Stratford CRC Church is a local church in Stratford. This year they hosted a SERVE volunteer work trip, which is a week long trip for high school students focused on community outreach. The youth volunteered and worked in the Stratford community for the week at various locations including House of Blessing, Shelterlink, Emily Murphy Center, Festival City Co-op, Restore, Spruce Lodge, L’Arche. 

They weeded gardens, mulched, built decks and a playhouse, painted walls and railing, visited seniors, organized donations and so much more. I choose this organization and project because of outreach into the Stratford community and how it is able to help so many local organizations by providing time and finances to help them complete projects they otherwise would not have been able to accomplish.  It is also a powerful experience for the youth as they give of their time to those in need and engage in the community.  

I spent the day visiting the different organizations that the youth were working at, bringing freezes and popsicles, giving a hand in the work, and running errands and picking up supplies for the worksites. I also helped prep and serve breakfast and supper.

– Heather Olbach