Bland Mission Trip Report
Gwynn Tyler, Phyllis Tyler (Mulberry Grove), Gloria Newton (Antioch Scottsville), Joe Weaver (Tar Wallet),
Nan Morris (Chestnut Grove), Cassie Tomlin, Angie Dunfee, Tracy Meinhart (Jones Chapel), Audrey Ragland (Sharon)
Because of the generosity of our member churches and others, $6,080.95 was donated to the Bland Ministry Center in 2026. Additionally, monetary “love gifts” were given to the staff and a monetary donation was left to provide a meal for the local volunteers who work to keep the Bland ministry services going from day to day. 551 jars of peanut butter and a number of blankets were also donated by our churches.
The team was able to get a lot accomplished:
Some of the ladies worked in the clothes closet sorting bags of clothes.
Team members worked in the food warehouse. Along with the other volunteers from Bland, they were able to pack boxes of food to feed 248 families from within about a 50- mile radius from Carroll, Grayson, Bland, Tazwell, Russell, and Wythe counties in southwest Virginia as well as folks from Bluefield, Princeston and McDowel County in West Virginia. We also delivered food to 8 families in Bland and Bastian in northern Bland County.
Several maintenance projects were completed around the ministry center.
Food was prepared for a BMC fundraiser and team members worked the fundraiser.
On Monday several team members went with some of the staff to feed breakfast to hikers on the Appalachia Trail. There were 7 hikers from Oregon, Tennessee, Montana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. It was a wonderful opportunity to share the love of God. The hikers were very appreciative of the breakfast and the opportunity to visit with folks in our part of the world.
On Wednesday evening, the team visited the Kissito Nursing Home to visit the patients and share some gifts such as toiletries, puzzle books, and other items. Following our visit to the nursing home we continued our tradition of visiting the Pit Stop Restaurant in Bastian.
The trip provided a great time of fellowship and getting to know one another. Working alongside the staff and volunteers was special and gave us an opportunity to offer encouragement and to build our friendship with them.
The 2026 Bland Mission Team extends its thanks for the prayer support and financial donations to make this trip possible.
Churches making donations during 2026, either directly to the center, or to the team include Antioch-Scottsville, Chestnut Grove WMU, First Baptist Dillwyn, Jones Chapel, Mt Zion WMU, Mulberry Grove, Sharon, and Tar Wallet. Several individual donations were also made, bringing our total to $7,498.31. Team expenses plus love gifts for the BMC staff and volunteers equaled $1,417.36.
The following churches donated peanut butter: Antioch-Scottsville, Buckingham, Chestnut Grove, First Baptist Dillwyn, Goshen, Mt. Zion, Mulberry Grove, Sharon, and Tar Wallet, along with several individuals.
