As a Lenten practice, why not raise money so supplies can be pre-ordered for the Rice Meal Packing event for hunger relief at the 2025 Michigan Annual Conference?
JAMES DEATON
Content Editor
Lent begins on Wednesday, March 5, and many Christians follow self-sacrificing practices such as fasting to bring them closer to God. Some also use this season leading up to Easter to begin a new prayer habit, read the Bible more, or even engage in mission work.
Midwest Mission, a veteran ministry partner, will return to annual conference to host a Rice Meal Packing event on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 9 am to noon, before annual conference begins.
There will be a need for 250 volunteers to pack for the fun, three-hour event. You’ll be able to note your interest in assembling when you register for annual conference, beginning March 1.
One easy way for everyone to participate, even if you can’t assemble packs, is by giving money to purchase supplies for the event. Each $2 pack contains enough ingredients for six meals, so your blessing will multiply quickly. This would be a great Lenten practice for you personally or as a mission fundraiser for your Sunday school class, youth group, or church committee.
Click the button below to donate funds now so that conference staff can pre-order enough supplies for Midwest Mission to bring to the event. If you have a large team for assembly or a group donation, please get in touch with Conference Events Planner Nancy Arnold at narnold@michiganumc.org.
Following the success of last year’s event, organizers have raised the bar. Midwest Mission and conference leadership are confident that United Methodists will come together to meet this year’s goal of raising $16,000 and packing 8,000 bags, which would provide 48,000 meals.
Last year, $13,000 was raised to purchase 6,500 rice meal packs at $2 each. Each pack has enough food for six meals, so 39,000 meals were packed in less than three hours. In past years, packs have been shipped to war-torn Ukraine, and this year’s meals will go to a similar place in need.
Each meal pack contains a vitamin-filled seasoning packet, dried vegetables, rice, and soy. The only other ingredient you need is water. The meals are complete and have balanced nutrition, but you can add vegetables, meat, or other ingredients if available. Midwest Mission has created a shelf-stable meal that is adaptable and easy to ship in bulk.
Last year’s Rice Meal Packing was a great intergenerational, sensory-friendly activity that brought people from all over the Michigan Conference together to do good work. There’s a job for everyone, and sitting is fine, whether measuring cups of rice or sealing bags.
Midwest Mission has offered these meal packs (“Blessing Bags”) since 2018. Annual conferences and churches raise money and provide the space with tables and volunteers. Midwest Mission supplies the meal pack components, provides guidance on assembling them, and then takes the packs back to its facility in Pawnee, Illinois, for shipment worldwide.
Chantel Corrie, Midwest Mission’s Executive Director, thanks the Michigan Conference for last year’s successful event and can’t wait to see everyone on May 30 at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme.
If you have general questions about the Rice Meal Packing event, please contact Rev. Beth Titus, coordinator for this event, at titusbeth61@gmail.com.
Last Updated on February 25, 2025