There have been over 9,500 solar ovens distributed in fifteen years. This is no easy feat. Solar ovens that end up in the Dominican Republic, Haiti or Mexico are shining examples of the United Methodist connection at work. Solar Oven Partners is a volunteer organization that is funded by your donations, and one of the Advance Projects that you can donate to on #Giving Tuesday.

“It is entirely powered by volunteers and gracious donations,” said Rick Jost, Director of Solar Oven Partners.

Solar Oven Partners depends on volunteers and donations. Volunteers come from all walks of life and include a wide range of faith backgrounds and ages--from pre-teen to those in their 90s. Volunteers are comprised of women, men, children and youth.

Solar Oven Partners volunteers and donors are individuals with different skills and gifts, but who all share a common goal: to show the love of Christ by helping put solar ovens into the hands of those who most need them.

There are several ways you can participate in Solar Oven Partners as a volunteer.  You can work at one of the workshops located at Moffit, North Dakota, Raymond, South Dakota and Volga, South Dakota.

Gene Bethke and volunteers make bread pans in a mini-workshop in Raymond, SD. Dozens of women across the Dakotas have helped hem the black cloth bread pan covers that ensure lovely golden bread loaves.

Photo courtesy of SOP: Gene Bethke shows one of thousands of bread pans made in the Raymond, SD workshop.

Teams gather in Moffit, North Dakota, to make the reflectors for the solar ovens.  The shop has a complete fabrication and assembly line in place.

Photo courtesy of SOP: Several of the Moffit volunteers show off a new reflector.

At the shop in Volga, South Dakota, the ovens are assembled into one unit. The reflectors and bread pans are incorporated into the process of making one solar oven.  Boxes of ovens are stored until there is enough for a shipping crate. The crate is loaded and sent to the location where the solar ovens will be distributed with education for those who will use them.

Volunteers teams are also needed to go to places like the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Mexico. The volunteer teams not only help build ovens, but they helped with training on the use, maintenance and repair of the ovens.

Recently, Solar Oven Partners (SOP) announced a time-out in Haiti, due to emerging complications with accountability and concerns for shipping ovens produced in the SOP's three shops last winter and spring. Supporters prayed, dreamed, and wondered what new doors might open.

A successful team visit in July opened one door with Manos Juntas, Mexico, and General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) Missionary Willie Berman in Rio Bravo. General Board of Global Missions (GBGM) Missionaries Gordy and Ardell Graner, North Dakota natives serving in the DR, and the Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana (IED) church leaders partnered with the August SOP discovery team.

Photo courtesy of SOP: Rick Yost and two young volunteers with an assembled solar oven in the shop at Volga, SD.

Together with the Graners, team members are excited about this opening door in the Caribbean. “Solar Oven Partners and the Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana have begun a journey that will serve the poor of the Dominican Republic by working alongside them in a self-help ministry that embraces God’s gift of free solar energy as an affirmation of God’s Love,” says Jost.

UMC #GivingTuesday is part of an international movement to extend the spirit of giving thanks into the Advent season. As a response to the hyper consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, people around the world celebrate UMC #GivingTuesday by supporting organizations that are transforming the world. It offers an opportunity to start off the holiday season by giving instead of getting.

The Dakotas Conference has three Advance Projects that you can give to on #Giving Tuesday: Katie Peterson, with Out in Faith-Bakken Oil Rush Ministry, Solar Oven Partners and Tree of Life Ministry.

Solar Oven Partners from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.