Your Thanksgiving Offering will stay right here to feed neighbors in our own communities through Dakotas Conference Hunger Grants. These grants, up to $1,000 each, assist local churches in starting, continuing, or growing a ministry of feeding your neighbors.

“The need to feed those facing hunger across the Dakotas is still present and increasing,” said Bishop Deb Kiesey in calling for this offering. “Funds collected from the 2022 Thanksgiving Offering will be distributed to local congregations and communities to help feed those facing hunger. The Missional Impact Link will award grants to United Methodist Churches or United Methodist related organizations. Church partnerships with local food ministries are encouraged.”

One of those hunger ministries that received a recent grant is “Center Youth” at Center UMC in Center, North Dakota. Each Wednesday night at Center UMC the hospitality team cooks a hot meal for 30-60 youth, as well as parents and volunteers. The volunteers spread out and sit with each table of kids and act as surrogate parents/grandparents. They ask the kids about their day, listen to them, and love the kids at their table.

The grant applicant, Pastor Annie Carlson, wrote, “We meet every Wednesday night through the school year… and every Wednesday during the summer. We serve approximately 1500 meals per year and send home leftover packages in to-go containers for other members of the household or for the kids to have later. This program is funded by our church with fundraisers and part of the operating budget.”

Photo Illustration by Mike DuBose, United Methodist News Service.

Additional information and resources to promote the 2022 Thanksgiving offering in your church are available on the Dakotas Conference website at www.dakotasumc.org. Please invite the members and friends of your congregation to experience the joy of participating in this miraculous expression of Christ’s light in the world.

 

Give online at Dakotas Donations (through Vanco)

Churches can also mail their checks or donations to:

            Dakotas Conference UMC

            P.O. Box 460

            Mitchell, SD  57301

 

If your church would like to apply for a hunger grant for a feeding ministry, click here.