August Mission: Undies!
It’s back to school time and every child needs new underwear and socks to start the year!!!! So watch those back to school sales and bring in NEW undies and socks for both boys and girls….all sizes. And remember, the boys want boxers just like Dad! (Well, maybe dad doesn’t have batman on his!)
Place Undies and socks in the basket by the elevator for the collection. They will be divided between Butler School and Kumler for distribution. Every Sunday in August is Undie Sunday!!! Thank you for having a heart for mission!!
Care Closet
Last school year Laurel member and Butler parent, Heidi Harrison, shared with Stitch ‘N Go (SNG) items needed to stock the Butler Care Closet. SNG, Clara Swain Circle and others provided gently used kids clothes and shoes throughout the school year. With the upcoming school year, the Care Closet is in need of deodorant, soap/body wash, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, stain remover and healthy snacks. Should you wish to donate, a tote is located on the wooden cabinet, across from the ladies restroom in Fellowship Hall.
We understand there are lots of donation opportunities but wanted to share this as well. Heidi will once again be delivering any donations.
Thank you!
Lydia Circle,
United
Women in Faith
Lydia Circle will gather in Fellowship Hall on Monday, August 24, at 5:30pm to enjoy Appetizers and Desserts. In addition to the fellowship, the women will plan their Mission Activities for 2026-2027. All women are welcome. Contact Ruth Ann Hamilton (217-741-1190) for further information.
Cook Out at the Hamilton’s
It’s Great Family Fun!!
Sunday, Aug. 30
Meet at the home of Rev. John and Ruth Ann Hamilton (157 Nottingham) at 4:00 p.m. for food, fellowship and fun. We will plan to eat at 5:00 p.m.
If you can help organize this event please let us know. We will need Volunteers to help take tables, grill, and other supplies to the Hamilton’s home. This is usually loaded and delivered after one of the church services on that Sunday morning. We will also need grill masters to make sure the meat is perfect. More volunteers will be needed to return items to Laurel.
Come and bring your family and friends!!!
Pastor’s
Bible Study
The Gospel of Luke
Beginning September 8th & 9th
Tuesdays at 6:45am On Zoom -OR- Wednesdays at 6:00pm
Email Pastor Kent to sign up:
KLolling@laurelumchurch.org
Youth Meet and Greet
Who: All Youth, Parents, Grandparents, Friends (invite and bring friends), and of course our whole Laurel Family.
What: A time to meet each other, play games (games set up for all ages) and enjoy a light luncheon
Where: Fellowship Hall
When: September 13, drop in
between 9:00am and Noon
Little Learners Pre-K Program for preschool-aged children provides an educational experience in a safe, nurturing environment where children experience the love of God and the wonders of His creation. Active learning opportunities include story time, music, language and pre-reading skills, math skills, scientific learning, fine motor skills and reasoning skills. We want our children to have fun through active learning experiences and strive to help each child develop at their own pace.
Each week, Little Learners Pre-K Program includes: story time, active learning, music, crafts, games and snack time.
Tuesday & Thursday mornings
9:30am to 11:30 am
Laurel United Methodist Church
631 South Grand Avenue West, Springfield
$30.00 a month
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED
Register in person at Laurel UMC or by calling 217-525-1866.
Questions? Contact JoAnn
Overholt call /text 217-652-8137
joverholt@laurelumchurch.org
Note: This program is formerly known as Scribbles, but it was not clear that this is an educational program.
Laurel Blood Drive
The annual Laurel Blood Drive will be on Sunday, September 27 from 8:45am to 12:15pm. You can sign up for the blood drive either online or in the parlor beginning Sunday August 30. We appreciate your consideration for this worthy cause.
.
Diaper Depot Giveaway
The next Diaper Giveaway is August 15th, 9:45am-11:30am, LUMC Parking Lot. No early arrivals, please.
Illinois families have access to subsidies for formula, childcare and food through a variety of government and community programs. Surprisingly, subsidies for diapers and wipes do not exist. Laurel is stepping into this void. At each Diaper Depot, LUMC distributes diapers, wipes and a book until supplies run out.
Want to get involved in Diaper Depot? There are many ways…
• Help distribute on the give away dates
• Help stock the shelves
• Help with the books
And yes, of course you can just donate at Laurel. There are donation envelopes in the pews, just mark it Diaper Depot. If you have questions or would ike to help, contact Tiffany LeVeque our Diaper Depot Coordinator at tleveque@laurelumchurch.org.
