More than 40 volunteers swarmed 112 Semenyn Avenue in Chatham June 13, revitalizing the yard, making it their Backyard Mission to do so.
For the past 17 years, the congregations of First Presbyterian and First Christian Reformed Church have sent volunteers into the yard of one fortunate homeowner to help spruce things up. This year, volunteers from Grace Christian Reformed Church joined as well.
Pastor Nate Vandenend of First Christian has been part of the effort since he first arrived in Chatham nine years ago, and loves to see people helping others.
“It just freshens things up. Sometimes, things just pile up; you start to feel overwhelmed,” he said of a homeowner in need of a little help. “You just need a whole bunch of people to come in and reset the whole situation. That’s where we come in and that’s what we want to do for people.”
Vandenend said the Backyard Mission Project is a high point for many involved.
“It’s a highlight for a lot of people in the congregations,” he said. “I think they look forward to this day. There are some people who have been doing it for the 17 years, since the very beginning.”
The volunteers this year only spent one day at the address, ripping out old bushes, levelling a patio and addressing wear and tear issues on the front steps.
Rev. Wilson Eyong, newly minted pastor at First Presbyterian, said taking part in the project was an incredible experience.
“It’s amazing. It’s beautiful. All my time in Montreal, I did not work with a congregation that had this type of vision,” he said. “To know the number of years they’ve been doing it and still doing it and to physically experience it today, God bless the likes of Pastor Nate.”
Vandenend said the can-do attitude – and numbers – can accomplish a great deal.
“When you get a group of people like this, who are here to work, you just get stuff done,” he said.
