Tuesday morning, June 30. 9:20 a.m. – noon.
During Annual Conference registration, sign up for one of these service projects taking place during Tuesday’s Imagine! A Morning of Sparking, Stirring, and Serving. Participants must meet no later than 9:20 a.m. at the front entrance of the convention center to walk or travel by bus as a group to the project. Groups will return to the convention center by noon.
If you have already registered for conference and would like to add a service project to your schedule, please email Debbie Noffsinger at dnoffsnger@brethren.org.
Service Project #1 – Clothes for Joes – Store
Since 2015, Clothes for Joes has been working to provide clothing, hygiene products, and accessories to veterans in the greater Fort Wayne area. We will be split between two locations – at the Store, volunteers will be restocking and organizing the showroom and storage areas.
- Travel to Project: Walk – 19 minutes (0.8 miles)
- Inside
- Max Number of Volunteers: 7
- Age Requirement: 18+
- Important Info: Closed-toe shoes required
Service Project #2 – Clothes for Joes – Processing Center
Since 2015, Clothes for Joes has been working to provide clothing, hygiene products, and accessories to veterans in the greater Fort Wayne area. We will be split between two locations – at the Processing Center, volunteers will be sorting donations.
- Travel to Project: Annual Conference Bus
- Inside
- Max Number of Volunteers: 13
- Age Requirement: 18+
- Important Info:
- Can accommodate most folks with mobility impairments
- Closed-toe shoes required
Service Project #3 – Fort Wayne Parks and Rec – Youth Programming
Fort Wayne Parks and Rec offers a variety of summer programs. We will be partnering with them to provide a morning of fun for kids and youth. Volunteers will supervise and interact with youth and help paint the entrance floor of a youth center.
- Travel to Project: Annual Conference Bus
- Outside
- Max Number of Volunteers: 8
- Age Requirement: 18+
- Important Info: Wear old clothes you don’t mind getting paint on
Service Project #4 – Fort Wayne Parks and Rec – Park Clean-Up
One of the many jobs of Fort Wayne Parks and Rec is to maintain the public green spaces of Fort Wayne. They rely on volunteers to help with this mission and we will participate in a brush clean-up at a local Fort Wayne park. This could include weeding, picking up trash, and trimming bushes.
- Travel to Project: Annual Conference Bus
- Outside
- Max Number of Volunteers: 15
- Age Requirement: All ages – minors must be accompanied by an adult
- Important Info:
- Bring work gloves, Parks and Rec will provide all other tools
- Closed-toe shoes required
Service Project #5 – Just Neighbors
Just Neighbors is a homeless shelter and network founded in 2000 which focuses on keeping families together and is supported by local congregations. We will volunteer with various tasks that may include painting, cleaning, sorting donations, or doing yard work.
- Travel to Project: Annual Conference Bus
- Inside
- Max Number of Volunteers: 18
- Age Requirement: All ages – minors must be accompanied by an adult
- Important Info: Closed-toe shoes required
Service Project #6 – Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry
Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry is located in the former home of Virginia Schrantz who served the food insecure in her community for over 40 years. After her passing in 1998, Miss Virginia’s Food Pantry opened with a dedication to providing healthy food to families who need assistance. We will work in the garden pulling weeds and spreading mulch.
- Travel to Project: Walk – 18 minutes (0.8 miles)
- Outside
- Max Number of Volunteers: 15
- Age Requirement: 18+
- Important Info:
- Bring work gloves
- Closed-toe shoes required
Service Project #7 – Wellspring Interfaith Social
Wellspring has had many names since 1968 and provides a variety of programs focused on food, clothing, and recreational activities. We will be helping to sort donations in the food bank and clothing shop.
- Travel to Project: Walk – 12 minutes (0.5 miles)
- Inside
- Max Number of Volunteers: 20
- Age Requirement: All ages – minors must be accompanied by an adult
- Important Info: Closed-toe shoes required
Service Project #8 – Blessings in a Backpack
Blessings in a Backpack serves children at nine schools in the Fort Wayne community, feeding 3,750 students every weekend during the school year and an additional 11,000 children in the summer months. They also distribute “Believe Bags” on a quarterly basis to ensure that a child’s soul is being fed in addition to their stomach. Each bag contains a small gift based upon need, season, or theme and a positive message reminding the children that others believe in their worth, their ability, and their dreams. We will write and decorate positive messages for the “Believe Bags” to share our love and encouragement with the children of Fort Wayne.
- Travel to Project: None – at conference center
- Inside
- Max Number of Volunteers: No limit
- Age Requirement: All ages