Elise Leonard, Aberdeen First UMC contributed to this article.

Youth at Aberdeen First UMC have raised about $700, with an ongoing goal of $1,000 for The Journey Home in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The Journey Home is a local ministry that assists the homeless and temporarily displaced in Aberdeen. The money was earned entirely by the youth group by baby sitting, performing other jobs and donating part of a paycheck.

Photo:  Youth group at Aberdeen First United Methodist Church.  Photo courtesy of Aberdeen United Methodist Church.

During the month of December, the youth of Aberdeen First United Methodist Church did a canned fruit and monetary drive for a ministry called The Journey Home.  The leaders and members of the youth group have been building a relationship with them since the summer of 2014.

As part of the drive youth were encourage not just to go home and ask for $20 for the drive but to put stake in this drive themselves.  Leaders of the youth group youth leaders were blown away to see the youth work hard and bring in over 100 non-perishable fruit items. 

"We are honored to be a part in advancing God’s Kingdom here on earth, and are excited to continue building a relationship with The Journey Home," said Elise Leonard, youth leader at Aberdeen First UMC.  "After all, we are called to be God’s hands and feet."