Everyday hundreds of people gather at the Warm Welcome in Mission, South Dakota for a warm greeting, a warm meal and a few items to take home.  “We have to come everyday,” said Mary Sue Walking Eagle, Warm Welcome guest. “We get grouchy if we don’t.” The Warm Welcome is part of Tree of Life Ministry, supported by the Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church.  Tree of Life in Mission, SD offers three areas of ministry: Tree of Life Thrift Store, construction/home repair, and the Warm Welcome.

The Warm Welcome operates as a cooperative store (co-op). Each guest that enters pays $1.06. The fee entitles the guest to a gift, whatever the co-op items are for the day (crackers, fruit, vegetables, etc.) and a hot meal. The meal is either breakfast or lunch. If someone does not have the money for the co-op fee, they go directly to the Warm Welcome dining area for their meal.  Photo: Hundreds of meals make lots of dirty dishes.

The cooks at the Warm Welcome have been preparing meals for hundreds with a regular kitchen sink and a conventional four-burner stove with an oven. Recently, the Warm Welcome received a gift from Christ's Lutheran Church, a large stove with several burners, a convection oven, a regular oven and a steam table to keep things hot.

The new stove allows for guests to come in and get a warm plate of food at various times. Previously, guests would go find a chair and wait for someone to serve them at the table. Things went a little slower but it was the only way to keep food warm. Now as folks enter the dining area, they pick up their drinks, plate of food, dessert and go to a table. All of the meals are home-cooked from ingredients that are on hand from donations, the South Dakota Food Bank or grown locally. A recent menu for the noon meal was elk meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and cherry cake.

Photo: Everett is preparing to take his meal with him, to have later, a common request from the folks who live on the streets.

Tree of Life is in need of winter shoes right now and greatly appreciates all of the donations that have come in these last few months.  “A big shout-out goes to Christ's Lutheran for their generous gift,” said Linda Garriot, Director of Tree of Life Ministry.  “We invite churches and individuals to call the Tree of Life to set up a time to visit.” 

To make a financial or in-kind donation of clothing, household items or your time, call the office at 605-856-4266. 

Dakotas Conference members making donations for Tree of Life should note the Dakotas Conference Project number: 678.  If you are outside of the Dakotas Conference, please note the Advance number 123615 when donating to Tree of Life.

Photo: Pictured, left to right, behind the counter are Tanya Nelson, Seth Larvie and Theodora First In Trouble.

Tree of Life Ministry from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.