Churches, volunteers unite for ‘Serving the City as One’ on April 13

(CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON — People across Madison County are volunteering to make a difference on April 13 for “Serving the City as One.”

With this countywide effort, Christians will volunteer for outreach and service projects to clean up, repair and improve community sites. In 2012, more 2,800 members from 68 congregations finished 230 projects that impacted about 10,000 individuals in the Madison and Huntsville areas.

Individuals can register at servingthecityonline.com. Registration is open through April 1. However, walk-up volunteers on April 13 are welcome and will be assigned to a project team.

CrossPointe Church is serving as the hub site for Madison. “Serving the City as One” organizers have met there during February and March.

In Madison, volunteers will visit assisted-living facilities to share food, fellowship, bingo and crafts with residents. At nursing homes, individuals can share a conversation or sing for senior citizens.

Workers will pursue construction projects for home repairs, wheelchair ramps, painting and plumbing repairs. Gayle Milam with Madison Parks and Recreation will schedule cleanup tasks for parks, schools and greenways, along with mulching at neighborhood parks and planting trees.

School improvements will include painting West Madison Elementary School’s gym and cafeteria and repairs at Endeavor Elementary School.

In-house projects will include letter and card writing and sewing work for hospice T-shirts, headbands and cosmetic bags. For the community lunch on April 13, people are needed to prepare food, greet, sing or perform during a worship service.

Participating churches include Restoration Church, free car wash and community lunch; First Baptist Church of Madison, sewing; CrossPointe Church, breakfast and free oil change for seniors and single parents; The Brook, book drive for Downtown Rescue Mission and other volunteering; and Asbury United Methodist Church, community garden.

ARC of Madison County will provide shredding service.

Other hub sites are Union Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, north Huntsville; First Baptist Church, central Huntsville; and Willowbrook Baptist Church, south Huntsville.

For information, call Larry or Deborah Ward at 256-325-7313 or 256-830-5193 or email to lhward21@juno.com.