This missionary outreach project, in coordination with the Midwest Distribution Center, will feed 3,600 people
By Jim Beers
CHESTER – Members of the First United Methodist Church in Chester hosted a Missionary Outreach Project Sunday July 12 from 1-4 p.m. in the FUMC Chester Fellowship Hall.
Betty Gengler is Pastor at FUMC Chester.
The project was coordinated by Vicky Beers, Worship Chairperson at the church. A total of 17 members took part in the project including a great mixture of youth and adults.
Adult volunteers included Vicky Beers, Jim Beers, Pastor Betty Gengler, Judge Richard Brown, Jeanne Kleinschmidt, Donna Clendenin, Andrea Costilow, Sue Dildine, Kaile Eggemeyer, Gwendy Garner, Lindsey Hargis, Kathy Belcher, and Angela Boon. Youth volunteers included Jason Sibley, Luke Hobeck, Kylie Eggemeyer, and Ryder Eggemeyer.
The project was coordinated with the Midwest Distribution Center in Chatham, Illinois. This Methodist Agency is a Regional Mission Center of the United Methodist Church and supplies relief efforts for all types of needy individuals all over the world.
The agency assists fire victims, flood and storm emergencies, food deficits, and other needy situations. At the Distribution Center facility, Personal Hygiene Kits, Student Supply kits, Home Care Kits, Birthing Kits, Feminine Hygiene Kits, Layette Kits, Tornado Kits, and Bed Pack Kits are assembled, in addition to the Rice Meal “Blessing Bags” that the First United Methodist Church created.
At FUMC Chester the group had two bagging lines set up. Each line was designed to run with ten people per line. If there aren’t enough people to fill all ten stations, some stations can be run by doubling-up workers.
The rice bags contain rice, soy product, a vitamin packet, and dried vegetables. Each bag is weighed for an exact amount of food product and heat-sealed to keep the bags from opening in transit. Sealed bags are packed in professionally designed boxes which hold 40 rice bag meals, otherwise known as “Blessing Bags”. Once the boxes are filled, they are placed on a pallet and loaded in the travel trailer to be driven to the Midwest Distribution Center.
Each Rice Bag or “Blessing Bag” will feed a family of six individuals. The First United Methodist Church in Chester filled a total of 600 rice meal bags. FUMC Chester, therefore created enough food to feed a total of 3,600 hungry individuals.
Rice Bag Meals are sent to needy areas around the world and around every corner of the United States. By providing these “Blessing Bags” the Methodists are actively serving as the hands and feet of Jesus, showing God’s love in a practical way.
Members of the First United Methodist Church in Chester packed 600 “Blessing” Rice Bags to feed 3,600 people. The mission project was held in cooperation with the Midwest Distribution Center in Chatham, Illinois. Pictured are (Front Row, left to right) Andrea Costilow, Lindsey Hargis, Jason Sibley, Sue Dildine, Ryder Eggeneyer, and Kaile Eggemeyer. BKathy Belcher, Vicky Beers, Luke Hobeck, Donna Clendenin, Pastor Betty Gengler, Kylie Eggemeyer, Jeanne Klieneschmidt, Sue Dildine, Ryder Eggemeyer, and Kaile Eggemeyer. (Back, standing) Dr. Jim Beers and Judge Richard Brown. Not pictured: Gwendy Garner and Angela Boon. Photo by Gwendy Garner
Andrea Costilow and other workers on Production Line No. 1 work to fill 600 bags of a rice meal blend of notorious food Sunday July 12 at the First United Methodist Church in Chester. Jim Beers Photo
First United Methodist Church of Chester Pastor, Betty Gengler, Donna Clendenin and Jeanne Klienschmidt fill rice bag meals at their 2026 Mission Project in conjunction with the Midwest Distribution Center. Jim Beers Photo
Kaile Hargis, Vicky Beers, Lindsey Hargis, and Ryder Eggemeyer work on Production Line 2 at the First United Methodist Church in Chester. The 2026 Mission Project netted 600 bags of “Blessing Rice Meals” which will feed 3,600 people. Jim Beers Photo
Gwendy Garner, FUMC Chester Lay Leader, registers volunteers at the 2026 Mission event in which the group filled 600 “Blessing Rice Meal” bags to be distributed across the globe and around the corner in the United States. At the end of the day, 17 volunteers in the Methodist Youth and Adult groups had created enough food to feed 3,600 people. Jim Beers Photo
Kylie Eggemeyer (left) and Kathy Belcher (right) fill rice bag “Blessing Meals” at the First United Methodist Church in Chester. The event was the church’s 2026 Mission Project in conjunction with the Midwest Distribution Center in Chatham, Illinois. The group filled 600 meal bags which will feed 3,600 people. Jim Beers Photo
Angela Boon, Sue Dildine, and Jason Sibley work on Production Line 2 at the 2026 First United Methodist Church in Chester. The event was the 2026 Mission Project to feed hungry people in other parts of the world and right around the corner here in the United States. Chester’s church filler 600 bags which will feed a total of 3,600 people. Jim Beers Photo
Volunteers from the First United Methodist Church in Chester work on two separate production lines to fill 600 “Blessing Rice Meals” Sunday July 12 at the church’s Fellowship Hall. The event was the 2026 Mission Project which is in cooperation with the Methodist Midwest Distribution Center located in Chatham, Illinois.This year the project created enough food to fed 3,600 people. Jim Beers Photo
Vicky Beers, Coordinator of the First United Methodist Church in Chester 2026 “Blessing Rice Meal Project” and husband Dr. Jim Beers, stand in front of the Midwest Distribution Center trailer. The Beers duo had just finished loading 600 bags of rice meals which were driven to Chatham, Illinois and unloaded at the Midwest Distribution Center which is the Methodist coordinator of many disaster relief efforts. The Chester Church, pastored by Betty Gengler, created enough food to feed 3,600 people this year! Photo by Jim Beers Selfie