REEDSVILLE — Reedsville United Methodist Church wanted to make an impact in its community during a statewide day of service.
So its members decided to give Reedsville Park a makeover Thursday.
“We spend a lot of time in the park as a church, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, who we charter, they spend a lot of time here. And as we just kind of walked around, we decided, well, maybe this might be a good project,” said Pastor Lisa Fox.
Getting out and taking action is part of Fox’s philosophy that the church is not confined to a building. The church is in the community, not four walls, she said.
Fox and about 20 other volunteers, children and adults, painted playground equipment, raked leaves and gave the shelter and its picnic tables a new coat of paint.
Reedsville donated the paint and other supplies. The town also provided a front loader to carry away leaves with three employees to help with the beautification effort.
“It’s really nice. That’s the way we should be,” said Greg Burke, a member of town council, “ … everybody needs to work together, and try to make things better for the community. So it’s a good thing.”
For his part, Briar Cogar, 12, spent time running a weedeater around the park. The church member and Boy Scout said he needed service hours. The park is also where his troop holds its meetings.
“It feels amazing to make it look a lot better,” he said. “I feel like it’s more enjoyable to do it whenever you’re doing it for the community than doing it in your own home.”
Randy McDonald, who has been a church member for about 15 years, said he loves Fox’s philosophy on expanding the church beyond the structure itself.
“I love it. It’s about the community. You know, when we get out into the public, and they see us doing things, it makes him see that there are still good people in this world,” McDonald said. “And that makes them want to join in and help, I think.”
