- April 28, 2024
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Thousands of people each year go to appreciate the sights and sounds of the historic Columbus, Georgia. Bellwood, a small town neighborhood in Columbus, however, is struggling.
Palm Coast Community Church recently teamed with TEAMeffort, an organization that finds places in need, and took a mission trip there, from June 21 through June 27, attempting to revitalize the community by cleaning and enhancing a couple of houses in the neighborhood, both of which were owned by widows.
“Of the two houses we all did, we spent about three days on one house, alone,” Stacey Doolin, the youth director for the trip, said. “The house was owned by a 74-year-old woman who lost her husband of 40 years four years ago. … Ever since the husband passed away, the maintenance on the house completely stopped.”
The church group worked on the landscaping around the home and removed three truckloads of debris. The youth crew also repaired the screen door and helped paint the porch.
The other home across the street was also owned by a widow. The group landscaped her house, as well, along with painting her outdoor furniture.
“When the students were finished cleaning her house and painting her furniture, the look on the woman’s face was unforgettable,” Doolin said. “The people from our youth group worked so hard and used equipment some never used in their entire lives. … This was definitely a strong learning experience.”
Clean and enhancing the homes was only half the efforts.
“There was a youth group that came a little bit before us and couldn’t finish up the cleaning and updating of the neighborhood’s community park,” Doolin said. “That’s when we decided to step up and finish that job, as well.”
Finally, the youth group left the neighborhood of Bellwood to help out a food bank called Feed the Valley, in Columbus. The food bank takes unwanted produce and other foods and sends them to local churches.
“We split our team up into two groups,” Doolin said. “Half of the group helped with boxing up the foods while the other half assisted with sorting out good and rotten onions since the cooler at the warehouse broke down.”
“We did this not only to help out a community, but to show that you don’t have to be an adult to do it,” said Doolin. “We had 19 students that ranged anywhere from grade 5 all the way to grade 12 and only five adults. … When they came back, I noticed that the entire group really inherited a strong desire into our own community. Everybody needs help, and because of that everybody can help those who need it.”
