JACKSONVILLE — Methodist churches are stepping up by fundraising and accepting donations to help pay Lon Morris College employees.

Senior pastor Joel McMahon with First United Methodist Church said Bishop Janice Huie with Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church sent out an appeal to all the churches in her jurisdiction asking for help.

“The Texas Conference is taking special offerings to help cover one of the missed payrolls,” McMahon said. “We're trying to raise $250,000 which should cover one payroll.”

The annual conference is trying to raise the money by June 10 which will be forward to the Lon Morris College payroll department by June 12 to be processed for distribution.

“If somebody from the community would like to help cover payroll, they can come the First United Methodist Church, write in the memo line Lon Morris College payroll, then we will make sure it is processed and distributed to the annual conference to be provided to the employees,” McMahon said.

Within the past two weeks, McMahon said First United Methodist Church has raised $7,000 designated for Lon Morris College employees.

McMahon said aside from payroll distribution, Texas Workforce Solution of East Texas will be at the church today from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to help Lon Morris College employees with employee benefits and proper paperwork.

“The annual conference has raised funds to help with direct assistance to employees of Lon Morris College since all of this begun,” he said. “This includes gasoline gift cards groceries and in-hand cash help.”

Tim McRae, a Lon Morris College trustee board member, said he is participating with the church in trying to raise money for the school.

“We welcome any type of contribution with our projects,” he said.

On the other hand, Rob Gowin, with Sadler's restaurant, as well as Lon Morris College alumni have used social media to reach out to others for monetary donations.

“We reached 3,000 to 5,000 people just over this holiday weekend,” Gowin said. “We raised $5,000 to $10,000. I think at the end of the day, we'll raise a lot more.”

A group was formed on Facebook called “Help Lon Morris College in any way you can.” The group has 2,390 members.

Groups were started shortly after news of employees being furloughed broke last week.

Another group called “Help LMC by asking for donation to any UMC in Texas,” was also formed to spread the word of donations.

“Lon Morris and the annual conference have a long standing relationship,” McMahon said, “It's a moral obligation to help these people.”