Merry Christmas from Everstand. Your History of Impact Has Carried Us Every Season.

At Everstand (formerly the United Methodist Home for Children and Board of Child Care), we believe every child deserves moments of connection, joy, and belonging—especially during the holiday season. Throughout the year, we provide enriching experiences for youth in our care. But when the holidays arrive, supporters like you make the true magic possible.

Your generosity brings hope and reminds our youth and families that they are not alone. This holiday, there are meaningful ways you can help light up their lives:

Your donation makes a direct impact. 

It helps us provide warm holiday meals, gifts, and meaningful experiences that create lasting memories. It also funds programs that offer year-round support, giving youth the tools, confidence, and hope to thrive long after the holiday lights fade.

Christmas Gift Sponsorship

Each child creates a wish list—approximately $150 worth of items. By sponsoring a wish list, you help fulfill a child’s personal wish. Funds are needed by Friday, December 5, 2025. You can donate online or mail a check (memo: “Christmas Drive”). 

Christmas Gift Shopping

Love to shop? Let us send you a child’s or living unit’s specific wish list. Gifts must be delivered between December 1 and 12, 2025. Please contact us by November 14 to request a list. Missed the deadline? No worries! You can shop on our Amazon Wish List Christmas Store and bring cheer to the young people at Everstand! 

Everstand Christmas Store

At this event, youth shop for gifts to give to loved ones—bringing pride, connection, and joy. We also provide gifts for families who otherwise could not afford them. 

You can shop via our Amazon Wish List, and your purchases will be sent directly for distribution.

Other ways to offer support:

• Host an Everstand speaker at your group or event
• Request a campus tour to learn more
• Join the Everstand Volunteer Corps to get updates on holiday opportunities

All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Gifts beyond holiday needs help sustain our broader programs. 

Visit everstand.org/christmas/ or scan this QR code to participate in a Christmas Wish List now.

Thank you for making the season brighter for our youth! 

Visit everstand.org/holidaycampaign/ or scan this QR code to make your contribution now and be part of something truly meaningful this holiday season.

Together, We Did More: Susquehanna Conference Exceeds Goal for Mission Central Activity Kits

Lisa Landis - Fickes, Mission Central Director of Development and Communications

At this year’s Annual Conference, the churches of the Susquehanna Conference set out on a mission: to gather enough supplies to assemble 1,000 Activity Kits for Mission Central. These kits, filled with school and art supplies, are distributed to children facing hardship - both locally and around the world - offering hope, encouragement, and a sense of care during difficult times.

Thanks to the incredible generosity and coordination across the Conference, that goal wasn’t just met, it was exceeded.

Churches from all five districts rallied to collect specific items - pencils and sharpeners, pens and erasers, notebooks, rulers, scissors, crayons, and colored pencils. In addition to gathering thousands of these essential tools, many congregations stepped up to sew handmade fabric bags to hold the kits, following a shared pattern. The result was an outpouring of support that filled and overflowed four massive Gaylord boxes, each capable of holding up to 5,000 pounds.

The items poured into the Grand Ballroom at the Genetti Hotel during the Conference, creating a vibrant visual reminder of the collective impact churches can have when they unite around a shared purpose. From smaller rural congregations to larger suburban churches - and communities in between – we saw every district show up. Pastors and lay delegates arrived with carloads of donations. Volunteers and staff from Mission Central were on site to help receive, sort, and begin preparing for what came next.

The first wave of kit assembly began immediately. Volunteers from Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Enola, Pa., were among the first to roll up their sleeves and begin packing kits. Their joyful energy reflected the heart of this mission - service rooted in love and a commitment to putting faith into action. Dozens more churches and groups will follow in the coming weeks, helping turn this mountain of supplies into hundreds of neatly packed kits ready for distribution.

Each Activity Kit will go on to serve a child who might otherwise go without. Whether used in disaster response, refugee outreach, or local school partnerships, these kits become more than just supplies - they become tools for healing, creativity, and connection. They let a child know that someone cares.

Mission Central is deeply grateful to the Susquehanna Conference for its overwhelming dedication to this cause. As a mission hub, Mission Central relies on the partnership and support of communities of faith like yours to meet urgent needs both near and far. This was a true Conference-wide effort - and a testament to what’s possible when we come together in service.

