diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f81321ad..814ca03b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 master
 ===
 
+# 4.1.8
+
+* Let collection loops access ConfigContext for helpers. #1879
+
 # 4.1.7
 
 * Upgrade fastimage to 2.0
diff --git a/middleman-core/features/collections.feature b/middleman-core/features/collections.feature
index e12ca0a5..2d313a3c 100644
--- a/middleman-core/features/collections.feature
+++ b/middleman-core/features/collections.feature
@@ -144,6 +144,33 @@ Feature: Collections
     And I should see 'Article: Blog3 Another Article'
     And I should see 'Article: Blog2 Yet Another Article'
 
+  Scenario: Work with local helpers
+    Given a fixture app "collections-app"
+    And a file named "config.rb" with:
+      """
+      module TestHelper
+        def help_me
+          "ok"
+        end
+      end
+
+      include TestHelper
+
+      data.articles.each_with_index do |a, i|
+        proxy "/#{i}-#{help_me}.html", a
+      end
+      """
+    And a file named "data/articles.yaml" with:
+      """
+      ---
+      - "/blog1/2011-01-01-new-article.html"
+      - "/blog2/2011-01-02-another-article.html"
+      """
+    Given the Server is running at "collections-app"
+    When I go to "0-ok.html"
+    Then I should see 'Newer Article Content'
+    When I go to "1-ok.html"
+    Then I should see 'Another Article Content'
 
   Scenario: Collected data update with file changes
     Given a fixture app "collections-app"
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/collections.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/collections.rb
index 22e6d281..b915fffd 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/collections.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/collections.rb
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ module Middleman
               pair[:root].realize!(dataset)
             end
 
-            ctx = StepContext.new
+            ctx = StepContext.new(app)
             StepContext.current = ctx
 
             leaves = @leaves.dup
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/collections/step_context.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/collections/step_context.rb
index 0b17870d..0549b826 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/collections/step_context.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/collections/step_context.rb
@@ -12,17 +12,20 @@ module Middleman
 
         attr_reader :descriptors
 
-        def initialize
+        def initialize(app)
+          @app = app
           @descriptors = []
         end
 
         def method_missing(name, *args, &block)
           internal = :"_internal_#{name}"
 
-          return super unless respond_to?(internal)
-
-          send(internal, *args, &block).tap do |r|
-            @descriptors << r if r.respond_to?(:execute_descriptor)
+          if respond_to?(internal)
+            send(internal, *args, &block).tap do |r|
+              @descriptors << r if r.respond_to?(:execute_descriptor)
+            end
+          else
+            @app.config_context.send(name, *args, &block)
           end
         end
       end