Community Day 2017: Residents to show God's love through service

SIKESTON -- As the afternoon of criss-crossing the community to complete projects comes to an end, it is the final celebration of Spread Hope Now's Community Day that is Meredyth McKelvey's favorite -- the barbecue.

According to McKelvey, this is when the participants along with those they have helped gather to share food, take part in games and simply talk about their efforts.

"There are always lots of kids around, lots of food and lots of togetherness," she said. "You can feel the love."

For the fourth year, McKelvey and others in Sikeston will have the opportunity to take part in Spread Hope Now's Community Day. This year's event will kick off at noon Saturday, Oct. 21 at Malone Park.

The day begins with participants checking-in and saying a prayer before fanning out across Sikeston for some big tasks such as painting playground equipment at local schools to smaller projects including a stop at a local laundromat to purchase laundry soap for customers.

McKelvey promises there is plenty to do no matter a person's skills.

"It is an opportunity for everybody in the community to get together across different roles, backgrounds and occupations. It is people meeting people," she said. "It is relationship building."

Mari Ann Moyers, who also has actively taken part in the Community Day events, agreed.

"I would say the main goals are to get people involved in helping their neighbors and for unity" said Moyers.

This year's events will include painting and projects at local schools. In preparation for the move to Spread Hope Now's new location at 915 S. Kingshighway in the former Fisherman's Net building, other volunteers will build shelving there.

What Moyers described as the "laundromat ministry" is planned again while other volunteers will distribute jeans to families in need. Others will accept donations of household items for Spread Hope Now's Storehouse as well as donations for the Marshall Pullen family.

Members of some 15 to 20 local churches are scheduled to take part in the Community Day. However, organizers emphasized they welcome all volunteers.

"I think people in Sikeston are always looking for places to serve. They want to help. This is a good way to start," Moyers said. "Also some of the people we are help are turning around and serving alongside us. That is really exciting."

Those who pre-register by going to spreadhopenow.org can pick an area where they would like to volunteer. Organizers said they are in hope of having about 300 people taking part in the 2017 Community Day.

According to Regina Guthrie, who is also working to organize the event, committee chairs will get in touch with those who pre-register. Guthrie said the major project supplies, such as paint, are provided, however chairs may advise their crews whether they should bring work gloves or any other items.

Members of the Sikeston Department of Public Safety have volunteered to man the grills at the afternoon's barbecue, she added.

Guthrie, Moyers and McKelvey agreed while the projects are important, Community Day is about much more.

"There is nothing like seeing people from all areas of town come together and serve at the same time for the same purpose," Moyers said. "I think it strengthens our churches and our relationships when we are all working together at the same time."

It is people meeting people, McKelvey added.

"Relationship building is the most important part -- through that they see the love of God," McKelvey said. "It is one thing to come together on Sunday as a congregation but it is another to get outside of your church and show people tangibly what the love of God looks like."