To everyone who donated items, sewed bags, encouraged participation, or drove supplies to the Conference - thank you. Your efforts are already making a difference and will continue to ripple outward in ways you may never fully see.

And as we look ahead, we invite you to mark your calendars for our biggest event of the year. Thanks & Giving: An Evening with Mission Central will take place on Saturday, November 15th. This annual gathering is our largest fundraiser - and a celebration of the impact we create together. More details will be shared soon, but for now, we hope you’ll plan to join us for an evening of gratitude, generosity, and shared mission.

Together, we did more. And together, we’ll keep connecting God’s resources with human need.

Mission Central Thanks the Churches of The Susquehanna Conference!

 Alexis Pigott, Mission Central Director of Development & Communications

From all of us at Mission Central, thank you to the churches of the Susquehanna Conference for being part of our mission! When we called, you answered! Throughout 2024, your generosity enabled us to provide relief and hope to those who needed it most. 

Mission Central has been a cornerstone of disaster relief in 2024, coordinating recovery efforts with our partners and churches to provide immediate aid and help communities rebuild. Our disaster response efforts remain one of our most impactful, as we were able to support over 100,205 individuals affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. During a year when weather-related disasters were particularly devastating, we distributed all of the Flood Buckets in our warehouse (over 6,000). Supporters far and wide are helping us replenish our inventory so that we can meet the needs of upcoming disaster victims and continue to send resources to those already affected.

This year, we also hosted our first Gala fundraiser since 2019, our largest event of the year. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of all those who contributed. The evening was filled with inspiring speeches and powerful stories that highlighted Mission Central’s impact. Our live auction energized the room, with attendees bidding generously to support our programs and disaster relief efforts. The silent auction was equally successful, with all items being bid on, thanks to the enthusiasm of our donors and guests. Held at Central Penn College, the event was attended by over 130 supporters dedicated to “Connecting God’s Resources with Human Need.” Thank you for believing in our mission! 

As we reflect on the success of our Gala and the support we’ve received throughout 2024, we are filled with gratitude and anticipation for the future. We remain committed to being a source of support for those in need, and with your help, we will continue to make a meaningful impact.

Our Medical Program continues to be one of our most vital services, providing urgent medical equipment to those in need. As demand for this program grows, we are adjusting our medical program operational hours to ensure efficiency. Beginning in January 2025, Medical Program supplies will only be available for pickup on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM, and must be scheduled in advance.

As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to serving those in greatest need and sharing God’s love to inspire action and support communities around the world. Learn more and discover ways to give at www.missioncentral.org. We look forward to partnering with you in 2025 and beyond. 

Thank you! 

www.missioncentral.org

Mission Central: Care Kit Blessings Abound

By Maggie Kissinger, Mission Central Director of Development and Communications

On behalf of the Mission Central staff and our partner organizations, thank you for your overwhelming generosity through Care Kit donations at the Susquehanna Annual Conference. 

I am pleased to report the donations we received filled 6 gaylord boxes in a box truck, plus multiple full carloads. 

While it will take time to inventory the donations, we estimate over 1,000 Care Kits will be assembled as a result of this donation, a value of $12,000 in resources! Each Care Kit will bless up to three individuals, so the impact of this donation will reach up to 3,000 individuals.

You may have seen our Executive Director, Hope Harrison, facilitating a Care Kit assembly station and accepting donations at Annual Conference. The donation drop-off area was overflowing with an abundance of donations, so we had to send our Operations Manager, Roger, to pick up the donations in the Mission Central box truck.

When Roger arrived to pick up the donations on Friday morning, he realized the elevator could not fit a pallet, so the donations had to be transported to the truck by hand. After taking several loads down, the elevator stopped working, so Hope and Roger carried bags of donations down the staircase. A few pastors and laity noticed them carrying bags and stepped in to help, and when Hope went back for the next load, she learned that someone had made an announcement seeking additional help with moving the donations. Within minutes, Annual Conference attendees joined in over their lunch break to help carry the donations to the truck, in another beautiful display of community and generosity.

I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the churches across the Susquehanna Conference for collecting and donating these items. We look forward to seeing the blessings these Care Kits will bring to communities locally, across the country, and around the world.

www.missioncentral.org

Mission Central Care Kits Have Global Impact.

