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By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor

HELENA – Helena United Methodist Church is hosting a stuff the bus event from Saturday, Feb. 22, through Sunday, March 1, to help Firehouse Ministries attain some supplies they need.

The event is part of mission week at UMC, which will feature different ways to serve throughout the week, as well as some other special events unique to the church.

Mission week will kick off on Saturday, Feb. 22, with a Rise Against Hunger event from 10 a.m. until noon, which is a meal packing event. That’s also when the stuff the bus operation will begin.

The goal of stuff the bus is to fill the church’s bus with as many supplies as possible to be donated to Firehouse Ministries. The bus will be located out in front of the church every day during mission week, where anyone is welcome to drop off donations.

Opening day of stuff the bus on Saturday, will last from 9:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m., while it will continue with different hours throughout the week. On Sunday, it will be open from 10-11 a.m., Monday 5-7:30 p.m., Tuesday 10-noon, Wednesday 4:30-6:30 p.m., Thursday 10-noon and Saturday 10-noon.

Following the week of filling the bus, there will be a special departure on Sunday, March 1. Following the traditional worship service at 9 a.m. and the contemporary worship service at 11 a.m., Helena UMC will host a special service at noon.

During this special service, the bus will depart for Firehouse Shelter loaded with the donated items.

Some of the items Firehouse Ministries has requested are clothes, linen, food, office supplies and cleaning supplies.

Some of the food they are requesting are canned items as well as shelf stable bulk items like pasta, cereal, grits, coffee, sugar and condiments.

Other events throughout mission week include a special performance by the Sozo Children’s Choir at the worship services on Sunday, Feb. 23, an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 26 at 6:30 and a prayer service on Thursday.