"I see the need" - Why Serena volunteers
When I think of the people who have made a big difference with Greenhouse Project I think of Serena.
One summer day in 2022, Serena and her sister were driving by our building and saw the Food Outreach going on. When one of the volunteers that day asked if they could use some of the fresh fruit they stopped. But while they were stopped they went one step further by asking if more volunteers were needed. Serena came back to volunteer and has been faithfully helping for the last almost two years.
Serena said, “I’m born and raised in Chester and I see the need for this ministry here and throughout the country! I believe it is a great help & blessing for all.”
“I tell people if they would like to help out, they can just come, they have two locations. They can always use the help. Pastor Donny works with the food distribution program. He’s very helpful. He shows up early, sets us up and [shows] how to serve everything to people. He helps both sites every week.”
Not only does Serena come out to volunteer with us but she also spreads the word about our different programs to people around us. She tells people about Food Outreach, Sunday church, and the after school Homework Club for kids.
Serena also tells about how Greenhouse Project hosts the Community BBQ’s over the summer as well. “Food always brings people together,” she said.
Pastor Donny sincerely appreciates her help and said, “Serena is by far the most organized person here in the office! Every project I give she runs with and makes it awesome. It takes a lot of pressure off of me personally knowing I can trust her to do whatever I need well. The best part is that she is sold on ministry life being that she is a pastor's wife, and that she herself has been in many ministry roles. She's awesome!”
Not only does she serve weekly, she leads at a high level. There is no doubt that God lead her to us. From our start we prayed for local leaders to take serving the Lord to a new level. Then we met Serena. She responded to an obvious need for leadership, but in a Godly way. She really loves the Lord and people.
We know change must happen from the inside out and when people are transformed through the Lord, they are moved to help reach others. Serena is our champion and part of our Greenhouse Project Family.
Serena has been married to her husband for 42 years and has 3 adult children, and 9 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild. They are retired now and their family keeps them busy but we’re so glad that Serena chooses to spend time each week with us serving our community in Chester.
Having met someone like Serena who uses her Gifts from the Lord to give back and help others is one of the reasons why God brought us here. We love seeing people in Christ fulfilling the vision God gave them.
Great things are happening in Chester, people are hearing the Word of God, leaders are being raised, the youth are being educated, people are being set free from sin and addiction. We dreamed of these outcomes and people like Serena just over four years ago and look what God has done and is doing through Greenhouse Project!
Please continue to sponsor, pray, volunteer and share about us with you friends and family. Together in Christ we will see our City transformed through one soul, one family, one block at a time.