The Iowa-Nigeria partnership, part of the United Methodist Church’s missionary work, is looking for working typewriters to send to Nigeria.

The typewriters will be used by pastors in school and mission offices, said Chuck Heileman, coordinator for the program. Some will also be given to the Women’s Leadership Training Centers, which provides education for women who want to work as secretaries.

The idea to collect typewriters had been discussed both in Iowa and Nigeria, Heileman said, but the official request from Nigerian Methodist leaders came to Iowa in July with the visit of a bishop and three pastors.

On the first Saturday in November, a Thanksgiving Ingathering will be held at five churches across the state, where the typewriters will be prepared to be sent overseas.

Between 35 and 40 typewriters have already been donated, Heileman said, nearing the minimum goal of 50. A similar drive last year provided 16 machines to Nigerians.

Heileman said there are several reasons for the drive. “We are striving to make Christianity and Methodism more prevalent, but we also wanted to make an effort as humanitarians to help all Nigerians, not only Christians,” he said.

If anyone has a working typewriter that they would like to donate, take it to the Collegiate United Methodist Church at 2622 Lincoln Way, or call the office at 292-6936. The United Methodist Conference Center in Des Moines is also accepting donations at 500 E. Court Ave. in the MidAmerican Energy Building.

The church is asking for donations of three to six new ribbons for the donated typewriter because American ribbons are hard to find.