Members of local churches donated their time and labor to do projects around the grounds of the nonprofit group home Chamberlain’s Children’s Center on April 24, including: building a shed, creating covers for the garbage cans, cleaning garden beds, repainting parts of some buildings, adding concrete, deep-cleaning houses, and construction work in a classroom. Volunteers also spent part of the weekend cleaning up the grounds of the San Juan Bautista Cemetery.
The clean-ups were sponsored by JustServe.org, a service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. JustServe “provides opportunities to relieve suffering, care for the poor and needy, and enhance the quality of life in the community” according to its website.
At 10:15 a.m. Saturday, there was a constant buzz of work going on. Someone was always working on something; when one task was done, a new one was sought.
The atmosphere was friendly and welcoming, with the three churches (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Hollister First Presbyterian and South Valley Community Church) working well with one another, lending a helping hand when needed to spruce up the grounds at the facility that houses children ages 6 through 17.
Younger children and adolescents listened attentively to their older counterparts to learn about the task and accomplish it as efficiently as possible. They then would work on their task until completed or a new one popped up.
San Benito High School senior April Robertson was one many volunteers out helping out early Saturday morning. “It’s a good way to spend a Saturday,” Robertson said, adding that volunteering is satisfying because it helps her feel like she’s “making a good difference” within the community.
Around noon, with the majority of work accomplished, Chamberlain held a barbecue for the volunteers. When interviewed after the clean-up, a volunteer said that she enjoys helping others within the community because she’s “blessed” and wants to pass on the blessings on to others.