Hundreds Volunteer for Inaugural ‘Serve Day’
In the spirit of giving back to the community, organizers with 3Crosses Church gathered 950 volunteers to tackle service projects, including visiting senior citizens' houses to clean up their yards and gardens.
Representatives from more than 17 local organizations, such as Castro Valley High School, Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD), and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, participated in the “Serve Day” event on September 29.
3Crosses’ Middle School Ministry Director Lauren Korbas said the idea for the inaugural Serve Day was to take church “off the hill” and hit the streets of Castro Valley, Hayward, San Leandro, and the surrounding unincorporated area to serve the community.
“It’s our first year doing this, and I’m so excited,” Korbas told the Forum. “We want to take Jesus’s invitation to love our neighbor and serve others seriously, and we hope this can positively impact the East Bay.”
Before the 27 different service projects started, the group held a worship rally at the church at 8:30 a.m., and then the various teams fanned out to tackle projects throughout the morning and early afternoon. The groups reconvened for a BBQ lunch around noon.
More than 100 volunteers worked with HARD to beautify Greenridge Park. Others helped pick up trash and clear weeds around underpasses along Interstate 580. Still, others cleared out potential fire hazards along fences near schools and businesses.
Based on the attendance and energy of the group, Korbas says she is already planning another Serve Day for next year.
“I hope it encourages our community and shines a light on a world that can feel quite dark,” she said.
To see what else 3Crosses is up to, visit their events website: https://www.3crosses.church/events