Day of Service

November 2nd, 2024!

25 years ago, a vision was born.
In the year 2000, inspired by the energy and commitment of our Youth Spring Break trips, the Day of Service began with one simple goal: to bring that same enthusiasm back to South Church and into our local community. What started as a humble effort has grown into something extraordinary—a quarter century of love, compassion, and action. This year, we proudly celebrate the 25th Annual Day of Service under the theme “25 Years of Giving, Growing & Thriving”—and we invite you to be part of this incredible milestone by signing up to volunteer.

Submit this year's photos to our AV Team!

If you took photos at your worksite, we want to see them and share them at our Celebration Dinner!

Click below to expand the list of upload links!

DAY OF SERVICE SCHEDULE

8:00 – 9:00AM: Kick-Off Breakfast & Reflection
9:00AM – 4:00PM: Service Projects (see list below)
5:00 – 8:00PM: 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner (RSVP here)

If you can’t join us Saturday, there are a few opportunities on Sunday as well as opportunities to donate items. See below.

Click here to sign-up for projects on Service Central.

NOTE: You must be logged into Service Central to sign-up for projects. You may view projects without being logged in.

Service Projects

SATURDAY

    • Care Packages for Our Community: Gather with others to bake treats or make crafts for care packages for those in our community who need some extra love. Great for families with young children!
      • 9:00-10:30AM bake treats
      • 10:30AM-noon create crafts
    • Singing at Senior Living Communities: Our group will sing at communities which provide assisted living and memory support. All ages with adult supervision for children under the age of 10.
      • 9:00AM-noon
      • 1:30-4:30PM
    • Holiday Cards for our Military: Stop by Fellowship Hall and write a holiday greeting and personalized note that will be sent to our deployed U.S. troops in time for the Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza holiday season. Adults or kids with an adult. 
      • 9:00AM-noon
    • Leaf Raking for our South Church Family: Flexible times and EVERYONE can help (youth accompanied by an adult) as we go out to homes connected to our church and remove the fall leaves from their yard! Our Scout troop will have 3 or 4 houses covered, and we need help seeing how many more yards we can service!
      • 9:00-3:00pm
    • Neighbors in Need Food Packing: Sort and pack food to be distributed through the pantries. Takes place at Neighbors in Need Warehouse, 60 Island Way, Suite 74A East, Lawrence. 
      • 9:30-11:30AM 
    • Giving Garden – Seasonal Work: Winter garden prep and maybe late Fall harvest. All are welcome, 12 and under with adult supervision. 
      • 9:30AM-noon
    • Lazarus House – Project Bethlehem Prep: Lazarus House’s annual Christmas giving program served over 3000 people last year. Help to clean and prep the gift receipt area or make baked goods for freezing — to be brought out daily through the month of November and December for volunteers and guests. A great activity for adults and children over 8 with adults.
      • 9:30am-noon clean & prep
      • 9:30am-noon bake
    • Lazarus House Family Shelter Dinner: Bring your favorite recipe and ingredients to the Family Shelter, 412 Hampshire Street and prepare dinner and dessert for 20 people.  A great activity for adults and children with supervising adults.
      • 9:30am-noon prep dinner and dessert
    • Serve at Lazarus House Soup Kitchen: Organize the serving area, greet guests and serve lunch at the Hamilton Street location.
      • 11:15AM-1:15PM
    • Youth AVIS Clean Up: Middle and High School youth will remove invasive plants and clear local trails. Email Taylor to sign up.
      • 10:00AM-noon
    • Bread & Roses – Food Sorting: Support Bread & Roses in their mission to fight hunger at 58 Newbury Street, Lawrence, MA.
      • 10:00-1:00pm
    • Boys & Girls Club: Assist with Slice of Bread Loaf Day, a writing and arts program for area youth at 135 Water Street, Lawrence, MA.
      • 10:00-2:00pm
    • ABC House Fall Outdoor Clean-Up: Leaf raking, yard projects, and small indoor projects at ABC House. All ages welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult.
      • 9:30AM-12:00PM
    • Celebration Dinner Volunteers: Come serve the servants! To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we will gather for dinner in Fellowship Hall. We need help setting up, serving and cleaning up. Great for adults and children 12 and up.
      • Saturday 4-5pm. Set up
      • Saturday 5:30-7pm. Serve
      • Saturday 7-8pm. Clean up
    • Ballardvale Church Office Painting: Help care for a fellow church by painting the office to brighten it up for the pastor and members.
      • details coming soon
    • South Church Clearing Spaces Project: Take out old construction materials from behind the sanctuary and behind the organ and bring to dumpster behind church. Volunteers for this should be at least 14 years old.
      • 9:30-11:30AM

SUNDAY

    • Care Packages for Our Community: Gather with others on Sunday to assemble and deliver care packages for those in our community who need some extra love. Great for families with young children!
      • 10:00-11:00AM Help Sunday School kids assemble packages
      • 11:00AM Help deliver care packages
    • South Church Power Washing Project: After worship, adult volunteers will power wash tables and chairs to keep things sparkling for South Church and guests in our building.
      • 11:30AM-1:30PM

Collections

Refugee Community Alliance – Ukrainian Support Project Our January 2024 South Church Mission Partner has welcomed a Ukrainian refugee family to the area. 

  • Clothing & Textile Collection: Clean out your closets to support a family currently resettling in our area. Through the program Savers FUNDrive, USP will receive funds per pound of clean, resaleable clothes and household textiles that are donated to this collection.
  • Gift Card Collection: We are collecting gift cards to Target, Marshalls/TJMaxx and Old Navy for household supplies, clothing and school supplies for a newly resettled Ukrainian family. Drop off at the church office during work hours or slide under the office door after hours.
  • Financial Donation: Support will help with essentials such as rent, utilities, groceries, transportation, medical care, and educational resources for the children. Please donate online at www.gofundme.com/f/ukrainian-support-project.

Uncommon Threads helping low-income women see and feel their best

  • Coat drive: Collecting new and/or excellent condition women’s coats, boots, hats, scarves, and gloves for the Bundle Up program for women most in need and at risk to the harsh winter weather (homeless, recent immigrants, refugees, etc.)

Saturday Breakfast & Dinner

  • Kick-Off Breakfast & Reflection: Sat., Nov. 2nd from 7:30-9:00AM at South Church
  • 25th Anniversary Celebration Dinner: Sat., Nov. 2nd at 5:00PM at South Church
RSVP here for dinner!

Remote DoS Project

If you are engaging with South Church from somewhere other than our building, we hope you will join us from wherever you are!

    • Holiday Cards for our Military: Write a holiday greeting and personalized note that will be sent to our deployed U.S. troops in time for the Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza holiday season. Your message will offer a connection to home, a bridge of caring, and a taste of the holidays to our beloved warriors. Let them know they are not alone during the winter holiday season! If you would like to make a card from home, please contact Brian in the church office for details!