At Mission Central, we are on a mission to connect God’s resources with human need, and one of the ways we accomplish this is through the distribution of Mission Central Kits. You may be wondering, what is in a Mission Central Kit and who receives these kits.

Mission Central has three types of kits: Mission Central Activity Kit, Mission Central Blessing Kit, and Mission Central Care Kit.

Each kit is filled with items identified to best meet the unique needs of the people we serve. Activity Kits are packed with school supplies and are given to local school districts, community groups, and even to students internationally through mission trips. Blessing Kits include resources for personal hygiene and comfort, such as deodorant, shampoo, rain ponchos, blankets, and water bottles. Many of these kits bless individuals experiencing homelessness. Care Kits include basic hygiene items such as combs, toothbrushes, and washcloths. These kits benefit individuals both locally and around the world.

In 2024, Mission Central already distributed 10,640 Care Kits to serve 31,920 individuals, a value of $127,000. The Care Kits traveled to several local organizations for distribution in Pennsylvania, and also to Honduras and Africa through international shipments. In Central Pennsylvania, Care Kits and Menstrual Kits were distributed through the Allison Hill Project which serves 150 people weekly in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Through the Hope for Haiti Foundation, Care Kits were given to refugee families arriving at the New American Welcome Center in York, Pennsylvania. Care Kits were also distributed to Honduran villages during a medical missions trip. 

Care Kits provide essential resources to those in need in our neighborhood and around the world. Our kit distributions would not be possible without the generous donations of kit items and the volunteers who give their time to assemble and pack kits. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Susquehanna Conference at this year’s Annual Conference to collect items for Mission Central Care Kits! Thank you for your continued support and partnership to connect God’s resources with human need. 

This year at Annual Conference we are collecting items for Mission Central Care Kits. You are invited as a Church to collect items and have your pastor or lay delegate bring them to Annual Conference. There will be a place in the Grand Ballroom at the Genetti Hotel to drop off donations as well as assemble kits from the collected items. 

Each Supervisory Area is asked to provide items used to build the Care Kits. See below for the list of items.

“God Always Provides”: The Power of Donations

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:

1. Our volunteers will have a consistent supply of the items they need to create kits throughout the year.
2. 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.

Mission Central

Throughout 2023, Mission Central sought to serve all those in need. Thank you for your assistance in helping us connect God’s resources with human need. We look forward to continuing to do the same in 2024. We often encounter confusion about the difference between Mission Central and UMCOR. In order to make thing clearer, we wanted to provide answers to some of the most frequent questions we receive. 

Mission Central & UMCOR Questions Answered

Is Mission Central UMCOR?

No, Mission Central is its own 501c3 organization. We are not run by the United Methodist Church or UMCOR. We were started by and have a close relationship with the United Methodist Church, but we are ecumenical in nature, working with all those, no matter who they are.

How is Mission Central Funded?

Mission Central is funded almost entirely by contributions from individuals, churches and corporate sponsorships. We receive some private grants as well. We do not receive money from the government or from the United Methodist Church. When you give to UMCOR, you are not giving to Mission Central because we are separately funded organizations.

Mission Central is an UMCOR Affiliate Warehouse. What does that mean?

Mission Central has committed to being a part of the UMCOR Relief Supply Network. There are eight warehouses in the relief supply network. UMCOR Sager Brown is the only warehouse owned, funded, and operated by UMCOR. We pledge to build, verify, collect, warehouse and ship UMCOR kits at our own expense. The network works together in times of disaster to resource kits. Mission Central is ready to send supplies where there is a need. Again, this is at our expense.

We are stronger together - if one of us is down, the others are there to help with supplies, but no money is exchanged. For example, during COVID, UMCOR Sager Brown closed in March 2020 and didn’t reopen until June 2023. During that time, they sent some of the supplies they had on hand to our location since we remained open and continued to operate to keep up with the increased demand around the world and domestically. When supplies were completed, we would send them where inventory was needed.

What are UMCOR kits?

In 2018, UMCOR decreased to three kit types: Cleaning Kit (Flood Bucket), Hygiene Kit, and School Kit. At the end of 2023, they discontinued with the School Kit due to a lack of requests during a disaster. They instituted a disposable Feminine Hygiene Kit instead.

