Celebration of HOPE!

12 meetings, over 3 months of planning and preparation, 9 neighborhoods, 35 projects, and about 1000 volunteers registered and ready to make a change in all sectors of Dallas in one day. Yeah, June 28^th and Celebration of Hope had arrived!

When thinking about it, I wonder how did all of the above get pulled off and the only answer I have is that God provided and showed up. Even with this being my first year with Celebration of hope, I could definitely see that we were hitting a lot of “bumps” in the road and that things were definitely not always going as planned or expected but in the end, God provided and made me realize that God is always waiting for us to go to Him and ask for help and to say “okay God, I can’t do this on my own and I’ve done all I can do so help”. It’s at that time that we make room for God to do His work and show up, as He had wanted to all along.

I saw the need of 200+ volunteers 1 week before the workday turn into only needing maybe 50 volunteers in less than a week and I saw a grant we were waiting on come through (even if it was last minute and caused stress and tension, it still came through and we were able to get the supplies/ material/ tools needed to accomplish the workday). I also saw volunteers not quitting but persevering to make a change in the 9 neighborhoods and 35 residents even when it started raining.

You ask, how could you accomplish working in 9 neighborhoods, every sector of Dallas, doing 35 projects, and bringing out about 1000 volunteers in 1 day? The answer is God since none of it would have been possible if we were doing it all on our own and none of it would have been possible if God hadn’t been in the midst of every step, every meeting, all the planning and preparation, all the conversations, etc… Yes, there was a lot of stress and tension at times but in the end everything came together and we couldn’t have done any of it without God, the neighborhood leaders, the volunteers, the staff, our partners, and anyone else involved with any aspect of making Celebration of Hope happen.

So ultimately, a picture’s worth 1000 words so below are some pictures of the workday and what took place in 1 day to bring hope and change to the neighborhoods, the residents we served, and Dallas!

Prayer to start the work day in Hamilton Park (Prayer circles done in each neighborhood)

Registration Team in Jubilee Park

Resident helping to make a different in Jubilee and on her house

Resident in Hamilton Park excited about the work being done on her house

Resident and team captain in Mill City thrilled about the work that was done on her house

Residents and home owners moved by the work volunteers did on their house and for the Jubilee neighborhood

Packing up tools to take to one of the houses in Hamilton Park

Registration team and volunteers signing in at Hamilton Park

Volunteers leading change in the neighborhoods and all sectors of Dallas

Even getting stung by a wasp didn't stop this volunteer from making a difference and leading change