Over 1,000 volunteers serve their community at 18th annual CareFest

More than 1,100 volunteers from 19 area churches set out to serve their community during the month of May as part of an annual service project called CareFest.

The congregations of Wheaton Bible Church and Iglesia del Pueblo in West Chicago led the volunteer efforts which included landscaping, cleaning, painting, and home repairs.

Volunteers served at 20 schools in four school districts, at six youth and community centers, three shelters, and at more than 30 other nonprofit organizations and residences.

"CareFest is all about being good neighbors," says Joel Duncan, CareFest organizer and director of Local Outreach for Wheaton Bible Church.

"When you give your time, resources, and skills to serve others you are saying that they have value and worth," Duncan said. "Our goal as a church is to care for people in our community - with no strings attached - so that they know we see them, we value them, and we care for their well-being."

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 at homes and schools, planted more than 10,000 flowers, and spread over 7,000 cubic yards of mulch, enough to cover 12 football fields.

All together, CareFest volunteers and their sponsors have donated in excess of 65,000 hours of service to the local community and impacted more than 250,000 people.

For a video of CareFest (in English and Spanish) and more information about the event and the local business who sponsor CareFest, visit carefest.org.