As a congregation, we work to help those with needs locally, regionally, and internationally. The following is a recap for 2022.
Food Pantries: In January, food and paper products were collected and delivered to the Johnson and Nemaha County food pantries. We collected and delivered five totes to the two food pantries.
Walking in Faith: We collected funds for the Walking in Faith Mission Trip which takes place in the summer.
Baby Kits: We collected items such as diapers, diaper pins, rubber pants, sleepers, onesies, washcloths, receiving blankets and heavier blankets. Those were assembled into the layettes and then delivered to Orphan Grain Train. We assembled 37 kits. They will be distributed nationally and worldwide to meet the needs of people.
Partnership 4 Hope: We collected food and paper items for Partnership for Hope’s food pantry. A SUV loaded full was delivered to the Omaha, Nebraska location. This organization works to distribute items to young adults who are aging out of the foster care system in Nebraska. https://www.partnership4hope.com/
Moving Veterans Forward: We collected a trailer and a pickup full of furniture, kitchen items, etc. We had eight can openers, two vacuums, a bedroom set, desk, and kitchen items galore (to name just a few of the items) that were delivered to the Moving Veterans Forward warehouse in Omaha, Nebraska. This organization, working with The Veteran’s Administration in Omaha helps homeless veterans in Nebraska and Iowa to be placed in homes. More to read here: https://mvfne.org/about-us/
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 assembled and then delivered to Orphan Grain Train was 187. Orphan Grain Train will distribute the school kits nationally and internationally.
Extra school supplies were given to the Johnson County Central and Johnson-Brock schools. We also collected an offering at the ice cream dinner that was given to the Johnson-Brock Backpack Program.
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 118 extra boxes with items purchased with the donation. The total for MLC was 338 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 was coming to a close, we collected new and gently used coats, mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves. Ten new girls and boys coats and a large bag of hats and gloves were given to the HTRS school. One new coat and a large number of hats and gloves were given to JCC School. Two totes and four garbage bags full of coats and snow boots were given to People’s City Mission in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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.
Lutheran Bible Translators: For a Continual Year-Long Opportunity members gave designated donations to Lutheran Bible Translators. The total funds collected during the year were sent at the end of the year to Lutheran Bible Translators which is a mission partner of the NALC. They have been partnering with the language communities for nearly 60 years. LBT allows our members to invest in the local leaders of the Bible translation movement, so more people will have God’s Word in their hands. Read more: Lutheran Bible Translators
The Sewing Group reports that for the 2021-2022 season, (traditionally September to the following April), 121 blankets were completed. Sixty-five were given to Partnership 4 Hope in Omaha, NE; ten were given to Moving Veterans Forward in Omaha; forty-two were taken to Orphan Grain Train at the Lincoln warehouse; and four blankets were presented to our high school graduates. Read about that here: Graduates 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 past year over $23,000 was distributed to local fire departments, rescue squads, and area backpack programs. 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 over $2,000 was given to local care homes, Project Response, Backpack program, food pantries, and Orphan Grain Train.
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. Several members of the congregation sponsor children on their own with Compassion. The Sunday School children use funds from “Noisy Offering” to buy many animals once a year though Heifer International.
Martin Luther Church – living out Philippians 2:4
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”