Quality Citizen Award

Belle Plaine Community Foundation is honored to award the 2025 Quality Citizen to Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance.  Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance has benefited many in our community throughout the years.  We are blessed to have the organization in our community.

The Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance began in November 1984.  It was created to help the people of the Belle Plaine community who were struggling to meet the basic needs of life – food, utilities, and rental assistance.  In its beginnings it was run by the Pastors of the Belle Plaine community, but it is now run by a board of laity with guidance and input from the Pastors.

With help from the churches, community and schools, in 2024 Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance was able to provide food to 33 families including 142 individuals (some multiple times).

The primary source of nonperishable food is received from the school district’s Operation Compassion which has been traditionally held after the Thanksgiving holiday.  The event is a blessing, and used to provide enough supplies for the entire year.  With increased need in the community, the Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance money purchases the necessary additional food for the year.

Within the last several years the Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance has been blessed to add a freezer which allows for donations of hamburger, chicken, and other meats to be collected for the distribution.  Additional blessings are the donations of bread, eggs and fresh produce to be given out each week.

In 2024 the Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance paid out $15,712.13 in assistance for utilities and rent.  Donations to help with these expenses come from the Community Thanksgiving Services, other community events such as 4th of July, as well as donations from businesses and individuals.

The Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance is also responsible for the community Angel Tree program at Christmas.  In 2024, Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance helped make Christmas wishes come true for 56 children (24 families).  The Angel Tree program required participation by the entire community to make it a success.  Individuals are essential from gathering applications, to adopting an Angel, then shopping, purchasing, and wrapping gifts.  The Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance gathers, sorts, and sacks not only the Angel Tree gifts but also food sacks for each family.  Each sack generally contains fresh fruit donated by the Women’s Club, as well as donations of ham, potatoes and hot rolls.  Finally Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance distributes all that has been collected.

Additionally, Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance has been used to provide help for community members in an anonymous way.  From plumbing, roofing, car repair, or other needs the Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance doesn’t support, individuals sometimes assist in helping cover the costs with anonymity.

It is the hope and prayer of Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance that they can help the underprivileged in our community, or those for whatever reason who may be struggling through a season, while giving them dignity and grace.

Congratulations, Belle Plaine Ministerial Alliance!  Thank you for your service in our community!