Despite the pandemic, the Eastbrook Mission Barn sent more than 3000 UMCOR Cleaning Buckets and Hygiene Kits to needed areas around the country in 2021 and volunteers built 30 ramps in the area. In her January 2022 newsletter, Mission Barn Director Katie Peterson provided the numbers and gave an update on what's happening and how volunteers can help in 2022.
She also offered thanks for prayers, donations of money, supplies and kits, as well as service by volunteers. "Your hands and feet are representing God’s love in large and small ways throughout the world," she wrote. "Volunteers are the key to missions!"
The Mission Barn is hosting smaller volunteers teams to verify or put together UMCOR Hygiene Kits and Cleaning Buckets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and some Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Masks are required. Larger teams may be scheduled to go out to assemble a ramp in the community. To schedule a team, email missionbarn@gmail.com or call 724-856-8241 to registe
r a team.
The Mission Barn, part of the UMCOR Relief Supply network, also is currently collecting only Hygiene Kits and Cleaning Buckets, Peterson said.
Churches and organizations that want to assemble or collect items for UMCOR kits for the Mission Barn should check the list of ingredients and what size items should be included. Links are on the Mission Barn webpage at wpaumc.org/missionbarn.
"Recipes are updated regularly to meet the needs of recipients." Peterson explained. "If you can't find item(s) for the kits, please send the kit without the that item," she said. "We can put it in when we verify it.
Peterson, who is also a Deaconess and Church and Community Worker, was featured in a UM Global Ministries story on Mission Service in the United States. She is available "to share the joy of missions with churches and organizations. Contact her at missionbarn@gmail.com or 724-856-8241.