On Sat., Sept. 15, 2012, hundreds of teenagers from Yorkville,Ill., and the surrounding area will converge on a local neighborhood to bring help and hope to citizens in need. They will unite to work on projects such as painting, minor home repairs, landscaping, cleaning and beautifying city blocks, alleyways and parks, planting community gardens, removing graffiti and cleaning vacant lots.
Known as The Big Day of Serving, this massive joint effort is organized by Group Mission Trips, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Group Mission Trips provides dynamic opportunities including service events that help children, youth and adults connect with Jesus Christ while serving people in His name. It is a part of a new movement of Christian teens across the country “uniting to show what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” Group is interdenominational, focusing on the core beliefs that bring Christians together.
Since 1977, Group has hosted nearly a quarter million participants and provided more than 6 million hours of volunteer service directly to people in need, making a real difference by serving elderly and disadvantaged people, while also having fun working with friends and meeting other teens from the area.
In anticipation of The Big Day of Serving, Yorkville’s Community Director Bill Ziech says, “I can’t wait to not just see how the community is renovated, but also to see how lives are transformed in this process. Our team of volunteers is hard at work putting together an amazing experience for those who attend Yorkville’s Big Day of Serving.”
Dennis Bowers, youth leader for Peace Lutheran Church, took his youth group to help with a previous Big Day of Serving. He said, “It was good to see the youth work so hard to show God’s love to other people they had never met before.”
City officials are invariably amazed at what well-organized youth groups can accomplish in one day. The local response to The Big Day of Serving is extremely positive, and the citizens of the renovated neighborhoods are typically overwhelmed with renewed pride and hope. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.
As Cheryl Boettger, education director for Mt. Washington United Methodist Church, said, “I like the one-day format. My group had a wonderful day, and we were grateful to have the opportunity to serve.”
Local and area-wide groups of teens are encouraged to get involved in The Big Day of Serving. Youth leaders are invited to register their entire groups (grades 6 through 12) to participate. Early-bird registration is $29 per person and includes pre-event project selection and coordination, a kickoff rally the morning of the event, all supplies and project materials, lunch, devotional materials for mid-day break and a neighborhood Block Party Celebration to finish the day.
Complete information for participating in this powerful event of synergy and service to make a dramatic difference for people in need is available by phone or on the website, where you also can see other cities involved.
