“God sent us,” said one volunteer to a neighbor in Saginaw. He and other United Methodists were part of the annual One Week One Street campaign held last week.
AMY TERHUNE
Saginaw First United Methodist Church
One Week, One Street is an annual urban revitalization effort in Saginaw that encourages hope, pride, and love for neighbors. Since 2012 volunteers and donations from the Great Lakes Bay Region churches, businesses, and other non-profit organizations have been transforming the city, one street at a time.
The 2021 One Week One Street campaign took place the week of June 21-25. United Methodists from Saginaw Ames UMC, Saginaw New Heart UMC, Auburn UMC, Saginaw First UMC, Midland First UMC, and St. Charles UMC worked on three houses on the city’s east side.
The project aims to help homeowners in the selected area be proud of their homes and their neighborhood. United Methodist teams cleaned the houses on the outside, cleared overgrown brush, removed trash/debris, cleaned gutters, repainted one home and a shed, put in a new door and window, caulked leaking areas, built up the foundation, provided simple lawn maintenance and landscaping, and several other simple fix-it projects as needed.
It was a joy to work with others from area United Methodist congregations and celebrate the unique connection we share as United Methodists. It also was inspiring to work with many other churches and philanthropic groups to do good right here in our own community. Altogether some 300 volunteers from approximately 35-40 organizations came out to help.
The Facebook page of New Heart United Methodist Church introduced Noland. (With wheelbarrow in the photo.) “Our new friend’s home was one of 25 homes revitalized in the Eastside of Saginaw. He greatly appreciated the three Saginaw United Methodist churches — New Heart, Saginaw 1st, and Ames — that came together to work on his home.” Most of Noland’s family lives within the same block. When Noland said, “I want to thank everyone for what they are doing,” a worker named Emmit replied, “Don’t thank us, thank God. He sent us.”
Last Updated on June 28, 2021