Rapid City, SD: United Methodists across North Dakota and South Dakota took a special offering at Thanksgiving and collected over $8,000 to support the HOPE Center of Rapid City. 

The First United Methodist Church in Rapid City saw a need with people who were living in poverty and people who did not have homes.  In 2012, the church remodeled a building right next door and started a day center known as the HOPE Center.

Key leaders of the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church presented the donation on Tuesday, February 17.  Reverends Randy Cross, District Superintendent, Greg Kroger, lead pastor at Rapid City First United Methodist Church, and Doug Diehl, retired pastor and board member of the HOPE Center were on hand to present the check to Anna Quinn, Executive Director of the HOPE Center.

The HOPE Center started when Reverend Doug Diehl and members of First United Methodist of Rapid City visited a day center for those in need in Colorado.  From there, under Diehl’s leadership, the HOPE Center began. 

Each year the Dakotas Conference collects an offering around Thanksgiving.  Proceeds from the 2014 offering were designated for the HOPE Center and to assist in fighting Ebola.  The offering is one way to reach out across many miles and help those in needs as well as honor the work of First United Methodist Church in Rapid City and the HOPE Center.

HOPE Center from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.