Hundreds of people gathered across the Dakotas Conference to celebrate missional outreach.  Semi-trailers were loaded with United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) kits in Bismarck, Fargo, and Minot in North Dakota, and in Pierre and Sioux Falls in South Dakota.

Southeast Pierre United Methodist Church in Pierre, South Dakota held a mission fair on September 13.  Pie and ice cream, a country store, quilt auction and more were all part of the Dakotas Market Place on Saturday, September 20.  Faith United Methodist Church in Minot, North Dakota held a "Party on the Prairie", Saturday, September 20.

The events celebrate connectional mission giving.  One common thread of all the events is the collection of United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) kits.   Thousands of school kits, health kits, layette kits, sewing kits, birthing kits and bedding kits were hauled to one of these events or another identified site. Box after box is loading in the a semi-truck trailer.

Collectively, the Dakotas Conference is the largest donor of UMCOR kits to the depot in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Brian Diggs, Director of UMCOR West Depot said, "We receive the largest shipment of kits from the Dakotas Conference.  The number of gifts from the Dakotas Conference is the largest we get at UMCOR West."  Watch a video thanking the Dakotas Conference by clicking here.

There is still time to get your kits on the load going west.  The Conference Office in Mitchell, South Dakota will be receiving kits through Friday, September 26.  The truck will then head west to Salt Lake City.  Contact JoAnn Schlimgen by e-mail or phone 605-990-7787. 

UMCOR 2014 from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.