CareFest mobilizes over 1,000 volunteers for community service

More than 1,000 volunteers served in the community as part of a local effort called CareFest on May 2.

With the theme of “Neighbors Serving Neighbors,” volunteers lead by Wheaton Bible Church and Iglesia del Pueblo spent more than 6,000 hours cleaning, painting, planting, landscaping, building, and repairing at more than 70 locations in 12 local communities.

Locations included homeless shelters, women’s shelters, counseling centers, youth and community centers, schools in four school districts, and at the homes of 37 families in need. The work was supported by 27 local businesses.

“I am always inspired to see how CareFest brings together people of diverse generations, backgrounds, skill sets, and passions to work for the good of our communities,” said Kyle Reschke, one of the CareFest organizers and pastor of Local and Global Missions for Wheaton Bible Church. “We believe part of why we exist as a church is to love our neighbors. Our desire is to always be living as neighbors who serve and bless our neighbors — building bridges of love and compassion into the community.”

Since 2005, CareFest has brought together volunteers of all ages from area churches and local businesses to donate their time, material, and talents to serve the community.

Volunteers have used hundreds of gallons of paint, planted more than 11,500 flowers, and spread over 6,000 cubic yards of mulch, enough to cover 25 football fields.

Altogether, CareFest volunteers and their sponsors have donated in excess of 75,000 hours of service impacting the lives of up to 26,000 people.

To find more information, including a list of the local businesses that sponsor CareFest, visit carefest.org.