For 60 years, Missionary Flights International (MFI) has served its motto of "standing in the gap for missions." The organization was created to provide logistical support to missionary workers by delivering supplies and other needed materials to more than 600 affiliated missions throughout the Bahamas, Haiti and the Dominican Republican.

People can learn more about MFI and its impact at a fundraising banquet to be held on Friday, Oct. 16, at the Kreider Farms Cultural Center at Hoffer Farm, located on the campus of Pleasant View Communities, 547 N. Penryn Road, Manheim. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the event will begin at 6 p.m.

Dave and Barb Stauffer of Mount Joy have been serving with MFI for four years. The organization is a natural fit for the couple, who believe in volunteering.

"Volunteers make the world go round," Barb said. "Volunteers are so important."

When they both retired, the Stauffers purchased an RV and set a goal of traveling, Dave said.

"We wanted to volunteer and do some service while we were traveling," he noted. "We identified a number of different organizations we could help."

While talking to a member of his small group at Calvary Church, Dave learned about MFI.

"They had just built a beautiful RV park and hospitality center in Florida," he said. "We said, 'Hey, let's start snowbirding.' We've been spending two months there each year over the last four years."

While in Florida, the Stauffers help in any way they can to support the efforts of MFI.

"We're workers," Barb said. "We'll do whatever is needed."

Over the years, Barb has collected trash and weeded outside MFI's operation center, helped with mass mailings, relieved the front receptionist, cleaned on-site cottages, inventoried supplies, sorted donations and even chauffeured passengers occasionally upon their return from mission work.

Dave has helped to construct a larger maintenance shop and storage room, built storage shelves to organize tools and hardware, seal-coated the parking lot in front of MFI's hangar, designed and built a floor drain cover and hose reel brackets, replaced a commercial door closure and more.

Both Barb and Dave admit they were hesitant to volunteer with MFI at first.

"I had never heard of it," Barb said.

But when they started doing some research, they learned of the organization's deep impact.

They were especially impressed with MFI's solid track record of delivering supplies and providing transportation for personnel to more than 600 Bible-based affiliate missions.

MFI uses a fleet of DC-3 airplanes for deliveries of medical supplies, Bibles, food, mail and essential provisions to remote airstrips few others can reach, delivering help and hope where it's needed most.

"They have to follow all the FAA inspection rules for maintaining the plane," Dave explained. "And maintenance costs on aircraft are expensive."

Proceeds from the banquet will help with a cockpit upgrade to MFI's N500MF aircraft.

It's currently grounded, having undergone major wing repair and installation of new engines and propellers.

The cockpit upgrade will replace aging instruments with reliable technology, including improved navigation, weather radar and safety awareness systems. The estimated cost for the project is $500,000.

At the banquet, guests will enjoy a meal and hear about the mission and impact of MFI.

"Roger Sands and his wife, Judy, will be speaking at the banquet," Dave said. "Roger served in Haiti, and he's been the vice president of administration at MFI."

Barb encourages people to come to the banquet to learn more about MFI and ways they can help support the organization's work.

"If you want to help a third-world country and learn how you can be a part of this work, come hear more," she said. "This is one way they're guaranteed their money will go to a ministry that supports very, very needy people."

There is no cost to attend the banquet, but registration is requested by Friday, Oct. 9. To learn more or to register, visit http://www.missionaryflights.org or call 772-462-2395.