MISSIONS
"Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."Â Matthew 25:40
BABY FOLD FESTIVAL OF TREES
$6,500
This Christmas themed fundraising event is the largest revenue-producing event for The Baby Fold in Normal, IL. Proceeds from the sale of Christmas décor to the public are used to embody Christian principles to help families and children develop the hope, courage, and love they need to become whole and healthy.
CENTER FOR HOPE FOOD PANTRY
$600
A McLean County community outreach program affiliated with Center for Hope Ministries, it helps families and individuals break and avoid cycles of poverty. In addition to its food and toiletry distribution, it offers educational training, such as financial literacy courses, nutrition education and job readiness workshops.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE CLINIC
$2,000
Located in Normal, IL, the clinic provides services free of charge to its patients: primary medical care, diagnostic testing and emergency/hospital services (provided by Advocate BroMenn and OSF St. Joseph Medical Centers), referrals to specialty physicians, care coordination for patients and free prescription medications. It prides itself on providing high quality care to the patients in our community who need it most.
FAITH IN ACTION
$825
This ministry began in 2005 and provides spiritual, physical, and emotional support to seniors 60+ years and their caregivers to maintain independence, dignity, and improved quality of life. An interfaith network of almost 500 volunteers, 26 congregations and community organizations, FIA serves more than 650 persons. Free services include transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping assistance, friendly in-home visits and phone calls, & light home maintenance & repair. 12 members of Normal First are FIA volunteers.
HOME SWEET HOME MINISTRIES
$1,000
This mission has been serving the homeless and hungry since 1917 by providing case management and other supportive services to the homeless such as shelter, hot meals, clothing & toiletries, and children’s programming. Its goal is to help people find independence, restore their hope and share the love of Jesus Christ with them.
ISU WESLEY FOUNDATION (MERGE)
$3,000
This faith based Illinois State University college ministry is located in the basement of Normal First Church. It is a faith home where students find a place to belong, believe and become who God is calling them to be. Weekly worship services called "Merge" are held on Wednesday at 9:00pm.
RECYCLING FURNITURE FOR FAMILIES
$500
Donations of gently used furniture and household basics are provided to prescreened people in need in McLean County. The non-denominational Christian charity works with more than 50 local service agencies and churches to provide these needed goods.
SAFE HARBOR EVENING MEAL
$250
Affiliated with The Salvation Army, Safe Harbor Shelter in downtown Bloomington serves the homeless population by providing temporary housing and meals. Our congregation has provided volunteers to help serve meals at the facility in times past.
CHADDOCK SCHOOL
$400
The licensed, accredited and nationally respected organization is located in Quincy, Illinois and serves thousands of children and families every year through foster care and a full range of preventative, educational and treatment services. Chaddock School is an on- campus school providing specialized education for residential students and for many other students from the Quincy area.
CUNNINGHAM CHILDREN'S HOME
$400
Child welfare and educational services agency in Urbana, IL. Cunningham provides caring support and therapeutic intervention to children through-out Illinois.
LESSIE BATES DAVIS NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE
$1,000
This non-profit, faith-based community organization provides services to address the immediate and long-term physical and spiritual needs of youth and families within East St. Louis and its surrounding area. LBDNH also serves approximately 300 elderly people, some of whom are the poorest and most isolated seniors in the area.
MIDWEST MISSION DISTRIBUTION CENTER
$300
Midwest Mission Distribution Center is a disaster relief facility located on an eight-acre campus near Springfield, Illinois. It is a cooperating depot in the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Supply Network. The campus provides opportunities for individuals and groups kinds to help provide disaster relief kits and resources as well as educational and medical supplies to those in need both locally and internationally.
SPERO FAMILY SERVICES
$400
Located in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, the organization offers hope, help, and healing by providing Christ-centered human services to meet the ever-changing needs of individuals, families, and communities.
AFRICA UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS
$825
Located in Zimbabwe and founded in 1992, Africa University has graduated 2,000 students who are working in over 28 African countries. The scholarship fund of $95,000 provides financial support to 25-30 students, who also take on work-study assignments.
LIBERIA - FRANCIS ASBURY PARTNER CHURCH
$1,000
The Liberia Annual Conference supports about 500 local churches that make up the 20 districts in the conference.
LIBERIA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
LIBERIA - SCHOLARSHIPS (K-12)
$500
This money provides scholarships for 3 students to attend school for the year at one of the United Methodist sponsored schools in Liberia.
UNITED METHODIST COMMITTEE ON RELIEF (UMCOR)
$1,000
UMCOR is dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. Its work includes programs and projects in disaster response, health, sustainable agriculture, food security, relief supplies and more. It provides humanitarian relief when war, conflict, or natural disasters disrupt life to such an extent that those communities are unable to recover on their own. UMCOR spends 100% of designated donations on the projects our donors specify.
HELEN ROBERTS-EVANS
$1,000
Helen is a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church and serves as Director of the Department of General Education and Ministry of the UMC in Liberia.
AMITY FOUNDATION
$2,500
We help to support an Amity Foundation teacher who teaches English in mainland China. It is a United Methodist Advance Special, a Chinese organization started by Chinese Christians in 1985. Despite what many believe, the Chinese Christian Church is open to all and services are held regularly without interference from the government.
