Missions

Click on the above pictures to see more information and more pictures

Argentina Trip Members at Work

Adult Mission trip to Mendoza, Argentina. In the summer of 2023 members of our church spent a week in Mendoza Argentina connecting with the Iglesia Evangelica Methodist Church and the Colegio Alberto Schwitzer Methodist school. The group served the homeless, participated in bible studies, led a vacation Bible School at the Alberto Schwitzer school, and sponsored a large group of kids and their parents to spend a day at the Hot Springs. The group was able to take over art supplies, several laptop computers, and a projector for the church to use in their worship and missions. It was a wonderful week and they plan to return in a few years.

Praying over our mission team that is traveling to Mendoza, Argentina, on July 10, 2023.  May God look over you as you do His work. 

TLC – Touching Lives With Change

Each Sunday all of the loose change in the collection goes to a charity.

January – Bidwell Riverside
February – Strong Missions in Costa Rica
March – UMCOR
April – Habitat for Humanity
May – Hope Ministries
June – Little Food Pantry
July – Hillside Elementary
August – Hunger Hike
September  – Meals for the Heartland
October – Bidwell Riverside
November – DMARC
December – TBD whoever is the recipient of the Christmas Collection

The 44th Annual Mission Ingathering will be held on Saturday, November 2, 2024

Ingathering Kits for 2024

 Student Kits – 1-handle bag, (pattern on MM web page) or use a clean regular plastic grocery bag, tied shut. No Ziplocs. Pencil sharpeners – pick those that are one or two on a card, rather than the tiny 5/$1 versions. Student scissors can have either a slight point or be rounded. No washable crayons. Metric and inches on a flat ruler. 12 sharpened colored pencils. 6 regular unsharpened lead pencils – no advertising. Be careful of prints on pencils (prefer solid color). Unpackage the scissors and sharpeners.

 Personal Dignity Kits – note the size of shampoo and deodorant, and the addition for 2024 of lotion. Please tape the top of the shampoo with clear packing tape. Check the lotion – if it’s not sealed, tape it as well. No pumps, please. Do not add anything else to the kit. Toothpaste will be added by Midwest Mission. The $2 you send in addition to $2 shipping covers that and the logo bag it’s shipped in.

 Layette Kits – The diaper pattern is on the website. You may also purchase cloth diapers. Sweaters and gowns (new ONLY) should be 0-6m size, with no ties or buttons. 4 diaper pins inside and 2 more are used to fasten the kit. Please send $2 for diaper cream, in addition to $2 shipping.  Specifics are on the brochure/website.

 Feminine Hygiene Kits – This newer kit is greatly appreciated overseas. Pads are NOT the disposable kind we use in US. Pattern is on the MM website; instructions are very specific. Ask your rep if you have questions. Items go in 1-handle bag.

 

Missions       

Changing lives outside the church through service and generosity.

“You shall open wide your hand to your brother” – Deuteronomy 15:11

 

Shelter                             

We support groups that help bring affordable housing and support to those without sufficient housing.

• UMCOR

UMCOR http://www.umcor.org/

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the not-for-profit global humanitarian aid organization of the United Methodist Church. UMCOR’s goal is to alleviate human suffering whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster with open minds and hearts to all people. The UMCOR Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, Louisiana is the headquarters for UMCOR relief supply operations. The Iowa Ingathering helps provide the approximately $4 million in supplies shipped from Sager Brown each year. Sue Smith from our church travels to Sager Brown each winter to help inspect and ship kits!By donating kit supplies or financial gifts to purchase the supplies, you make a direct and tangible difference in sustaining people’s lives.

Contact – Sue Smith, 515-208-0844, nursesuesmith@gmail.com

• Habitat for Humanity

Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity https://www.gdmhabitat.org/

WDMUMC will come together on Saturday, September 29th to build a house for a family in need.  This event welcomes every person in the church to lend a hand whether it is by swinging a hammer, pushing a broom, passing out water cups, or by assisting with serving the noontime meal.  At the completion of the day WDMUMC will have completed construction of the interior and exterior walls, allowing rapid assembly at their final destination; also known as a home for a family in need.

Contact: Paul Gesell – pges1@q.com  Ph. 515-221-1769

• Hope Ministries

Hope Ministries

Hope Ministries has been serving people in need in central Iowa since 1915. They provide food, clothing, shelter and life recovery programs for men, women and children out of seven ministry centers around Des Moines. Their mission is to “rescue those who are homeless, hungry, abused or addicted, providing opportunities for hope, recovery and restoration through the love of Jesus Christ.” Our youth participate in Hope Ministries’ annual “Make-A-Bed and Keep ‘Em Feed” program, taking residents new sheets and pillows, food, hygiene supplies and notes of encouragement. At the end of the evening, they hear testimonials of men who have been deeply impacted by Hope Ministries.

Contact – Darin Woodward, 515-778-2586, dewoodward@live.com

Community                     

We support our neighbors and community with our gifts, Friendship, time and prayer.

• Hillside Reading Buddies

HILLSIDE READING BUDDIES

Volunteers enjoy reading with a student once a week for thirty minutes at Hillside Elementary, our neighborhood school.

Contact – Shirley Riley, 515-225-3710, srileywdm@aol.com or Christy McCoy, 515-238-9870, mccoymc22@gmail.com

• Adult Mission Trips

Adult Mission Trips

Detroit 2018www.motownmission.org

June 24-30, 2018 eleven adults from our church will be traveling to Detroit, Michigan to do economic recovery work with the Motown Mission organization. Deeply rooted in Wesleyan Theology, Motown Mission began as a United Methodist organization and continues to maintain the connection to the contemporary UMC’s commitment to grace, mission, and service as a means for individual and communal transformation.

