This year has been an unusual year by all standards, and Mission Central has been very busy. Our mission of “connecting God’s resources with human need” has continued, and we have worked to serve even more this year with the needs brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In early March, we started our focus on distributing masks and PPE to first responders, medical professionals and other critical agencies. So far, $101,000 in masks and PPE have gone out, impacting almost 350,000 people. We expanded our focus on distributing material goods to those in need. Our medical ministry really picked up due to the increased need brought about by COVID-19, and we began to focus on a school program ensuring that students had the necessary food, hygiene items and activities to sustain them during the summer and fall months.
Now, Mission Central Activity Kits are going out to equip students with the necessary supplies for school whether they are virtual or in person. These include pencils, rulers, erasers, paper, scissors, pens and all the items needed for the work of a new school year.
We have received many items from UMC churches’ collection of Care Kits for Annual Conference… thank you!! Care Kits as well as basic hygiene items are going out to ensure students have safe experiences wherever they are schooling and to assist the homeless community in mitigating the spread of coronavirus.
Our global ministries have picked back up, and containers were just shipped for Sierra Leone, Liberia, Haiti, Romania and Ghana. We are gearing up our disaster ministries, and our warehouse is loaded with cleaning/flood buckets ready for distribution during hurricane season.
We continue to find creative ways to continue our mission of “connecting God’s resources with human need.” Through September, (and thanks to your support!) more than $7.5 million in resources has gone out to assist 1.5 million people.
In addition to this work, we had big changes in our infrastructure. While action was initially taken at our Annual Conference in 2016 we were able to close on the building and secure a new mortgage in August, just three months ago. Since then, we have been operating solely as Mission Central, Inc.
We are grateful for the start and support given to us by the United Methodist Church and the vision of Bishop Irons. We look forward to continuing to maintain these strong ties with the Susquehanna Conference.
The future for Mission Central, Inc. is limitless, and we expect to see the growth continue as we strive to meet the needs our world faces in the best and most innovative ways possible. We continue to be beyond grateful for all our supporters have done for us in the last 18 years and look forward to all we can do with your support that will allow us to pay off our mortgage and truly be debt free. We appreciate your prayers and support as we look forward to what the next chapter brings for us!
Thank you, Susquehanna Conference!
Silent Auction Baskets Needed for Fundraiser
Next year, in 2021, Mission Central will be hosting two events - an online auction and our annual Gala. These events raise a significant percentage of our operating revenue each year, and we have always been grateful for UMC support!
This year, we will be hosting a silent auction for themed baskets at both events and would love your support! Baskets can be put together completely or you can send materials for a basket to be made here at Mission Central. You can even send some basket materials (to go with others to make a basket.
Here are a few basket ideas, but please feel free to create your own!
- Family Game Night - games, movie gift cards, popcorn
- Coffee and Tea - mugs, coffee, tea, spoons
- Chocolate Basket - all things chocolate
- Kid’s Favorite Library (great for adults too!)
- Hot Off the Grill - marinades, skewers, grill supplies
This is a great activity to be put together by your business, work group, kids of all ages, church youth, confirmation classes, UMW or any group of family/friends AND a great way to support Mission Central!
These baskets will be auctioned off at either our online auction or our Gala. The baskets/basket materials are due February 1, 2021. Please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040f49afa82ca1fc1-baskets.
If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Titzel by phone (717-766-1533) or email (stitzel@missioncentral.org).
Thank you in advance for any consideration that you can give these requests. We are looking forward to lots of fun in 2021!
