Volunteers are working hard to put the “community” in Clarkston Community Church.
The Clarkston Road church’s community projects include Impact Days, Saturdays during which hundred of volunteers perform home repair and yard work for neighbors in need, said Daniel Whiting, administrative pastor.
Men’s Ministry volunteers offer Actively Compassionate Through Service, ACTS, Whiting said.
“They set up a toolbox on Sundays with a slot in it, for people’s ideas,” he said. “They work on furnaces, automotive repair ? that’s kind of neat.”
The also offer seminars on jobs, finances, internet security, and other topics, July 4 celebration, and fundraising for Lighthouse, Grace Center of Hope, Habitat for Humanity, and other community organizations.
“We feel God wants us to be more connected with the community and demonstrate his love in very practical ways,” said Pastor Greg Henneman. “We want to get to know the community better, what needs are out there, and where people are hurting so we can serve the community better ? that’s our goal.”
Another contribution is this year’s Clarkston Community Awards Breakfast, he said.
“We’re glad to host it,” Henneman said. “Clarkston is an awesome place to live and raise a family. We’re happy to celebrate the strengths of the community. This is a chance to recognize people who inspire all of us.”
The 25th Annual Community Awards Breakfast will be 7:30-9 a.m., Thursday, May 20, in the church’s new 5,000-square-foot youth activity room.
The nomination process is just beginning, said Linda Mladenoff, Community Team member and chair of its Clarkston Community Awards Committee.
“We’re excited,” Mladenoff said. “We’re hoping to get quite a few. Anybody who has made a significant impact on the community, we’d love to acknowledge them.”
Henneman said all are encouraged to come to the awards breakfast.
“There are many unsung heroes out there, serving the community,” he said. “We’d love to celebrate with them.”
The breakfast is part of the church’s Imagine the Impact fund-raising campaign, in which 20 percent of donations go to community programs.
“As pastor, I was really proud of the church for that,” Henneman said. “Our goal is to be more involved in the community, to meet more needs in this time of bad economy.”
The church is completing a year of expansion, including two new building additions and parking lot.
“It’s phase three of our master plan, written 20 years ago,” he said. “We have one more phase to go ? a new gymnasium and youth facility.”
Award winners will be determined by a panel of community representatives.
Categories are:
Citizen Of The Year, for individual who gave their time, energy, and talents to improve the community;
Youth Of The Year, outstanding volunteer 18 years old or younger;
Adult-youth Volunteer, for individual helping area young people, recognizing ongoing volunteer efforts and activities;
Business Person Of The Year, for making this a better community to live and do business;
Community Beautification Preservation, for individual, group, or business making a significant improvement to community appearance;
Community Enhancement, recognizing a group, club or service organization’s year-long efforts to enhance quality of the Clarkston community; and
Community Collabortion-Team Effort, recognizing collaborative effort by two or more individuals, groups, clubs or organizations, including businesses, government agencies, and schools, to improve and enhance the community.
To download a nomination form, go to www.clarkstoncchurch.com.
They can be mailed to Community Awards Nominations, c/o Clarkston Community Church, 6300 Clarkston Road, Clarkston, MI. 48346; faxed to 248-625-1388, attention Linda Mladenoff. Nomination deadline is March 5.