Members of the Vernon County Ministeral Alliance discuss how they can work together to meet the needs of Vernon County citizens.--Nancy Malcom/Daily Mail

Editor's note: Vernon County United Way's annual fund drive is under way, and the $115,000 they plan to raise will go to 19 local groups. During the fund drive, the Nevada Daily Mail is featuring several of these groups, so the people of Vernon County may better see how their money is spent in the community.

Representing more than 26 local churches, the Vernon County Ministerial Alliance meets 10 times a year to discuss how to work together to serve citizens of Vernon County.

They receive funding from the United Way and use that money to maintain the Food Pantry and Community Outreach services.

Bill Platt of the First Christian Church in Nevada and president of the Ministerial Alliance said, "The purpose of the organization is to work together to create a sense of faith in our community and county." Churches represented by the Alliance and their leaders are: Bill Cox, First Baptist, Nevada; Kim Osborn, St. Paul Lutheran (Ella); Bill Platt, First Christian; Jeanette Hawkins, First Baptist, Nevada; Dennis Painter, Crossroads Community Church; Jason Blight, First Baptist; David Rorabaugh, First Christian, Nevada; Tom Pyle, Community of Christ; Lester I. Thornton (retired) United Methodist; Ralph Clark, United Methodist; Judie Sliffe, Nevada First Baptist; Justin Hoye, St. Mary's Catholic, Nevada; Wes Anderson, Community Christian; Steve Russ, First Baptist; Terry Mosher, Calvary Baptist; Connie Locke, Schell City/Horton/Metz United Methodist Churches; Lynn Quist, Sheldon/Bronaugh/

Moundville United Methodist Churches; Dennis Mix, Nevada Seventh-Day Adventist; Ted Estes, All Saints, Nevada; and Mike Safferlee, Church of the Nazarene.

The organization has been active since the 1950s and addresses needs throughout Vernon County. Many transients have found help through the organization when they are referred by Community Outreach or the Nevada Police Department.

"We offer help to a lot of people through Community Outreach and the Food Pantry," Platt said. "We also offer help with utilities, food and other needs through the Emergency Relief Fund that was started by the Alliance in the 1970s." The Alliance also offers prayer services for the Nevada City Council meetings and organizes the "Meet Me at the Pole" services, an annual event where school students meet at the flag pole for prayer. This event is held the third Wednesday each September.

Various members of the Alliance offer chaplain services.

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On the National Day of Prayer the local radio station donated time each hour for Alliance members to request listeners to join them in prayer.

To support the Alliance they suggest citizens support their own local church, and donate food items or money to the Food Pantry/Community Outreach organizations.

Kim Osborn, Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran (ELLA) said they are conducting a Harvest for the Holidays and students will be collecting non-perishable food items for donation to the Food Pantry.

The Ministerial Alliance will help raise money for United Way during the Octoberfest this Saturday by selling home-made pies from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.