More than 500 volunteers met at New Life Church on Saturday before heading out into the community to do a variety of volunteer tasks during Sharefest.
Dr. Quentin Washispack of New Life Church organized the event, which involved volunteers from several churches, several sororities and fraternities from the University of Central Arkansas, the UCA softball team, several UCA Bible study groups, Faulkner County Drug Court, Conway High School Caring Cats and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
A group from New Life Church worked at Bethlehem House installing wood laminate flooring, painting a resident bathroom, raking leaves, planting flowers and detailing the shelter's van. Bethlehem House is a shelter for the homeless.
Nichole Clark is outreach coordinator for The Foundry, the ministry that was working at Bethlehem House.
"I have a heart for the homeless because I had a brother who was homeless, and he passed away a few years ago," she said. "We're really passionate about getting involved in the community. We met (Executive Director Judi Lively), who goes to New Life. We thought Bethlehem House was an awesome place to make a difference."
She said the group volunteers at the shelter once a month.
At the Conway Interfaith Clinic, another group from New Life Church, Outreach 101, was painting three rooms used for children's dental exams. The Interfaith Clinic provides medical care for the working uninsured of Faulkner County.
Brooks Thomas of Outreach 101 said of Saturday's event, "I love it. Just like (Washispack) said, we want to be a bridge. We want to represent the church to the community. We want to exemplify the irresistible influence that God has in our lives by doing these things. We get the answers we want in our life by doing the outreach.
"This is a wonderful frontline ministry that serves uninsured people," he said of the clinic. "We're here to reach the unmet needs of the lost that come through their doors. We do this out of the joy of our hearts. We love to see people touched through this."
Kittie Aaron, executive director of the Interfaith Clinic, said after the rooms are painted, UCA design students will paint murals on the walls and ceilings to make the dental offices a more friendly place for children.
"I think it's really nice that people want to give up their weekend," she said. "I can't wait to get the whole project completed. If it wasn't for this group, it would take a lot longer."
She added, "Going to the dentist is not the most fun for kids. We want to make them feel comfortable and happy and that they're special."
Washispack said a soccer team cleaned windows and light fixtures at the Village of Seven Mornings retirement community, and a group poured a new sidewalk at Ida Burns Elementary School. He said Brian Ward of Mallard Ready Mix donated the cement, and Luke Porter brought a tractor for the job.
Overall, Washispack said, "I was thrilled. I think we had a lot of good participation, and I was thrilled with the turnout. I went to a lot of the sites and saw the work.
"We've been doing it long enough that people know that around this time (of year) there's Sharefest, so that's good. It met all our expectations."
(Staff writer Rachel Parker Dickerson can be reached by e-mail at rachel.dickerson@thecabin.net or by phone at 505-1277. Send us your news at www.thecabin.net/submit)
