While the weekend before Halloween is usually filled with preparations for spooktacular thrills and chills and some tricks and treats, one neighborhood organization planned a community service project instead, in conjunction with national Make A Difference Day.
About 100 members of the Boulder Mountain Ward, a local congregation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, met to complete a series of projects benefiting two local schools, specifically, Cambridge Academy and Zaharis Elementary School.
On Friday, Oct. 26, many teens assisted in the Zaharis Elementary annual carnival, hosting booths and monitoring bounce houses and carnival rides. The next morning, Saturday, Oct. 27, about 60 members met to clean the school grounds, picking up trash left from the festivities the night before. Simultaneously, about 40 members met at Cambridge Academy for some service involving painting, tree trimming and weeding, as well as general landscape maintenance.
All service was performed free of charge, and was executed by families whose members ranged in age from toddlers to seniors.
Ann Adams, the local coordinator for the project, was pleased with the show of support. “I believe in service,” she stated. “I truly believe charity starts at home. It is in our own home community that we are most gratified with our service.”
Ann added that the gaps in the community are “bridged when we come together” to make a difference in our own neighborhoods. “Lives change through service,” she said.
The Boulder Mountain Ward is planning an annual community service project in conjunction with the national Make A Difference Day, the largest annual day of service, where an estimated 3 million volunteers participated across the country this year alone.
If you would like to participate in next year’s event, or if you have suggestions for future neighborhood or community service, please contact Gaelen Anderson at (480) 296-5343.