Church's 'Big Serve' looking for 400 volunteers
On Saturday, Oct. 9, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St. in East Dundee, invites all to join in "The Big Serve." It is a part of Immanuel's service year and follows the "mini serve" on Sept. 11 where volunteers cleaned up banks of the Fox River, installed new ceiling tile for the FISH Food Pantry and visited Immanuel's members who are not able to leave their homes.
"We were encouraged from the results of our mini-serve and are looking forward to the Big Serve," said Alison Lyon, the Big Serve team coordinator. "We are hoping to gather 400 volunteers to reach out to the community through a variety of exciting service projects planned for Oct. 9. There are projects for all different skills and ages."
The volunteers are planning on painting at Tom Thumb Day Care Center; cleaning apartments for Crisis Center; giving local seniors help with general home maintenance; and replacing tile at The Life Center. They also plan on working with Habitat for Humanity to contribute to a project already in progress. Crafty volunteers can spend the day working on fleece blankets for children at the Ronald McDonald House and cancer hats to be distributed to Phil's Friends Cancer-Care Organization. Children can help make cards and luggage tags for Journey Packs for Foster Care Children. If you are good with food, the volunteers need help preparing meals for the 40 residents at the Crisis Center and packing care packages for soldiers overseas. Some of the volunteers will be going door to door collecting food for FISH Food Pantry.
The morning will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a complimentary continental breakfast and registration of volunteers. They will send the volunteers out with a prayer by the Rev. William Yonker. Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., volunteers can return to Immanuel for a box lunch. The afternoon shift can register at lunch and go to projects at 1 p.m. Volunteers will be issued an Immanuel T-shirt to wear so that they are identified in the area.
Volunteer registration is held at the church and people are asked to let Immanuel know they will be participating by Saturday, Sept. 25. To volunteer, call (847) 428-4477 or stop by the church office to register.