ALLENTOWN, Pa. – It’s the growing season, and not just in the garden.
69 News Reporter Rick Holmes shows us why hundreds of people volunteered for Allentown’s first-ever “Serve Day.”
Allentown Public School students and volunteers are digging in for better schools.
“I went around the whole school and I was picking up trash and I was helping plant a tree over there,” said one student.
It’s part of the district’s first-ever Serve Day.
The district’s Family Advisory Council, and the Interfaith Advisory Council mustered more than 250 volunteers to make a collective impact.
“We can preach it from buildings and we can talk about it all day, and it sounds nice in theory, but when you meet people from your own community, it actually becomes real,” said Johnny Lopez, a Pastor for Youth For Christ Lehigh Valley.
Pastor Alex DeJesus and his volunteers spent the day at Anna M. Hays Elementary painting and redecorating, because he says first impressions are lasting ones.
“Imagine parents coming in and seeing the outside beautiful. Flowers and it looks good. It feels good,” said Alex DeJesus, Pastor at Bridge Church of God.
Even the administrative team from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms took time out to clean up and share career lessons from the pros at the PPL Center.
“Our graphic design team, our sales team, our events team are all here talking to our students about what they can do to prepare for roles in sports,” said Tim Burke of Lehigh Valley Phantoms Charities.
Allentown Superintendent Dr. Carol Birks says it’s not too early to volunteer for next year’s Serve Day.
“And if anyone wants to join us for future events and activities, you can go to the Allentown School District website, our Facebook page, and social channels,” Dr. Birks said.