When members of the First United Methodist Church of Durango decided to get out of their pews and go out in their community to serve in 2011, they could only hope their Love Out Loud project would still be thriving and growing four years later.
That hope has been answered.
In partnership with Christ the King Lutheran Church and inviting anyone in the community who also wants to be of service to join them, volunteers are asked to sign up for any of the 55 projects on the 2015 Love out Loud list by noon Saturday.
While most projects are scheduled for the weekend of June 6-7, there are projects starting May 30 and others that are flexible and can be done at the volunteer’s convenience on what are called “bonus days.”
Organizers have selected a variety of projects that will allow anyone who wants to serve to be able to, regardless of physical ability or skill set.
Some projects are for the community at large, and others are to help the more fragile among us, whether it’s building a handicapped-accessible sidewalk at Holly House or performing fire mitigation for a woman who has multiple sclerosis.
Young people just completing sixth through 12th grades can spend a morning assembling parts to take solar lighting to remote homes on the Navajo Reservation in the Lighting for Literacy Project.
Knitters can make hats for newborns at Mercy Regional Medical Center; bakers can make cookies, cakes or other goodies for baskets of gratitude to the staff members of area nursing homes; and cooks can prepare casseroles for single moms, those just out of the hospital or others in need. Some of the volunteer jobs involve taking care of the other Love Out Loud volunteers.
If you know someone who needs a helping hand, you can even create your own Love Out Loud project or projects.
First United Methodist Church will not hold services the weekend of June 6-7. Christ the King will hold all regular services that weekend.
A brief send-off service will be held at 9:30 a.m. June 6, and a service of thanksgiving will be held at the end, at 12:30 p.m. June 7, both at the First United Methodist Church, 2917 Aspen Drive.