Along with kicking back and having fun this summer, youth from Rejoice Lutheran Church in Clearwater spent part of their time off from school helping others in their community.

The group worked on three local service projects over three days spread throughout the summer. 

Each day began at Rejoice pulling weeds out of the church pumpkin patch. The first day the youth also cleared out weeds and garbage from the holding pond.

The largest service project was at a home in Clear Lake, where the group removed old paving block and shoveled, spread and leveled sand where the new patio was going to be laid. They also moved dirt to fill in where several trees had been removed throughout the yard.

During their second service day the youth performed yard work at a local lake home, pulling weeds around the home and the retaining wall by the lake, clearing weeds in the lake and raking the shore.

Service day number three found the group back at the home in Clear Lake, where they leveled sand and laid pavers for the new, large patio, unloaded outdoor furniture and moved rocks for a fire pit.

“The projects went well, and it was fun to see the kids come together from beginning to end,” said Youth & Family Coordinator Sara Miller. “It’s important because we helped with projects that the homeowners weren’t physically able to do themselves. People need help and we provide the young bodies to get done what it is they can’t.”

“Not only do the kids get to spend time with one another, they learn the importance of serving others around them,” Miller continued. “If we don’t expose our children to the need around us, they won’t see it.”