Communications Team Blog : 9.10.22
Denverites Help Their Neighbors Despite the Cold Weather
On a colder dreary early autumn day, people still showed up to assist Extreme Community Makeover and partner with their neighbors in the Westwood neighborhood. City Church Denver heard about ECM through Harlan (Projects Team), who connected Donna (Group Leader) with Angela and thought the group would be an ideal fit.
“We wanted a project to do together to help someone, and it seemed like this was flexible enough and didn’t take extra skills. With so many kids in our group, we wanted them to be involved too.”
The small group came together to paint the shed a baby blue color, especially with assistance from the kids. The church was motivated to teach their kids a sense of honor in helping their community. “A sense of helping someone, and helping the community and helping new folks is important. Most groups don’t have kids this young, but it is a part of teaching values and ways of reaching out to people. If you never see those things done growing up, you go on not knowing this is a piece of life,” said Donna. Donna also appreciated seeing a part of Denver she wasn’t as familiar with while volunteering.
“I have learned more about different parts of the city than I ever knew before. It is fun to work together as a group because it is a group building experience. I always get a sense of satisfaction every day.”
Kent, a Rock Canyon High School Boys Basketball coach near Lone Tree, wanted a project for his team to bond and help others in Denver.
“We try to give back to our community. It is good to get these guys out of their comfort zone and to do something they usually don’t do at home. It is good for these kids to do some hard work and manual labor. And to help out and give back goes a long way.”
The team had such a good first year with ECM last year that they decided to come back this year and hope the neighbors see their hard work. “We really enjoyed working with ECM last year and really wanted to come back. The people we get to help out are really appreciative.”
Dian was one neighbor who had a significant landscaping project in her big backyard with weeding, trimming, cleaning up, and yard work. “Yea, I don’t know what I would do without them,” she said. "It would get ahead of me and just get impossible. At this point, I really need them.” Dian used to do the landscaping work herself with some help with the heavier things. She values her time in the backyard, and the setting means a lot to her.
“I consider my backyard my sacred space, but it starts getting overgrown, and it is hard to enjoy then, so it really needs to be nice. It’s enclosed and private and seems to to be a place that is kind of an oasis.”
Dian was grateful for the team to help make her yard look nice, and it is work that she wouldn’t take for granted. “I appreciate [ECM] so much. I appreciate the volunteers who are willing to come in here and spend their time doing this. It’s just something that is a blessing from me.”
Despite the colder weather and lack of sunshine, Denver was able to show up and make a difference in the Westwood Park neighborhood.
- Kenny, Communications Team