Mission Trip Birdsboro lends community hand
Groups of volunteers from area churches took part in Mission Trip Birdsboro this past week.
BIRDSBORO >> The heat may have been stifling but that didn’t stop one group from completing its mission.
Groups of volunteers from area churches took part once again in Mission Trip Birdsboro this past week. St. Paul’s UCC launched Mission Trip Birdsboro in 2014 as a ministry to individual homeowners and Birdsboro area as a whole.
With the support of three sponsoring organizations and a total of 30 volunteers the group made improvements to the community parks and school while also helping out area homeowners.
“You always hear about churches going on big mission trips to other countries and I’d like to do that but I can’t get the time off work and for my whole family to go it would be expensive. So this is a neat way to do mission work, but locally and you can kind of pick your time. It gives you a lot more flexibility but you’re able to do mission work and it’s local so it’s really cool,” said Wendy Yambor, one of the volunteers.
Yambor was part of a group of volunteers who were helping with yard work at a home on Main Street. In addition to weeding and trimming branches, the group also filled cracks in the homeowners patio and performed other beautifying steps on the home. The group of six volunteers were one of many groups assisting with projects throughout the week.
The volunteers aren’t limited to just members of St. Paul’s UCC either. Mission Trip Birdsboro invites other area churches to volunteer as well.
“I love that it really reaches out to many other churches to be part of something local. I’m doing it this year and I’m hoping that next year I can get some of my church members,” said Frances Chester, a volunteer and pastor at Falkner Swamp United Church of Christ in Gilbertsville.
This year six churches of various denominations have joined together along with volunteers who have no church affiliation in order to serve neighbors in need. The number of volunteers has grown from 82 last year to 113 this year and the number of Mission Trip Birdsboro sites has increased from 35 to 60 applications for assistance.
In addition to the work volunteers, Mission Trip Birdsboro has 40 sponsors who help support the event and provide financial assistance needed for supplies to carry out the work.
“We do it because we like to help others and we’re helping people within our community who need the help. We’re doing God’s work,” said Sheila Angstadt, another volunteer.
The annual mission trip will conclude on Sunday with the closing celebration with volunteers, recipients of work and family and friend.