The Diaper Depot Team has been busy! We are now up to over 2,500 packs of diapers given away and nearly 1,000 vehicles attending our drive thru giveaways just this year! The hard working team shows up and gets to work whenever they are called. The third Saturday morning of each month here at Laurel is a fast paced, upbeat morning full of laughter and gratitude from the community. We all leave with full hearts and tired feet! The team enjoys friendship and fellowship while meeting a need in our community.
Per the 2024 census report, 37% of households in Springfield make LESS THAN $50,000 per year.* Leaving many families struggling to afford basic necessities. A child less than 1 year old averages about 10 diapers a day, if you are buying the generic brand diapers that comes to about $80 per month. That is almost $1,000 dollars in diapers just in their first year of life.
At the Diaper Depot Giveaway, we provide families with one pack of diapers per child. Those packages range in size and last from 4-7 days on average. We provide them with a book for each child in their household and a package of wipes. Books and wipes have been donated by generous individuals at Laurel, and local programs such as the Word Up program here in Springfield. Newborn babies are given a handmade bib and matching burp cloth that are lovingly donated by the Stitch ‘N Go Mission that is also housed at Laurel.
Recently, a Laurel Member reached out to share how the Diaper Depot has made a difference in our community. This is their story:
“I am a strong advocate for Diaper Depot. I know the extreme cost and the impact that makes on a young families budget, so whenever I see a young family, I ask them if they have heard of the program. Today, I was at Walmart, on South 6th St, and a young mother of an infant and a toddler approached ME and said she wanted to thank ME for telling HER about Diaper Depot. She said that when she was pregnant with her little one, I asked her if she had heard about the mission work. She said, no, so I filled her in. She was so very thankful!! She said that they go every month and it is so very helpful to her and her family. I received a very generous hug from her and was introduced to both of her beautiful children. She struggled with English, but she definitely got her point across!! So very happy that I was able to approach her and share with her the wonderful mission work that is done at Laurel United Methodist Church!! Keep up the good GOD work, ladies and gentlemen.”
The cost of ONE giveaway ranges from $2,200 to $3,000. Grants from the United Methodist Foundation have been instrumental in funding this mission in 2026, but the support of Laurel UMC has been essential to keeping The Diaper Depot alive. There are many ways you can help! We always accept donations of diapers, scent free wipes, and baby books. If you would like to join the Diaper Depot Team, there is a spot for everyone. You can reach out to Tiffany LeVeque at tleveque@laurelumchurch.org or contact the church office at 217/525-1866. If you would like to give, Sunday, August 23rd there will be a Special Sunday Offering for the Diaper Depot, and all of your money will go directly to purchasing diapers that are given away.
The volunteers of Diaper Depot Mission believe that there is no greater gift you can give a baby than comfort. And a clean, dry diaper is our way of giving babies in our community comfort from the Laurel UMC family
Jesus said to them “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” —Mark 10:14
Did you know?
- 37% of households in Springfield make less than $50,000 a year
- 13% of Springfield residents are living below poverty level
- 45% of females in Springfield age 18 to 24 years old are living below the poverty level
- 74% of poor (below poverty level) families in Springfield are single mother households.
- Children under the age of 1 will average 10 diapers per day
- $80 per child per month in generic diapers
- 150,000 Illinoisans have completely lost their SNAP benefits since October 2025.
- Illinois minimum wage is $15 per hour working full time provides $2,700 monthly gross income
- 2 bedroom APARTMENTS in Springfield Start at $1,000 per month in the lower income neighborhoods
https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US1772000-springfield-il/
https://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Springfield-Illinois.html
https://scienceinsights.org/how-many-diapers-per-day-by-age-chart-included/
https://fox2now.com
Dana's First Mission Trip
…continued from the May 2026, Laurel Leaf
As reported last month:
Dana joined the Volunteers In Mission International (VIMI), a non-profit connected with the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, to help Sagbayan UMC, in Bohol, Philippines, and its pastor, the Rev. Lyster Patigdas, launch the soon-to-be Santa Cruz UMC, making it only the second UMC in this large island of 1.5 million people.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND SEE PICTURES
Communion Deliveries
If anyone would like communion delivered to you personally at home, please let the church know. Also, if anyone wants to help deliver communion, please let us know. We are gaining more requests for communion, so we need more people to help deliver.
Is your contact information up to date in our online directory? Are you sure?
We want to be sure we can communicate with you! Please take a moment to log on to the Online Directory to check your information. — Thank you!
Click here to download easy instructions. Or watch a tutorial video here.
What to know more about what's going on at Laurel?
Check out our monthly newsletter, Laurel Leaf, here.