Gretchen McGlynn and Jane Klaver, from left, both of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, take their turn at Fareway ringing bells for the Ecumenical Human Needs fund.

If you hear the bells ringing, they are ringing for your neighbors.

If you don’t hear them, but see a sign that reads: Ecumenical Needs: Neighbors helping neighbors, pay attention. Local volunteers are raising money for the Ecumenical Human Needs fund.

“As the need gets greater, our need for raising money gets greater,” Sharon Perry, a volunteer from the First Congregational United Church of Christ, said.

Coordinated through the Webster City Ministerial Association, this annual fundraising effort uses members from a range of Webster City churches to raise money for the fund that supports all kinds of need in this community.

And they only have one more weekend to raise those much-needed funds.

“The storms for the last three weekends have been tough,” Perry said. “With the bad weather preventing both volunteers to be visible, and donors who don’t want to be out in the weather, fundraising is hard this year.”

Perry has been working with the Ecumenical Human Needs committee since 1984. Back then, she was the director for the Iowa Department of Social Services in Hamilton County. She and Tom McKee saw the need, and he visited with all the churches about an organized effort of assistance.

Prior to that time, individuals would go from one church to the other without any coordination. Ministers would discover the same person would go from church to church, collecting money from each of them.

The need may have been real, but the need for coordination became apparent.

The Ecumenical Human Needs committee is made up of five volunteers who review applications from individuals who have turned to the churches for local assistance. Applicants fill out paperwork they can get from Trinity Lutheran Church.

After the application is returned, a volunteer is assigned to that person’s case. Interviews are held and, after an investigation is completed, the application is taken to one of the ministers. Once the minister signs off, a check will be written.

“The Ecumenical Human Needs committee works with families in tragic situations,” Perry said.

The financial support that is needed is significant.

According to the Rev. Joe Pierson, treasurer for WCMA, the Ecumenical Human Needs committee spends more than $24,000 each year to support families in need. This is in addition to funding the Backpack program and food pantries.

“It’s more like $30,000 now,” Perry said.

“We are able to help with rent up to $800 per month,” she added. “Some families need help with their rent, facing eviction.”

Or sometimes people need help paying the utility bill.

“It’s hard when you don’t have a way to keep warm,” Perry said.

Ten churches work together through the Ministerial Association. One of the newest to join is the Hispanic church, IDPMI Casa de Restauracion, located at 821 Seneca Street.

Perry heaped praises on their efforts.

“If there is a language barrier, they really help a lot,” she said. “We’ve used them several times this winter.”

Perry gave an example of how the assistance works: A man was working, but needed surgery, which was keeping him from working.

“He wasn’t going to have enough money to pay his rent,” she said. “They helped him fill out the application, and they were going to follow him, and make sure he is okay until he goes back to work.”

She added, “Every time someone puts money into the barrel we know how it is going to be used. We can help people right here.”

Even though the Ecumenical Human Needs committee is an emergency funding source, it can also point applicants to food pantries for assistance.

“If they need food, and the family doesn’t have a car, someone will deliver the food,” Perry explained.

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Trinity Lutheran Church and Anchor Point Baptist all have food pantries.

“All the volunteers through the Ecumenical Needs support the program with personal expenses of gas, paper and printing,” Perry said. “All the dollars raised go toward client needs.”

Sometimes they help find housing.

“People have to be looking for a job or have a job before we can help them,” Perry said. “We work with people on budgeting, and help them find housing they can afford. We encourage them to have a job that will sustain them.”

Bellringers will be found between noon and 7 p.m. at each of the facilities that have agreed to allow them to stand and ring. They can be found at Bomgaar’s, Hy-vee and Fareway on Saturday and Sunday in Webster City.

If you can’t find the bell ringers, the Ministerial Association is always happy to accept checks through the local churches; you can also mail them to the Webster City Ministerial Association, c/o St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1001 Beach Street, Webster City, Iowa 50595.