May 14 is Community Day of Service

Hundreds of volunteers from churches on the Eastside will spend Saturday, May 14 working at 29 non-profit organizations in 11 communities across the region. Event organizers from Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church estimate mobilizing as many as 800 volunteers from eight area churches for this annual one-day event.

According to event planners, last year more than 640 volunteers signed on from seven churches to serve to provide more than 2,900 hours of service to 21 not-for-profit organizations in 11 communities throughout metropolitan Seattle.

Event organizers estimate needing 800 volunteers this year. Volunteers will be rolling up their sleeves at agencies such as Northwest Harvest, Cougar Mountain Zoo, Camp Korey, Eastside Baby Corner, Vine Maple Place, Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank, Eastside Friends of Seniors, Tent City IV, Lifewire, and Habitat for Humanity.

Event planners still need 400 volunteers to complete the 29 work projects. Participation in Day of Service is open to the entire community and offers volunteer opportunities for all ages. Volunteer as a family or as a neighborhood. Teenagers can earn community service hours for their schools through Day of Service.

To make volunteering for the event easier, Day of Service now has an online registration website at http://www.DayOfService.info. Plus, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is utilizing their online service website at www.JustServe.org.

Volunteer projects are broad and varied, from baking cookies as a thank-you for police and fire to building low-income homes through Habitat for Humanity. From serving lunch to the homeless at Tent City to sorting food and clothing donations at local food banks.

This year marks the fifth year for this community-wide initiative originated by Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church. That first year, 216 volunteers from Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church completed projects at 12 nonprofits for a total of 864 hours. Last year, 640 volunteers from seven churches signed on to work on 27 projects benefiting 21 nonprofit organizations in eight communities for a total of 2,700 hours.

“Last year’s Day of Service was an exceptional day all around,” said Nancy MacPherson, event founder, and a member of Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church. “The best part is we get to go back for a fifth time to many of the organizations we have grown to love as well as the opportunity to help at new agencies,” observes MacPherson.

“There are just so many people out there with so many diverse needs that I feel blessed that we help people through this event,” adds Anita Bechtel, event co-chairman from Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church.

Linda Saddler is also a co-chairman for the workday from Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church. “I am in awe of the coordination to give so many in our community the opportunity to be a part of his tremendous day,” she observes. The good each may do for our area, the friends we will meet and make, all knowing we will receive more than we ever may give in time and efforts.

“As communities of faith, this is an opportunity for us to share God’s love and grace,” says Pastor John LaMunyon, senior pastor at Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church. “And we hope to inspire people from all walks of life to experience the joy of offering the humble gift of service.”

In addition to Sammamish Hills Lutheran Church, Faith United Methodist Church, and Pine Lake Covenant Church have signed on to participate.

“This year we welcome Faith United Methodist Church to the planning team. We were thrilled to partner with six churches last year, and we hope more churches will join us this year,” observed MacPherson.

Additionally, five Wards from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—two Sammamish wards, Union Hill of Redmond Ward, Robinswood Ward of Bellevue and the Carnation Ward—will also help.

"We are excited to link hands and hearts with our fellow churches in the Sammamish and Carnation areas as we unite to provide needed service,” says Gordon Tanner, president of the Redmond Stake, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “This service will positively impact both those served and those who serve. We are very grateful for the leadership and sacrifice of all who have organized this Community Day of Service, and of those who respond to the call to serve."

Mark Meredith, lead pastor at Pine Lake Covenant Church, says, “We were really excited to be involved with Day of Service. We hope this becomes an annual event for our church as it has for Sammamish Hills Lutheran.” Meredith adds, “We are glad to help other organizations that are on the front lines making a difference in people’s lives every day.”

“My dream for Day of Service is to continue the event annually and hope the entire plateau looks forward to this day annually as together we help those in need,” MacPherson concludes.

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