SERVE program gives youth opportunity to strengthen communities and their faith

Participants in this year's SERVE program gather for a group photo during a week of volunteering in the Stratford and New Hamburg area. The 49 youths spent the week assisting local charities and non-profit organizations. Tom Mosterd photo

By Gary West

Nearly 50 young people from across Ontario spent a week serving local communities through the SERVE program, lending a helping hand to charitable organizations while growing in their faith.

Tom Mosterd of Amulree, one of the local organizers, said SERVE is a youth exchange program organized through ThereforeGo Ministries that brings together young people from Christian Reformed churches across Canada and the United States to volunteer in communities away from home.

This year, the Stratford and New Hamburg area hosted 49 participants from Blyth, Clinton, Goderich, Leamington and the Peterborough area. The youth stayed with local host families connected to Christian Reformed churches while completing volunteer projects throughout the week.

Mosterd said Stratford-area youth have participated in SERVE exchanges for many years, travelling to communities as far away as Sioux City, Iowa, Grand Rapids, Mich., Thunder Bay and Washington, D.C. This marked the third year the Stratford area has served as a host site.

During the week, participants volunteered with a variety of local organizations, including the Stratford Connection Centre, Emily Murphy Centre, Hidden Acres Camp near New Hamburg, the New Hamburg Thrift Centre, The Local Community Food Centre, Shelterlink Youth Services, L'Arche Stratford, House of Blessing, the Salvation Army, Huron County Food Bank, Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth, Festival City Co-operative Homes, Medical Mission and the Canadian Mental Health Association, among others.

Working in small groups, the youth tackled projects ranging from painting, landscaping and renovations to sorting food donations and assisting with other tasks requested by the organizations.

Beyond community service, the week also emphasized faith and personal growth. Participants gathered each evening for worship, music and guest speakers before meeting in small groups to reflect on the day's experiences.

The week concluded with a day of recreation, including a visit to The Factory in London, where the group enjoyed attractions such as trampolines, ropes courses and arcade games before wrapping up the program with fellowship at a local farm pond.

Mosterd said the youth worked hard throughout the week, completing a wide variety of projects while making a positive impact in the communities they served.