East Coast Volunteer Service Day 2016

On September 25, 2016, more than 50 members from the World Mission Society Church of God in Philadelphia gathered in Leigh Valley to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk. Not only does it raise awareness but the walk also helps to raise funds for research. The hope is to help find cures and ensure access to treatments for all blood cancer patients. In the United States alone, approximately 171,550 people are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2016.

To support the cause, Church of God members woke up early in the morning to volunteer at the Light the Night Walk. Volunteers started their day by setting up tents, banners, basket raffles, and stations for merchandise, food and beverages. Volunteers also played many different roles throughout the day. Some welcomed and guided participants. Meanwhile, others took care of the children’s zone, entertaining and putting smiles on the children’s faces.

But most of the volunteers supported the walk by cheering on the survivors and their families and friends who participated. Helen DeHaven, the Campaign Specialist of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, expressed her thanks to the volunteers as well. Furthermore, she said that their presence energized the participants and changed the atmosphere of the event.

 

The event concluded with a striking fireworks show. The Church of God volunteers, however, remained at the site to wrap up all the activities and clean.

Ellen Rubesin, the Executive Director of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society said, “You guys are the best group of volunteers that we have worked with.”

She even invited the members to come back again to support future walks. As the Church of God volunteers always strive to serve their community, they did not hesitate to reply, “Yes, definitely!”

This effort was part of the East Coast Volunteer Service Day 2016. On the same day, 25 Church of God locations participated in various types of volunteer activities. Not only on the East Coast, but even in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, volunteers served their communities together. The East Coast Volunteer Service Day was part of a public awareness campaign to emphasize the importance of volunteerism.