Harlow Ward Service Project
Harlow Ward members in the St Albans Stake enjoyed a wonderful morning of outdoor service at a meadow nature reserve in Harlow town in October. Members of all ages, including teenagers and full-time missionaries, helped to rake, clear and dispose of grass cuttings. Their work allowed for the growth of a wild-flower meadow in the spring, which will add to the beauty of the area and improve its ecology.
Ward community outreach specialist, Edith Cells, who organised the activity, was delighted to receive feedback from Volunteer Conservation Coordinator, Andrew Tomlins, who said; “Your efforts have made it possible to mow almost the entire meadow – it is looking a lot more like it should at this time of year. If it was just our small group we would have done only a fraction of what was achieved.”
Andrew hopes the Church members will return in the spring to do more work. This is the second time the Harlow Ward has worked with Andrew on local conservation projects, and the members and missionaries are becoming known to Harlow Council’s parks department as a force for good in the town.
Catherine Bruce, Assistant Communication Director with responsibility to lead community outreach in the stake said: “Conservation work , litter picking and care for the environment are ideal ways of involving able ward members, young people particularly, in rewarding occasional volunteer work, creating great relationships with the community and stewardship for our environment.”
Missionaries do not proselyte when doing community work and find joy in these service opportunities. Ward community outreach specialists across the stake frequently report the wonderful volunteer work the members are doing.