n By Kristen Munson
Staff Writer
Gilroy – Area churches have bound together providing food, clothes and yard assistance as part of a year long project to bring help to those who need it most.
“There really is a sense of unity,” said Mark Turner, Associate Pastor at South Valley Community Church, who helped coordinate the Adopt a Block program. “We’re getting to do what the churches should be doing, and that’s helping the people in the community.”
South Valley’s Senior Pastor Eric Smith wanted his church to find a way to help community members and thought the Adopt a Block project was a good way to reach out to people, Turner said.
Families Para Cristo, Victory Outreach, Church of the Nazarene, New Hope, Calvary Chapel and South Valley Community Church’s Compassion Center have combined efforts to bring relief to local residents.
The idea behind the Adopt a Block program is to determine what the specific needs are in an area of the city and find volunteers to help, whether it’s bringing food to the hungry, clothes to the needy, or performing yard work for those who cannot do it themselves. Three weekends a month volunteers will take to the streets, delivering food, clothes, or performing yard work.
“We are going to take this as far as we can,” Turner said.
Church officials are hoping that after a year the program can expand to nearby neighborhoods – until the program touches all areas of the city.
“We’re really trying to reach the areas with the greatest need,” he said.
The first area of the churches adopted is the presidential district by I.O.O.F Avenue, including Adams, Grant, Polk and Taft streets. Volunteers went out into the community with surveys asking residents what they needed most.
“It’s really designed to help meet the needs of people with needs,” Turner explained.
A barbecue for area residents will be held May 6 to kick off a community clean up. Trash bins will be provided, as well as volunteers to help repair fences and paint over graffiti.
To receive help individuals do not need to be affiliated with any church or meet any financial requirements.
“They just need to have a need,” Turner said.
For more information on how to help: Contact Turner at 848-2363 x132. To donate clothing contact Juan Gutierrez at the Compassion Center at 842-3888.