All other kits we talk about are Mission Central kits that we distribute both nationally and internationally. These are completely separate from UMCOR.

Who decides what an UMCOR kit is?

UMCOR decides what is in their kits and often works in collaboration with Church World Services. The items in these kits do not change and are not under our discretion.

When do UMCOR kits get sent?

When a request is put into UMCOR, the kits are sent. UMCOR kits are sent only within the U.S. and mostly in response to disasters.

Should I give money to Mission Central or UMCOR in a disaster?

During international disasters, UMCOR sends relief in the form of monetary grants. UMCOR no longer ships supplies internationally because shipping can be expensive and not as immediate. Because of the way UMCOR is set up, this is the best way for them to steward your donation.

Mission Central, alternately, ships supplies both in the U.S. and internationally because we do not pay for international shipping. We work with partners to receive information on the requested items needed for a disaster. Many times, these are items they are unable to find near the disaster site. Mission Central lets you know what the needed items are, and you can purchase them or send monetary donations to us to facilitate this process.

Every dollar donated to a disaster through Mission Central will be spent towards that disaster. We want to steward your resources well and make sure you are given the proper information to give where is most appropriate for you so that we can all work together to send hope and empowerment in times of crisis around the world and around the corner.

Thank you for your generous support!

Find out more and give at www.missioncentral.org.

Mission Central's Response to Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

Mission Central focuses on mission outreach, mission education and disaster relief. In 2022, we gave over $700,000 in supplies to assist with disasters. Through our partners, we distribute about 20% of our resources internationally.

Last month’s devastating earthquakes resulted in over 44,000 deaths in Turkey and over 5,900 in Syria. The total accounted-for number of deaths and injured continues to rise.

Survivors are struggling to stay hydrated, warm and fed. Emergency crews are continuing to use axes, shovels and jackhammers to dig through twisted metal and concrete, but in some places, they switched their focus to demolishing unsteady buildings.

These recovery and rebuilding efforts will take time. Through our international partners, we have already sent medical goods to Turkey and Syria. We will continue to support these efforts and initiatives as they recover and rebuild from the devasting earthquake.

Thank you for supporting Mission Central and assisting us in fast disaster response as well as longer term rebuilding efforts. We are grateful to you.

Please consider donating to Mission Central to help replenish our disaster relief supplies and allow us to continue this critical work. 

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Other ways you can support Mission Central...

Mission Central Online Auction

Our first online auction will be March 23 - March 27, 2023.
We have great packages available!
Check it out on www.biddingowl.com/missioncentral

Mission Central Fun Run/Walk

Join us for our virtual run/walk!
Run/walk whenever you want between April 15 - April 30 to support an amazing cause!
Find out more at missioncentral.org/events 

2022 Camp & Retreat Ministry Impact Report

As we move through the opening months of the new year, we can’t help but look back on 2022 with immense gratitude for your support of the outdoor ministry.

In 2022 you were part of....

Giving $91,636.00 in donations and gifts to ensure a bright future for these spaces we love so much. 

This total includes surpassing the funding goals for the annual Matching Monday Campaign and surpassing the funding goals for the first ever Camp Fancy Gala!

Impacting 841 camper lives.

425 volunteers who gave time to volunteer for a week (or more!) of summer camp or came to lend a hand during a work day.

Welcoming 129 retreat guest groups to these treasured places apart.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support!!!

www.suscrm.org 

Donors Continue to Make the Difference

pixabay: Alexas_Fotos

This is a note of thanks to all of you who are donors to Camp and Retreat Ministry! You have been a shining light, especially during the last couple of years when the need has been so great. Last year, you surpassed the needed $100,000 goal to reach $125,000! Such generosity!

This year we share the good news that we are continuing our comeback following the COVID pandemic. Camper numbers were up again this year exceeding 2021 numbers by close to 250 additional participants. We are still 450 campers short of our pre-COVID levels, so we have a ways to go but will arrive. We are counting on donor partners again to raise $100,000 in 2022, not only to sustain the ministry, but to expand it!

