30.00
• Blessing Box Ministry, Jefferson, IA: Redirect hygiene items Value: $20.00
• Helping the Homeless in Springfield, Springfield, IL: 1 bike Value: $90.00
• CICM, Decatur, IL: Redirect clothing and coffee filters Value: $6,116.00
• First UMC, Watseka, IL: Redirect school supplies Value: $40.00

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 now 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 and Karen Porter

Brighton, IL

Stan and Debbie Stadel

Yorkville, IL

Pat and Sharon Baumer

Noblesville, IN

Patterson Family

Beaver Dam, WI

Grace UMC

Jacksonville, IL

Mount Carroll UMC

Mount Carroll, IL

First UMC

Lansing, IL

Simpson Group

Springfield, IL

Dave and Deb Gowdy

Greenbrier, TN

Taylorville UMC

Taylorville, IL

St. Joseph UMC

St. Joseph, IL

Zion UMC, Batavia

Adell, WI

Monticello UMC

Monticello, IL

Gibson City UMC

Gibson City, IL

Lisa Brubaker

Chatham, IL

Hope Church

Pocahontas, IA