SAVANNAH — A total of 25 service projects in two days may seem like an ambitious goal, but that’s exactly what the coordinators and volunteers of SERVE plan to accomplish Aug. 7 and 8.
Volunteers from the community will be completing service projects throughout the Crestview school district and surrounding areas, including Savannah and Bailey Lakes, Greenwich and Ashland.
This is just the second year of SERVE, but coordinator Luke Kelley hopes to see it become a longstanding community tradition.
Kelley said the goal of the weekend is to show the community the love of Jesus in a practical, tangible way.
“It just began as a desire to put together a local missions trip,” he said. “So many times, churches will put together a missions trip and they’ll travel to the other side of the world or the other side of the country. Those things are good, but not everybody has the ability to buy a plane ticket and take off work. And we also see a need in our own community.”
SERVE is co-organized by representatives from six local churches, including Bethel Baptist, Christ Community, Faith United Methodist, Oakland Lutheran, Savannah United Methodist and Trinity Baptist.
“I was excited to get involved because it brings communities together,” said Andrew Kinney, a member of the organizing committee. “People that don’t typically serve together get a chance to serve each other as well as their neighbors.”
The group began collecting requests for projects earlier in the year. Kelley works with site and volunteer coordinators to make sure each site has enough people and materials to get the work done.
Last year, close to 100 volunteers helped about 10 residents with 14 projects, did maintenance and landscaping work for the Savannah Youth League and painted the lower level of the Savannah Town Hall.
So far, there are 50 registered volunteers for this year, but Kelley hopes another couple dozen will sign up. Volunteers can register by calling Kelley at 567-203-2661, emailing ServeSavannah@gmail.com or sending a Facebook message to the project’s Facebook page.
This year’s volunteer projects will include spreading mulch at a local cemetery, painting a SIGN?, painting and roof repair at Union Athletic Fields and helping at about a dozen residences with yard work, painting and repairs.
According to Kelley, the group hoped to have Serve the School days at Crestview on Aug. 16 and 17. Those projects may or may not occur depending on COVID-19 regulations.
All volunteer tasks, with the exception of one, will be outside and all should allow for social distancing. Volunteers are welcome, but not required, to wear a mask.
