Cape Christian Serve Day gives back to the community
Nearly 2,000 volunteers turned out this week for Cape Christian’s “Serve Day,” taking part in 105 projects to assist organizations and individuals in Southwest Florida.
Programs included:
Project 12, Gulf Coast Human Society
Project 21, Painting Veteran Homes
Project 33, Dr. Piper Center
Project 44, The Salvation Army Homeless Shelter
Project 51, Eco Preserve
Project 81, Octagon Wildlife
Project 102, Prayer Ministry
“We have done this in 2018, 2019, and 2020 was the last one before COVID shut everything down now,” said Pastor Marco Villalobos, who added he was thankful for the opportunity to help lead the projects and all the volunteers who participated.
The program returned in 2022 after a two-year hiatus due to COVID.
“The first one that I led in 2022 — we had 1,500 volunteers, and now we are at 1,600,” Villalobos said. “Every year, we grow by about 100 volunteers.”
Villalobos’s favorite part of the experience is seeing its impact on the organizations and the stories the volunteers have to share.
“Getting to see the organization that was overwhelmed get help and even the stories of God in each project,” said Villalobos. “Someone sharing their faith with someone or the organization’s leader being so overwhelmed by the help that they wind up going to the church.”
Projects this year involve planting and harvesting crops, repainting buildings, pressure washing, and organizing inventory for various organizations.
No job is too small for Villalobos; he believes anything the church can contribute is essential.
“We may be doing basic jobs like landscaping and helping a non-profit with their storage units, but we get to help these non-profits with work that they normally couldn’t get done,” said Villalobos.
Phil Loewen took part in his second Serve Day. This year, he worked with 10 projects.
“Last year was our first year doing Serve Day, and Pastor Marco asked us if we wanted to lead 10 projects, and we jumped at the opportunity,” said Loewen. “It’s definitely exciting.”
With all the projects Loewen and his wife are working on, he is most excited about the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
“The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) is what I am most excited for. I am also a veteran, cleaning it up and making it look good,” said Loewen. “With Memorial Day coming up, they usually put on a big show out there.”
He continued to talk about the other projects he helped lead.
“From the Cape Coral Museum to painting a veteran’s house, we’re doing a little bit of everything,”
Loewen and his family moved from Illinois and, as soon as he arrived, they were looking for a place of community.
“We got involved here pretty soon after moving and just jumped in full force,” said Loewen. “Seeing a church and a park first got us involved. We have kids, and we checked it out and fell in love with it right away.”
His advice for those looking to get involved is to try it and not be afraid to be who you are.
“Just show up and be yourself; everyone is welcome and comes as you are,” said Loewen. “All the pastors talk to everyone and reach out to everyone.”
With all the community service Serve Day brought, Loewen shared what service means to him.
“Just going out there and being an example of what Christ did for us and that is bigger then us and helping make the community better.”
Some of the service’s highlights included giving free haircuts, painting Gulf Elementary School and various other schools, and planting 1,000 trees in 72 hours.
Newcomer Maria Higa was enthusiastic to join the community that Serve Day brought.
“To give back and give to the community, you ever get that feeling when someone comes to serve you,” said Higa. “That’s unexpected; it’s just that feeling of friendship and building relationships.”
Higa is new to Florida, but that hasn’t stopped her from getting involved.
“I am a newbie. I just moved to Florida in October, and on my first day, I saw what they were doing here and how they were about the community,” said Higa. “Just the feeling of what this place has been, and I just want to keep doing and keep bringing.”
Community means connection to Higa, and she believes Cape Christian helps everyone come together.
“We are the community, an extension of this whole place,” said Higa.
When asked if she would serve again, Higa had one thing to say.
“If I’m walking, I’m serving.”
For those looking to get involved with Cape Christian and other events in the future, Higa suggested giving it a try.
“This is a place of love, and if you are looking for an environment to feel loved and friendship, come see us,” said Higa. “Come be our friend and come check us out.”
For more information on Cape Christian, you can visit their website, https://www.capechristian.com/