At City Serve Day on Saturday, October 5th, the student ministry here at Pulpit Rock Church served at Family Life Services. There were multiple projects to choose from on their property, but my friends and I helped with sealing their fences to prepare them for the winter months and keep their paint from chipping.
At the end of the day, I went on a tour of their building and listened to the background of their ministry and why their work is so beneficial to our community. Family Life Services assists houseless single moms and their children who might be facing other challenges in their lives. They provide housing to these families along with various programs and community support to help them gain stability and self-sufficiency. It was impactful to learn about the specific needs of our community that we might not be aware of and practical ways we can support and serve others. As a highschooler, I can often become consumed in my own schedule with school or work and it was a great reminder to step outside of my normal routine and give my time to invest in others.
Throughout the day, I found myself juggling many emotions. When hearing the stories of some of these families and all they have endured, I was very sad and my heart hurt to imagine how they might have felt. On the other hand, it was so beautiful to see the love that the volunteers at Family Life Services have poured into these families and how they bring hope and futures to them, whether that’s as simple as cooking meals or playing with their kids while moms have time to relax.
My favorite memory from City Serve Day was getting to connect with my youth group and talk one on one with the volunteers at Family Life Services to grow those relationships. If you are someone wanting to get involved in Kingdom work and help love those around you, but struggle with discovering ways to get connected, I believe that City Serve Day is a great opportunity. City Serve Day finds local areas in need and offers many projects for people to volunteer and serve in. All you have to do is have a willing heart and sign up.