The Sioux Falls Area Mission Group, comprised of Methodist church members from Canton, Harrisburg, Irene and Sioux Falls (Asbury, Embrace, First, Hilltop & Southern Hills) are busy planning this year’s DAKOTA MARKETPLACE, formerly the Mitchell Ingathering, to be held on Saturday, September 21, 9 AM – 2 PM at Sioux Falls First. We welcome other churches, both near and far, to get involved in the excitement of DAKOTA MARKETPLACE! With nearly two months until the event, below are some ways you or your church can still take part.

• Take a special “noisy offering” one Sunday and designate those funds for UMCOR or Imagine No Malaria
• Have an “angel tree” displayed at your church with health kit or school kit items written on slips of paper hanging from the tree that members could grab and then purchase the items and return them to the church
• Host a free-will offering bake sale, ice cream social or potluck with funds being designated for Imagine No Malaria, UMCOR or the purchase of disaster relief kit items
• Have a school bag “sewing day” and then hang the bags on pews with a list of school kit items inside for members to take home, fill and return to church – do this promotion with the children and youth to include them in this ministry
• Create a pocket-sized booklet of the different UMCOR disaster relief kits and have your hospitality team handout them out before and after worship
• Facilitate a “craft club” at church where people with similar interests could quilt, knit, sew, woodwork projects to be sold at the DAKOTA MARKETPLACE specialty or silent auctions
• Have your hospitality team greet members and guests for worship with a one gallon plastic bag with a list of health kit items in it and ask them to fill the bag with the items and return it to church

For more information about UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) disaster relief kits, CLICK HERE for complete kit information.

If you or your church would like to learn more and get involved in DAKOTA MARKETPLACE, please contact event co-chairs, Cindy Nelson or Kira Kimball . Get up-to-date information by liking DAKOTA MARKETPLACE on facebook .

Submitted by Kira Kimball, Sioux Falls Area Missions Group