In January, food and paper products were collected and delivered to the Johnson and Nemaha County food pantries. We took four totes to both locations. 
February’s project was the collection of tennis shoes for children in need in the area schools. We collected over 75 pairs and and they were delivered to Johnson County Central Public Schools and Humboldt Table Rock Schools.
In March we collected items that could be packed and sent as care packages to persons in the armed forces. We packed and shipped sixteen boxes to our chaplain contacts overseas. The Sunday School children added personal notes and colored pictures to be included in the boxes.
Our April project was “Undie Sunday”. Several totes of new underwear and socks were donated and delivered to Orphan Grain Train. They will be distributed nationally and worldwide to meet the needs of people.
In April and May we collected and assembled items for Orphan Grain Train Health kits. Items for one kit include a bath towel, wash cloth, a bar of soap, toothbrush, nail clipper, comb and band-aids. A total of 149 kits were delivered to Orphan Grain Train and they will be given to those in need.
The project in June concentrated on Partnership 4 Hope. Partnership 4 Hope works to distribute items to young adults who are aging out of the foster care system in Nebraska. A trailer and a pickup load full of gently used household items were delivered to the Youth Mart where the young adults work with a case worker to pick out the items needed to furnish their new living space. https://www.partnership4hope.com/
In July and August we collected items for School Kits. School supply items were donated by members, and the kits were put together at our annual ice cream dinner. The Sunday School children, along with a little help from the rest of the congregation, worked together to assemble the kits. The number of school kits then delivered to Orphan Grain Train was 160. We also had extra school supplies that were given to the Johnson County Central and Johnson-Brock schools. 
As fall arrives, members collect and start to assemble boxes full of fun items, hygiene items, school items, and wearable items for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoebox project. In addition to members assembling on their own, we also had an additional generous donation that allowed us to have a “packing party” on a Sunday morning. Sunday School children, along with some adult help, assembled the 72 extra boxes with items purchased with the donation. The total for MLC was 269 boxes. Funds for the shipping costs were also collected during October and November. The boxes are delivered to children around the world by Samaritan’s Purse. https://video.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child-overview-2022-promo/
As the year wr
apped up, we donated new and gently used coats, mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves. Fourteen new girls and boys coats and three bags of gloves, mittens, hats, and scarves were given to the HTRS school. The other two totes and five garbage bags full were given to People’s City Mission in Lincoln, Nebraska.
At the end of the December and the beginning of 2022 we were in the process of collecting cash offerings for the recent tornado and fire victims in the United States.
Throughout the year, we collect pop tabs which are taken to the Ronald MacDonald House in Omaha. They receive cash for the recycling of the tabs and the funds are used by the organization.
The Sewing Group reports that for the 2020-2021 season (traditionally September to the following April), sixty-eight blankets were completed. Sixty-one were given to Partnership 4 Hope in Omaha, NE; six were taken to Orphan Grain Train at the Lincoln warehouse; and one blanket was presented to a graduate. Read about that here: Graduate honored by MLC Sewing Group.
The MLC Annual Consignment Sale also makes generous donations to local groups and various projects at times throughout the year. These donations vary from year to year. This year generosity was directed to the Eric Fass Benefit, helping with medical needs.
The bulk of the funds earned by the MLC Women’s group at the lunch stand during the sale is also given generously to various local and regional groups. This year money donations were given to Johnson and Nemaha County Food Pantries, JB Backpack program, Project Response, Orphan Grain Train, and the local care homes.
Three children are sponsored through Compassion International. Tabitha Circle sponsors Tamera from Kenya. The Sunday School children sponsor Lawrence from Uganda and Milka from Kenya. The Sunday School children also use funds from “Noisy Offering” to buy animals once a year though Heifer International.