Transform Williamsport

In August about 300 volunteers participated in Transform Williamsport, working on a wide variety of home repair and other projects throughout the Williamsport community. Photos by Jordan Miller.

By Sandii Peiffer

Transform Williamsport, held August 11-16, 2014, was a week devoted to sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the Williamsport community.

The week-long event was started in 2013 by First Church, a United Methodist congregation in the heart of Williamsport, and church members were excited by the number of people who got involved this year — more than 315 volunteers from 22 local churches participated.

Participants could choose to work one day or work the entire week, serving in whatever capacity they were able.

First Church sought applications from the community requesting home repairs and other projects and help needed. There were 85 projects on the list including repairing houses, building handicap-access ramps, demolition, yard cleanup and landscaping, drywall repair, painting, as well as many other projects.

“Through our service, we hope to see the physical transformation of Williamsport as well as transformation in the lives of those whom we are working with and in our lives,” said Mitch Marcello, Director of College and Community Outreach at First Church.

Each work day began for all the volunteers with  breakfast at 7 a.m. and  devotions  at 7:30 a.m. at First’s Christian Life Center in downtown Williamsport.

Monday evening First Church hosted a Block Party, something of a pep rally, to which all participants were invited.

Friday night they held an appreciation dinner for homeowners and other recipients of the “love.”

“This was a time to allow us to thank them for letting us into their lives during the week,” said Marcello. It also gave the homeowners a chance to do the same.