So much to give: See how Flint churches are making a difference with massive volunteer effort

This is about giving. And honoring. And hosting friends and neighbors.

Joy Tabernacle Church served as the host church for a massive effort to bring community services to Flint’s Bassett Park on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, through Convoy of Hope, a national nonprofit organization that specializes in disaster relief and last year delivered more than 400 truckloads of bottled water to Flint.

The even offered haircuts, family portraits, health services including 15 types of screenings, groceries, music, veterans services, children’s activities and a bag lunch—all for free and all thanks to more than 700 volunteers.

Carriage Town Ministries provided the free bag lunch and also operated a tent offering free shoes. 

Central Church of the Nazarene in Flint Township helped coordinate the massive outreach event. Todd Womack, a pastor at Central Church of the Nazarene and a University of Michigan-Flint professor that has partnered extensively with the Civic Park neighborhood, said the event could have served as many as 5,000 residents. 

No matter who or how many came, Womack said: “We are just going to love them and treat them as the guests of honor.”