GO Cincinnati helps communities through massive volunteer blitz

This Saturday, GO Cincinnati will draw thousands of volunteers to help improve our region through a one-day volunteer blitz. The annual city-wide volunteer event is organized by Crossroads Community Church. Volunteers are grouped into teams that travel as far north as Middletown and as far south as Burlington, Ky., to serve schools, churches, neighborhoods, social agencies and nonprofit organizations.

“For the organizations and communities that we serve, often this day is the only volunteer help that they get all year long,” says Jennifer Sperry, a Crossroads representative. “For the volunteers, it builds lifelong relationships with other volunteers and with the people they are serving, in addition to giving a glimpse of what it's like to give up your time for others.”

As many as 8,000 people divided into 450 groups are expected to participate in GO Cincinnati’s ninth year of service May 17. Sperry says volunteers will provide an array of services, including artistic painting, construction, gardening, landscaping, organizing and cleaning, praying, serving meals, working with children and working with the elderly.

“Some of the projects, like tutoring kids for example, are ongoing,” Sperry says. “Logistically, a lot of work goes into bringing thousands of people together to make this day a success. Coming out of this one-day blitz, many feel a greater sense of purpose within the church, and use it as a kick-off to commit to more regularly serving in their communities. We coordinate lots of opportunities to serve people and great organizations in our city that happen all year long.“

Leaders of volunteer groups can be identified by their red GO Cincinnati T-shirts, while volunteers themselves will wear white T-shirts with red GO Cincinnati stickers. Each project has specific age group suggestions, but kids ages 2 and up can participate.

"‘Go be the church’ is something we say and do around [Crossroads]. On this day, we put our faith into action to be a blessing to hundreds of schools, neighborhoods, social agencies, churches and nonprofits that give so much to our community,” Sperry says. “The impact of this day on everyone far surpasses words—it's a feeling and sense of purpose from God that's so powerful that thousands of people come back year after year to experience.”

Find out more at www.crossroads.net/reachout.