As MLC members, we work through various congregation groups to help those with needs locally, regionally, and internationally. The following is a recap for 2023.
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.
Wheel Chair for Connor Doeden: We collected funds of $4,849 for a new wheel chair for five year old Connor Doeden who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Connor is the son of Dillon and Jessica Doeden.
Walking in Faith: We collected funds for the Walking in Faith Mission Trip which takes place in the summer. Funds collected were $1,200. Several members of MLC were a part of this Mission Trip.
Undie Sunday: We collected new underwear and socks which will be distributed to those in need. It was estimated that approximately $850 in items were delivered to Orphan Grain Train to be distributed to those in need nationally and internationally.
Foster Care: We collected tangible items for suitcases to be given to foster children as they go to peoples homes for weekend visits. We donated nine duffel bags filled with items plus seven additional bags of items.
Support for Renae Ernesti: Renae had fought cancer for three years. We raised funds to help defer the costs of travel and hardship incurred on her and the family. Total collected was $2,945.
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 199. 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 of $421 at the ice cream dinner and that was given to the Johnson-Brock back pack program.
Operation Christmas Child: 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 Shoeb
ox 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 160 extra boxes with items purchased with the donation. The total for MLC was 410 boxes.
Funds for the shipping costs at $10 per box were also collected during October and November. The boxes are taken first to Tecumseh, then shipped to Denver and then delivered to children around the world by Samaritan’s Purse. https://video.samaritanspurse.org/operation-christmas-child-overview-2022-promo/
Put your Best Foot Forward / Maui: We collected new and gently used shoes for Orphan Grain Train. Six large bags were taken to the Orphan Grain Train warehouse in Lincoln. We also collected money for the fire victims in Maui. Those funds were $1195.
Warm Winter Wear: As the year was coming to a close, we collected new and gently used coats, mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves. A large box and a bag were taken to HTRS school. One large bag went to Johnson-Brock school. Two totes and seven big bags of coats and snow boots were delivered to People’s City Mission in Lincoln, Nebraska. 
Pop Tabs: 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 of $2,095 collected during the year was 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
Compassion International Water Projects: For our second Continual Year-Long Opportunity, members gave designated donations to Compassion International Water Projects. At the end of the year, our total donation of $3,850 was forwarded to Compassion International and will help give children access to clean water sources and sanitary facilities. Compassion works through local churches in 29 countries. Read more: Compassion International Water Project
The Sewing Group reports that for the 2022-2023 season, (traditionally September to the following April), 132 blankets were completed. Forty-eight were given to Partnership 4 Hope in Omaha, NE; ten were given to Moving Veterans Forward in Omaha; sixty-eight were taken to Orphan Grain Train at the Lincoln warehouse; two blankets, each with a John Deere theme, were auctioned off at a July, 2023 toy auction in Tecumseh. The amount of $250 from these two blankets was given by the sewing group to the MLC year-long mission project, Compassion Water Project;
Two blankets were presented to our high school graduates. Read about that here: Graduates honored by MLC Sewing Group.
Phyllis Rippe received a blanket
Angela Holthus showing her blanket
Two blankets were also given to MLC members who now reside at a care home. Phyllis Rippe is a resident of Good Samaritan Home in Auburn and Angela Holthus is a resident of Gold Crest Care Home in Adams.
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. For 2023 over $25,000 was distributed to local fire departments, rescue squads, Johnson Legion, area backpack programs, Walking 4 Faith Mission, and a needy family within the community. 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.
Compassion International Sponsorships: 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.
Thrivent Choice Dollars: As Thrivent members designate funds to MLC, the fund is distributed to help with projects in progress within the congregation. Also his year, funds were lovingly given to a family in need after a fire and to a person dealing with cancer treatments.
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.”