April 20, 2024

Local church members bring donations to distribution center

By Jamee A

In the back row Barb and Mike Kaldenberg, Karen Clark, Ginner Dalton, Patty Huffman, Mike Dalton and Carol Cook and in the front row Joyce Stonehocker and Katie Jones stand with the items they used during work at the Midwest Mission Distribution Center during their trip in January. (Submitted Photo)

A group from St. Luke United Methodist Church is working to do its part to help those in need around the world. Six St. Luke church members and three members from the Prairie City United Methodist Church made the trip to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, Ill. to drop of nearly a truck load of donations to the organization.

“From the two churches, we took seven sewing machines, a box of school bags, all the layette kits made in December, 60 flannel diapers, 40 baby kimonos and seven ‘covered with love’ quilts,” Karen Clark said.

The group was also put to work while at the center they assembled 573 personal dignity kits, 102 birthing kits and 216 flood buckets. Two group members spent their time rolling 7,002 handi-wipes into bundles of 18 to be used in the flood buckets while two men in the group spent time in the wood shop building eight schools desks from reclaimed wooden gym bleachers.

“The sewing machines will be refurbished and sent somewhere in the world where someone will be taught to sew items which will provide support for a family,” Clark said.

Clark said the items donated to the center will not stay on the shelf for long. The center is made to distribute the items and not serve as a warehouse with the goal of getting the items where they can help people.

“The networking used is nothing short of a miracle. We heard stories of military ships transporting goods free of charge and soldiers setting things up once it has arrived,” Clark said. “We heard stories of an Order of Franciscan Sisters in Kansas City area sharing used medical equipment and also distributing school desks and other supplies and a non-profit in Florida shipping good from MMDC free of charge to the Caribbean nations. We have seen a Walmart truck headed to North Carolina, free of charge, loaded with good from the center. There are new stories of networking every time we go.”

The MMDC provides opportunities for individuals and groups of all walks of life, denominational backgrounds, abilities and ages to help provide disaster relief, education and medical supplies to those in need both locally, nationally and internationally. The group who traveled to the center included Barb and Mike Kaldenberg, Carolyn Cook, Katie Jones, Joyce Stonehocker, Clark and from Prairie City United Methodist Church Mike and Ginny Dalton and Patty Huffman.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at
641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or
jpierson@newtondailynews.com