Our Fall Fundraising season will soon begin. Please consider coming to the Camp Fancy Gala on October 22 at Wesley Forest, contributing to the Monday Match Campaign beginning in late October, supporting Evan Funk with his Eagle Scout Project at Wesley Forest (see article on page 9), or give right now! It really does make a difference for so many!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

www.suscamps.org

Camp and Retreat Ministry Team

Susquehanna Annual Conference - YSF Silent Auction Basket Donations Needed

Thank you to those who committed to provide baskets for the Youth Service Fund Silent Auction to be held at the 2022 Susquehanna Annual Conference! It is not too late to participate in this vital fundraiser that will help equip and train young leaders within our church. 

Basket donations may be brought to the conference office from May 23 - 31 or to the YSF Booth at the Hershey Lodge on the morning of Wednesday, June 1. For more information, connect with Alex Raser c/o kshockley@susumc.org.

Thank You Susquehanna Conference!

Thank you, Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church! Your steadfast support, prayers and love have been instrumental to all of us at Mission Central. We are grateful for your material and financial donations as well as the support through volunteering. 

Because of you, Mission Central had a record breaking 2020. Last year, we assisted over 3.3 million people with over $10.9 million in resources. And as always, all items are provided at no cost to the recipient. 

Our annual report can be seen above, but here are some highlights...

In 2020, Mission Central:

• Distributed over $780,000 in medical supplies and equipment to support 241,000 people. 
• Sent $369,000 in pet food resourcing over 73,000 animals.
• Launched a school partnership where over 13,000 students and their families received support from Mission Central. 
• Sent 42 international shipments to South America, Africa and Eastern Europe.
• Supplied $433,000 in Flood Buckets/Cleaning Kits to recovery efforts.

This year has started strong as well, and our medical ministry is continuing to grow. About 50% of what has gone out of the warehouse so far this year is medical equipment and support. Of course, basic needs like diapers, food and clothing as well as electronics continue to flow from our warehouse daily.

We know now is not the time to slow down. We expect to see needs increase as the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt. And we know we are called to do this important work. 

Please keep Mission Central in your prayers and continue to support us in the ways that you have in the past. Please save the dates for a few other Mission Central events as well:

• September 16-19, 2021: Mission Central Online Auction
• October 12, 2021: Mission Central Open House
• October 24 – 31, 2021: Mission Central Mash and Dash (virtual run)

Thank you for your love and support! We are looking forward to another great year. 

www.missioncentral.org

Mission Central Still Going Strong

Thank you to the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church for your ongoing support of Mission Central. Your monetary gifts, material donations, volunteer hours and prayer help Mission Central with our mission of “Connecting God’s Resources with Human Need.” 

Last year, 2020, was a challenging one on all fronts. We are grateful that Mission Central was open throughout the pandemic supporting those in need. Thanks to your support, over 3.3 million people were assisted with over $10.9 million in resources just last year alone. (That is nothing short of miraculous!)

Our medical ministry continues to be Mission Central’s fastest growing ministry. Over $780,000 in supplies and equipment went out to support 241,000 people. Our pet food ministry has grown with the increased needs. In 2020, $369,000 in pet food resourced 73,000 animals.

As we looked at increased needs throughout Pennsylvania, we added a school partnership where Mission Central supplied medical support, school supplies, musical instruments, hygiene items and food to struggling students and their families. Over 13,000 students and their families received support from Mission Central. This will be an ongoing program.

While curtailed briefly at the beginning of the year, we had 42 international shipments that went out supporting Zimbabwe, Romania, Ghana, Liberia and beyond. In this epic year for disasters, we supplied $433,000 in Flood Buckets/Cleaning Kits through UMCOR to Louisiana, Florida and Texas. This recovery work will continue in the year(s) ahead.  

Mission Central continues to supply low cost, no cost warehouse space to our in house partners. Through their food banks, furniture ministries, diaper banks and electronics ministry, we further our reach. 

Now is not the time to slow down. We expect to see needs increase as the impact of the pandemic continues to be felt. And we know (with your support), we are called to do this important work. 

Thank you again for your steadfast commitment to Mission Central. We appreciate the prayers, material and monetary gifts and your ongoing support. You are truly a part of this wonderful family. 

We wish you a safe, happy and healthy 2021!

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WEB: missioncentral.org
CALL: 717-766-1533
GIVE: missioncentral.org/donations/