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Pastor takes the plunge to raise funds for mission of youths’ choice

August 29, 2024 / By Mary Dalglish / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The sounds of splashing and cheers of children can be heard for blocks at First United Methodist Church of Mexico. Here, the phrase “together in mission” rings throughout its congregation and projects loudly through their youth. The mission–raising funds for a local organization of the kids’ choice. This year, they chose Victor Transformation, a men’s homeless shelter in Oswego County, and raised over $200 with a dunk tank and the pastor as their target.

Pastor Brandin Greco is no stranger to the idea of using his creativity to raise funds. “I do my best to make it fun, to motivate them, to make it exciting and energetic so they really get into it. I’ve done everything from dying my hair pink to shaving my head bald. We did pies in the face one year. And this year we’re doing ‘Dunk the Pastor.’”

Most churches who do Vacation Bible School usually tack on some kind of missional work to show the children that it’s also our duty to give to others. First UMC of Mexico does its best to keep it local. 

“We have a lot of food pantries and stuff like that. So, we usually have three or four that the kids can pick from because we want them to be part of the choice. They get to pick by the end of the day where we’re donating,” said Pastor Brandin. 

“We’re a small country town, but we have homeless right here in Mexico. We have people who are living out of cars. We have teens that are couch hopping, so we try to give to places like the Mexico Food Pantry, some funds go to our own programs, like the blessing box, and Victor Transformation; because, Oswego itself has a large homeless population.”

First UMC of Mexico also teams up with Lycoming UMC for an annual cardboard village to raise funds. 

“We have cardboard houses out here and the kids would spend all afternoon making them and then we have some games and stuff they can do. We eat a meal together, but then they sleep in the cardboard houses overnight to give them a feel of what it’s like to sleep outside in a box. And the next day they help with worship at church.”

Last year, the event raised over two thousand dollars– an amount that is “awesome for a church this size.” The funds went to the Mexico Food Pantry and Victor Transformation.

When coming up with these eccentric fundraising ideas, Pastor Brandin has one thing in mind–making it fun for the kids. 

“The thing is, you dye your hair pink, it’ll go back to your normal hair color. You shave your head bald; you know the hairs are going to grow back. Those are little things, and you want anything that’s going to make them excited because now when they think about giving, they’ll think about how fun it is to give to other people and hopefully when they grow up, it just becomes second nature. It just becomes a part of their being to give to others. And I’m willing to do anything to get the kids to have fun.”

When asked about plans for next year’s fundraiser, Pastor Brandin replied, “Right now I think carnival style pie throwing is in the lead for next year. I’m going for something a little less physical than this year’s event. I’m still sore from the dunking.”