Thanks & Giving: An Evening with Mission Central

Thanks & Giving: An Evening with Mission Central

Saturday, November 15, 2025 | 5 p.m. | Central Penn College

This November, Mission Central invites you to join us for an evening of gratitude, generosity, and community impact. Our annual fall fundraising event - Thanks & Giving: An Evening with Mission Central - is more than just a night out. It’s a chance to gather in fellowship, celebrate what God has done through this ministry, and ensure that vital resources continue reaching people in need here in Pennsylvania, across the country, and around the world.

Set in the beautiful Conference Center at Central Penn College, the evening will feature a delicious meal, inspiring Mission Moments, and opportunities to connect with others who share a heart for service. Guests will also enjoy both silent and live auctions filled with unique items, experiences, and gifts - perfect for early holiday shopping while supporting a great cause.

The funds raised at Thanks & Giving make a real, tangible difference. Every ticket purchased, every auction bid placed, and every sponsorship secured helps us equip our 200+ community partners with the resources they need to meet urgent needs. Whether it’s providing Hygiene Kits for families displaced by disaster, Cleaning Buckets for communities rebuilding after floods, mobility equipment for seniors, or school supplies for children, your generosity fuels every shipment that leaves our Mechanicsburg warehouse.

In 2024 alone, the Mission Central warehouse supported 8.7 million people with more than $23.5 million in resources. None of that happens without the faithful support of friends, churches, and organizations who believe in our mission: Connecting God’s Resources with Human Need. This dinner is our single largest fundraising event of the year, and it is essential to sustaining our work in 2026 and beyond.

There are many ways to be part of this special night:

Attend: Gather friends, family, or members of your congregation for a memorable evening together.

Sponsor: Businesses, organizations, and individuals can support at levels starting at just $500, with recognition in our program and across our communication channels.

Donate: Can’t make it in person? Consider donating an auction item, underwriting part of the event, or making a direct gift to help us reach our goal.

We hope you’ll mark your calendar for Saturday, November 15, and join us for an evening that truly embodies the spirit of Thanks & Giving. Together, we can celebrate what has been accomplished and look forward to all that is possible when we come together in faith and generosity.

For tickets, sponsorship details, or more information, please email missioncentral@missioncentral.org or call 717-766-1533.

Camp & Retreat Ministry Hosts Camp Fancy Gala

by Kristin Hoover, Chair of the Camp and Retreat Ministry Board

On October 22, 2022, in the large recreation field at Wesley Forest, surrounded by stunning autumn leaves, The Susquehanna Conference UMC Board of Camp & Retreat Ministry held their first Camp Fancy Gala.

When at camp, things get a little silly! Guests dressed in their “Camp Fancy” finest; Camp Fancy means anything from prom night outfits to outdoor gear, and in most cases a fun blend of the two. Guests celebrated the goodness of God with smiles and laughs as we offered the Superman Prayer before our meal and sang and danced to camp classic “Pharaoh, Pharaoh.”

Campers and former campers offered testimonies- sharing their memories of camp and explaining how the camping program has impacted their lives.

 

The SUSUMC camping community generously participated in the Live and Silent Auctions. Guests bid on items like a Fly-Fishing Experience, Wesley Forest Rolls, Old Camp Signage, Camp Penn Metal Trays, Philadelphia 76ers tickets, Hershey Bears tickets, local theatre tickets, Greene Hills Oreo Fluff, Camp Tie Dye Shirts, and a Mystery Box of Camp Lost and Found Items!

Guests also celebrated gala honoree Dave Poole, one of the most prolific and longest-serving camping program mentors/volunteers. Dave first came to the camping program in 1982 in the form of a counselor.  In 1990, he became a camp dean at Wesley Forest, alongside Beth Jones.  Since then, Dave has impacted thousands of lives with his kindness, his care and his love.  He has launched the career and nurtured the call of at least a dozen pastors in the Susquehanna Conference. 

The Board is thrilled to announce the Camp Fancy Gala raised over $20,000 for the Camp and Retreat Ministry! Many thanks to our generous gala sponsors- Aldersgate UMC Mechanicsburg, Swissdale UMC Lock Haven, Trinity Charge Williamsport District, Calvary UMC Harrisburg, Cardinal Creek, Hess Hanna & Associates, and Juniata UMC Altoona.by Kristin Hoover, Chair of the Camp and Retreat Ministry Board.

 

Dave Poole ended his remarks at the gala with the simple, yet profound statement “Camp Changes Lives.” The success of this event allows us to change the lives of even more young people. You too can offer your support to the SUSUMC Camp & Retreat Ministry through the Matching Monday campaign. https://susumcamps.org/index.php/donate/matching-monday

Stay tuned for information on the 2023 Camp Fancy Gala!

 

Thank You for Your Support at Mission Central!

Thank You for Your Support!

As a monumental year comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank all the Susquehanna Conference United Methodist Church churches for your support throughout 2020! We recognize that 2020 brought many challenges and we are incredibly grateful for the support that has been shown to Mission Central. 

Every item, every prayer, every dollar and every shared gift has assisted us in fulfilling our mission of ‘connecting God’s resources with human need.’  We are thankful for each of you and appreciate you sharing your gifts with us. 

As we look ahead, we want to make sure you “Save the Dates” for a few Mission Central events of 2021:

• Mission Central online auction: March 4-7
• Mission Central (Virtual) Monster Mash and Dash: October 24-31
• Mission Central Gala: November 13

If you have the opportunity, please follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our MissionLink (a weekly eNewsletter). 

We wish you a happy new year filled with many blessings. Thank you for everything you do for Mission Central! 

Baskets for Mission Central Fundraising in 2021! 

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 at 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!