Over two weekends, January 16-18 and February 13-15, sixty volunteers gathered to serve the community of South Los Angeles and put their faith into action. Volunteers from Church of the Good Shepherd in Arcadia, Camarillo UMC, and Corona UMC stayed overnight at Wesley UMC in South Los Angeles as part of Sierra Service Project’s Weekends of Service program.

This program brings together youth and adults from different backgrounds in short bursts of service as brothers and sisters in Christ. Arriving on Friday evening and departing Sunday afternoon, it seems hard to believe that there is a significant impact being made in this terribly underserved community.

However, in just two weekends, volunteers have contributed over 650 volunteer-hours towards working in multiple community gardens, painting a transitional home, and repairing stables at Compton Junior Posse. Groups also learned about the positive forces for change in the community including Homeboy Industries, the Coalition for Responsible Community Development, and A Place Called Home.

On March 20, 2015, volunteers from Sanger First UMC and St. Matthew’s UMC will gather to continue the work being done in the community. More weekends are being scheduled for the fall.

Sierra Service Project offers opportunities for challenging, well-run and exciting United Methodist  summer service experiences for high school and middle school youth. Spaces are still available for the 2015 summer. Call 916-488-6441 or go to www.sierraserviceproject.org for more information on the weekend or summer program.

Story and photos courtesy of Sierra Service Project