Contact – Marnie Stein, 515-306-3043, marniestein@msn.com

Cuba 2019https://www.prayingpelicanmissions.org/

WDMUMC is planning a one-week visit to our friends at a church in Matanzas, Cuba in June 2019.  We had previously visited this church in January 2017 and wish to continue the Christian fellowship that we established with that trip. The ability to speak Spanish or perform physical labor is not necessary—just a willingness to embrace our neighbors and share Christ’s love.  If you are interested in participating or supporting this trip, please contact Mike Powers, 515-494-3327 , mjpowers1@yahoo.com

• Ingathering

The Thanksgiving Ingathering is a way for Iowa United Methodists to address problems locally and around the world. Micah 6:8 says that the Lord requires us ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’

The 2024 Ingathering is on November 2.  Click here for complete information on the kits.

Contact – Sue Smith, 515-208-0844, nursesuesmith@gmail.com

• Women at the Well

Women at the Well – http://www.womenatthewellumc.org

Women at the Well is a United Methodist congregation located within the walls of the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women, in Mitchellville, Iowa. West Des Moines UMC has pledged our prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness in support of Women at the Well for a three-year period. In pledging our support, we express solidarity with the women incarcerated by the State of Iowa, and also become part of the foundation which assures the sustainability of our ministry into the future.

Contact – Sandy Smith, 515-267-8986, slsmith629@gmail.com or Mark Willson, 515-779-5560, mawillson@icloud.com

• Crafts for a Cause

Crafts for a Cause

Crafts for a Cause is a group of people who meet the first Saturday of each month to make a craft to share with others. We have shared our projects with many organizations including retirement homes, Amanda the Panda, Ronald McDonald house, animal rescue, school (special needs project), homeless, and projects for our church members. Anyone is welcome to join us at any time.

Contact – Flo Tenney, 515-223-4580, ftenney@mchsi.com

Hunger & Clothing            

We help feed and clothe our friends and neighbors in our city, our country, and our world.

• DMARC

Des Moines area religious council (DMARC) –

With important programs to feed, assist and nurture the needs of greater Des Moines, the Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC) works with over 125 member congregations from four different faith traditions to meet basic human needs for the greater Des Moines community.  Our church supports DMARC with financial gifts as well as donations of food items. We also volunteer at the food pantry warehouse and at Bidwell Riverside, which is one of DMARC’s food pantries.

Contact – Paul Gesell, 515-221-1769, pges1@q.com

• Little Free Pantry

Little Free Pantry – https://www.facebook.com/littlefreepantry/

The Little Free Pantry is located in the east parking lot facing Grand Avenue and is filled with free food for our friends and neighbors that are food insecure. Open on nights and weekends, no questions asked, The Little Free Pantry fills gaps in service provided by organizations with operating hours and/or requiring paperwork/documentation. It also encourages community and love for neighbor. You may provide direct support to The Little Free Pantry in two ways. Purchase items when grocery shopping and place items either inside the pantry or in the Donation Station on the first floor.

Contact – Jane Beeman, 515-223-0120, turtlejcb@aol.com

• Bidwell Riverside

BIDWELL RIVERSIDE – www.bidwellriverside.org

This Methodist based food/clothing pantry is located on the south side of Des Moines.  Opportunities include helping clients shop for their food/clothing/personal items, putting the donations out, donating items by putting them in the bins on the lower level of the church, shopping for supplies to donate to the center

Contact – Jane Beeman, 515-223-0120, turtlejcb@aol.com

• Meals from the Heartland

Meals from the Heartland – https://mealsfromtheheartland.org/

Click the link below to go to the church’s Meals from the Heartland webpage with complete information about our activities with this organization.
https://wdmumc.org/missions/meals-from-the-heartland/?et_fb=1

Contact – Mike Powers, 515-225-7048, mjpowers1@yahoo.com

• Hunger Hike

HUNGER HIKE 

With the demise of the non-profit Des Moines Area Hunger Hike, Inc. this past spring, the Missions team has decided that WDM UMC will hold its own Hunger Hike 2022. Funds raised by the Hike will be split 50/50 between the DMARC Food Pantry and the Food Bank of Iowa as we work to support our congregation’s ‘Every Body Eats’ initiative.

The Hike will take place on Sunday, October 9th at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines. Plan to meet at Biddle Lodge (just east of Nature Lodge) at 2:00 pm. There be will a brief program about hunger in our community. Then, at 2:30 p.m., we will walk on the trail around Blue Heron Lake. The distance is 3.2 miles.

Contact –  Paul Gesell, 515-221-1769, pges1@q.com

• Midweek Refuel and Booster Paks

Midweek Refuel and BOOSTER PAK

Midweek Refuel (formerly known as Wednesday Night Live) serves dinners on Wednesday evenings, with a free will offering. All proceeds from the dinners go to Booster Pak of West Des Moines, who provides weekend and summer weekend nutritional supplements for qualifying school-age children. We are concentrating on Booster Paks for Hillside Elementary and the Legion Park Summer distribution site. If you would like to help a dinner team prepare and serve a weekly meal, many hands are needed!

 

Booster Pak notifies us when they need a weekly packing crew to stuff Paks for distribution. Add your name to the volunteer list. The time commitment is about 1 1/2 hours and the usual day is Thursday morning.

 

Contact – Janet Hayes, 515-987-2028,  gramclose@gmail.com