Volunteers get to work in Sisters

An estimated 300 volunteers from throughout Sisters expressed their love for their neighbors in the first annual I Heart Sisters campaign, which took place Saturday in locations all around town.

Local churches, along with Family Access Network, and other community service groups helped organize the day which was designed to offer practical help to individuals and families in the community.

Lawns got mowed, weeds pulled, and dump runs made, not to mention bigger and smaller jobs in neighborhoods all over the area.

According to city manager Eileen Stein, projects were made available in two city parks for volunteers to help with. When the day was done, the Sisters City Park had 10 new picnic tables, the gazebo at the Village Green sported a fresh coat of stain and one of the biggest piles of raked pine needles in the history of Sisters took form at Creekside Park.

Jay Smith, from Westside Foursquare church in Bend, provided guidance to help the Sisters area pastors organize the day, according to Three Sisters Fellowship pastor Mike Boswell.

"Jay organized a similar event in the Bend area and really helped us out," he said. "The local churches really embraced the idea and helped recruit volunteers."

Boswell and his family served in the pine needle raking project at the park.

"We joked that if Abraham had lived in Sisters, God would have told him that his offspring would number more than the pine needles rather than of the stars or grains of sand," he said.

A barbecue lunch for all the participants took place at Sisters Community Church with nearly all 300 volunteers enjoying a meal together after a morning of hard work.

"It was gratifying to see so many people together, from all the different churches, working and eating alongside one another," said volunteer Colleen Shultz, who helped prepare the meal. "Everyone was able to use their own strengths to get things done."

On Saturday evening, pizza and soda were provided to attendees of a free concert, performed by the Bend-based musical group Elliot at Sisters High School auditorium.

"I was impressed with the turnout on a holiday weekend and the spirit of servanthood by all the volunteers. It was encouraging to see the churches come together in such a meaningful, practical way," said Boswell.

Church members from St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Sisters Community Church, Sisters Church of the Nazarene, Calvary Chapel, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Chapel of the Pines, and Three Sisters Fellowship all took part.

Ray's Food Place donated food certificates to some families in need and information about churches and other aid was provided.

"From everything I saw and heard about the day, recipients of help were blessed and everything seemed to turn out incredibly," said Boswell. "We will definitely be doing this again."