By Tanna Friday
Editor
TRUSSVILLE – This Saturday, July 14, Trussville will join over 900 churches around the world in a national event taking the day to serve in communities.
Serve Day is a national campaign where churches around the world organize clean ups, outreach programs, and prayer walks in their local communities. It allows community groups to serve through practical acts of kindness ranging from painting schools to building wheelchair ramps.
According to the Serve Day map, there are several local churches participating in the surrounding areas including the Church of the Highlands (Birmingham), ONEeighty (Springville), and Victory Church (Pell City) and over 630 community service projects available throughout the state of Alabama that encompass every need imaginable.
Trussville’s 2nd Saturday event scheduled for July 14 is themed “Trussville Gives Back Day” with proceeds from the day’s festivities benefiting the Independence Place.
Event Coordinator and 2018 Miss Trussville, Madison Ward, has coordinated several serving opportunities for the citizen’s of Trussville during the July 14 2nd Saturday event.
“This month’s theme is giving back,” said Ward. “I am the Millennial Ambassador for the Trussville Downtown Merchant’s Association and had the opportunity to be the event coordinator for this 2nd Saturday event.”
Ward is the recent winner of the 2018 Miss Trussville, preliminary pageant to Miss Alabama, that occurred earlier this week. Not only is community service part of Ward’s platform, she shares that it is her desire to find a way to impact and unite the community with service as well as provide opportunities for local businesses to ultimately give back. That is when she thought of the 2nd Saturday event
“When I thought about this event, I was thinking about the City of Trussville and the how all the different businesses could give back,” said Ward. “There are a lot of different philanthropy days going on in the businesses if they can’t necessarily get directly involved. My favorite activity is two different projects I put together for the community – the Homeless Bundle project and the Soldier Cards.”
Ward said that the downtown merchants came together to donate snacks and supplies for the community service projects.
“The local dentists donated toothpaste and toothbrushes,” said Ward. “One wonderful thing about Trussville is its uniqueness and generosity. I am really excited about this event and the impact it will make in the community.”
Although there have been many Trussville 2nd Saturday events in the past, this event is the first of its kind for Trussville says Ward.
“I knew that some local churches would be interested in volunteering,” she said. “I wanted to find a way to get my church, Church of the Highlands, involved and connect the event with Serve Day.”
Ward said she downloaded the Serve Day app, entered Trussville’s 2nd Saturday event and had immediate responses from the community.
In addition to the Homeless Bundles and Soldier Card activities, there will be a dunking booth featuring the “Celebrities of Trussville” – some will include Mayor Buddy Choat, Councilor Alan Taylor and The Trussville Tribune’s Publisher, Scott Buttram.
“Citizens will have the opportunity to dunk many local celebrities in the booth,” said Ward. “All of the proceeds will go to benefit the Independence Place, which services the social and recreational needs of adults with exceptional needs.”
There will be many opportunities to donate, raise money and serve during this event. Many local merchants are donating the day’s sales to organizations like Must Love Paws Rescue and the Ronald McDonald House.
“I just want to let people know that there is a family-friendly event going on in the heart of Trussville to get involved with,” she said.
Check out some other Serve Day activities available in the surrounding communities:
-Trussville Senior Center, Josh Logan
-Trussville Women in Need Home Repairs, Cathy Whitfield
-Trussville Single Mom/ Widow Home Projects, Michael Grigsby
-Trussville Wash Fire and Police Vehicles, Allen Riley
-Ted’s Serve
-Lawrence Home, Connie Collins
-Lovelady Thrift Store-Clay, Bob Neill
-Elmcroft Senior Living-For Families, Imo Holstick
-Three Hots and a Cot, Randy Dyer
-Family Serve Fairhaven Nursing Home, Richard Coker
-Birmingham Dream Center-Chalkville Elementary, David Anderson
-Brookwood NICU Blessing, Amy Solito
-Tree Trimming, Brian Ellis
-Fallen Tree and Limb Removal/Landscaping, Jason Anderson
-Birmingham Dream Center-Mowing for Families, Lea Cockerham
-Helping Heands, Melissa Cokely
-Leeds Elementary School Improvements, Charley Lucas
-Leeds Outreach, Laura Roberts
-Moody High School Cleanup, Erin Burgess
-Mom in Moody, Tashina Lee
-Springville Elementary and Middle School Cleanup, Dusty Stinson
-Odenville Elementary and Intermediate School, Kristi Bowden and Susan Pollman
To join, you can download the Serve Day mobile app for information, a list of events, and a map of the service projects or sign up on the Serve Day website.