How Many Buckets Can You Fit in a Mini Van?

January 23rd, 2026 Newsletter

At Midwest Mission, some of the most impactful tools come in the simplest forms—like a 5-gallon bucket.

Buckets and lids are an ongoing and critical need. They are used to assemble Cleaning Kits for hurricane and flood relief, Home Care Kits for Angels of Hope Children’s Homes, and are also frequently requested as standalone items by our partners. Because demand is constant, Midwest Mission often has to purchase buckets to keep up. Every now and then, though, something special happens.

Recently, we were blessed with an incredible donation of buckets—all the way from Nebraska!

A member of Nebraska City First United Methodist Church has a connection with a local business that regularly ends up with unused buckets and lids. Instead of letting them go to waste, the church stepped in. Volunteers collect the buckets, and the men’s group washes, stores, and prepares them for delivery to Midwest Mission locations in Jefferson, Iowa, and Pawnee, Illinois.

Enter Howard and Deb Orndorff.

Howard and Deb are Volunteer Leaders at Midwest Mission and members of Nebraska City First UMC—and frequent bucket couriers. On their most recent trip to Midwest Mission, they decided to make full use of every inch of space in the minivan they were driving. The result? A jaw-dropping 231 buckets and lids packed into the vehicle. No suitcases. No extra bags. Just buckets.

When they arrived and popped the trunk, staff and volunteers couldn’t help but laugh—and marvel—at the impressive display. It was a joyful reminder of the creativity, generosity, and dedication of our volunteers, donors, and supporters, and the lengths they will go to meet needs both around the world and around the corner.

So far, this partnership has resulted in 1,740 buckets being delivered to Midwest Mission—each one ready to carry hope where it’s needed most.

Thank you to Howard and Deb Orndorff for delivering and expertly packing the buckets, and a heartfelt thank you to the members of Nebraska City First UMC for coordinating collections and washing each bucket with care. Your efforts are making a real, tangible difference!

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2025 in Numbers

2025 was a HUGE year — and the numbers are in. Each number represents a life changed, hope sent, and love felt around the world and around the corner. Thank you for the part you played in bringing tangible items to people in need, which made an intangible difference in their lives.

To download the full One-Page Impact Report, visit the Promotional Material page.

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Volunteers at Bike Blitz Repair 50 Bikes in One Day!

The first of our several Saturday events scheduled this year was our Bike Blitz. We were blessed to have 6 regular volunteers alongside 5 fairly new volunteers who discovered Midwest Mission by walking through our doors this year. Together, they served with care and dedication to restore 50 donated bikes in just one day! Each bike was thoughtfully inspected, lovingly repaired, and returned to a safe, ride-ready condition—ready to bring joy, freedom, and hope to those who will receive them. 

Keep an eye out for sign-up information about our next Bike Blitz happening on July 18th!

Our next weekend workshop is on February 14th, and it is a Sewing Machine Repair Workshop. Find out more at midwestmission.org/weekendworkshops