East Coast Volunteer Service Day 2016

Volunteers from the Church of God in Ridgewood spent this past Sunday cheering up residents at Maywood Center for Health and Rehabilitation as part of the East Coast Volunteer Service Day 2016. Through an array of activities, including upbeat performances, singing competitions, and dancing, volunteers hoped to lift up the spirits of the elderly residents. The lively mood and atmosphere were a great change of pace for the seniors.

The volunteers organized the event in cooperation with the center’s Head of Activities leaders. And they were more than glad to work with the Church of God.

Barbara and Penny, the usual sources of support and entertainment for the residents, noted how much easier it was to take care of the residents with 30 volunteers serving and comforting them. Not only did volunteers entertain the residents but they also carried out other roles. They moved residents in and out of their rooms. They set up for lunch. And then, they provided entertainment throughout the day.

“You just put so much happiness into their life, they’ll never forget this, and neither will we,” said Barbara, one of the activity leaders. “You don’t usually see youth groups out of a church doing these kinds of volunteer activities.”

The residents enjoyed playing Karaoke and “Guess That TV Show Song” with the volunteers. Even the Church of God choir did a rendition of “You Raise Me Up.”

When asked if they had a good time, the residents had nothing but positive things to say. One resident jokingly said, “I’ve never had so much fun in my life, even when I got married.”

Another resident, when asked about his favorite part of the event, exclaimed, “Everything! I think the whole event was my favorite part.”

It’s not too much to say that the volunteers put excitement and joy in the residents’ hearts. Through these types of events, the Church of God continues to serve society through selfless volunteerism. This is an important aspect of the Church members’ commitment to follow Christ’s example of serving our neighbors.

The visit to the Maywood Center was one of 25 volunteer events taking place on Sunday. Locations on the East Coast, Puerto Rico, and even the Dominican Republic hosted different volunteer events as part of the East Coast Volunteer Service Day 2016.

These efforts were part of a multi-state campaign to emphasize the importance of volunteerism. Church of God volunteers are inspired to serve their communities even more after receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. It’s the most prestigious award in the United Kingdom given to organizations that display exceptional contributions to their communities.