Maggie Kissinger, Director of Development and Communications, Mission Central
In my first two weeks as a Mission Central employee, I heard one sentiment repeated over and over from staff members and volunteers alike, “God always provides.”
I have listened to some amazing stories over these last few weeks: the story of the community member recently diagnosed with an illness who needed a specific piece of medical equipment that Mission Central did not have in their inventory, only to have one delivered later that same day; the story of the volunteer struggling to create auction baskets with a limited supply of items, only to receive a surprise shipment from a major shopping brand with items that were perfect for the auction; the story of a partner who was in need of suitcases to transport medical equipment for a mission trip overseas, and a thoughtful community member just happened to drop off 20 suitcases right before the trip; and the story of the truck driver who was en route to deliver a large shipment of UMCOR kits to a warehouse, receiving a call to re-route and deliver the kits directly to a community that was hit by disaster just as he was approaching the interstate split to head West or South. In each story you see the faithfulness of God’s people; those who are trusting that the Lord will provide what is needed, and those who are obeying the command to give freely of their resources. Yes, God indeed always provides, and He uses His people as His hands and feet.
Mission Central is able to provide abundantly to our community, our partners, and to people around the world, because of the individuals, businesses, churches, and groups that provide their time and resources to us. While we know at Mission Central these resources are an answered prayer, we recognize that the people who donate their items to us are often unaware of these stories and the end result of their actions. I am here to tell you that one small act of donating can be the catalyst to the next “God always provides” story. We want to continue sharing these stories of provision with you, so we ask for your partnership in being the first step in our donation process and the first step in the next “God always provides” story.
In the year 2024, we are seeking church partners who are willing to set up a donation box that will follow a monthly donation collection calendar. Mission Central will provide a calendar and bulletin with the list of items we are seeking for that month, and we will coordinate a pick up or drop off of those items at the end of each month. While we continue to accept all of the items on the list throughout the year, we are requesting specific items each month for two reasons:
- Our volunteers will have a consistent supply of the items they need to create kits throughout the year.
- Our community members and partners will have more access to highly-requested items throughout the year.
Mission Central wants to have another year filled with “God always provides” stories, and we hope that the next story will start with you.
If you are interested in partnering with us in this monthly donation drive, please contact Anna Harris, Volunteer Coordinator, at aharris@missioncentral.org for more information. You can also give us a call at 717-766-1533. We are so grateful for your continued support.
Looking Ahead
We also want to share an exciting in-person event we will be hosting on May 4, 2024: Grow With Us - Plant and Vendor Fair. Mission Central will be hosting an outdoor plant and vendor fair in our parking lot, and we will be opening our doors to offer warehouse tours to the community. With Mother’s Day and gardening season approaching, we look forward to welcoming community members and Mission Central supporters to shop local and learn about the sustainability practices within our warehouse that make Mission Central unique. For more information on this event, please subscribe to our weekly newsletter, here: MissionLink.
