Dakotas United Methodists assemble 2,000 Blessing Bags in Bismarck. Photos by jlynn studios.

Dakotas United Methodists, meeting for the 2026 Annual Conference in Bismarck, North Dakota, packed 2,000 Blessing Bags in less than an hour. Each Rice and Bean Blessing Bag contains a vitamin pack, dehydrated vegetables, soy, and white rice. One bag will feed six people. The event was coordinated by Midwest Mission, a partner of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

“It is exciting to have these events. It is ministry in action. We bring all the supplies and set things up. This is a mission event that could be hosted by a local church,” shares Danielle Curtis, director for Midwest Mission in Jefferson, Iowa.

The bags were assembled by 120 people. One bag costs $2 to make. Legacy United Methodist Church provided the space and tables. 120 annual conference participants provided willing hearts and hands. Midwest Mission brought the equipment, ingredients, gloves, hairnets, and beard nets.

Rows of tables were set up in the Children’s Ministry Area at Legacy. One line of equipment or a table accommodated 8-10 people, who packed approximately 175 bags in an hour. Blessing Bags were boxed and packed in the Midwest Mission trailer for transport back to the warehouse in Iowa.

“We ship the Blessing Bags where they are needed. Recently, we have been shipping a lot of them to Latin America. When a partner calls and says there is a need for meals, we are ready,” Curtis describes.

Blessing Bags are one of the services that Midwest Mission provides. The ministry collects other kits, including personal dignity, feminine hygiene, student layette, home care, bedding, tornado, birthing UMCOR cleaning, UMCOR hygiene, and UMCOR feminine hygiene kits. Instructions for assembling the kits are available on Midwest Mission’s website.

“A lot of conferences and churches collect kits. In the past, fall events, or Ingathering events, were held. We want to encourage churches, ministries, and annual conferences to continue collecting kits,” Curtis said.

Midwest Mission works with disaster preparedness through UMCOR and other partners and pre-stages the distribution of supplies. Pre-staging enables a quick response in the event of a disaster.  

The ministry makes student desks from reclaimed bleacher wood donated from schools in the United States. Volunteers disassemble the bleachers and deliver the wood to Midwest Mission, or Midwest Mission will pick up the disassembled wood. Then, the volunteers cut and pelletize the wood, scrape the gum off, plane the wood, and plug holes with dowel rods. Then the wood is cut to the required lengths for the desk parts and prepared for assembly. Volunteers assemble, label the parts, and make sure they sit flat and don't wobble. Then, the desk is disassembled and individually wrapped.

Midwest Mission collects and repairs sewing machines and bicycles. The sewing machines are distributed free of charge to encourage people to start a business. Bicycles are given to those who might need transportation.

There are several ways to connect with Midwest Mission. Participants at the annual conference in Bismarck can visit Midwest Mission’s display to get started. You can contact Midwest Mission directly.

Kits are being collected at the annual conference in Bismarck. Kits can also be delivered at any time throughout the year to Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

“There are lots of ways that individuals and churches can partner with Midwest Missions. We are looking for a board member from the Dakotas Conference. We hope this mission event at the Dakotas Conference brings ideas and connections for churches,” said Danielle.