On Wednesday, March 31, Spring Break set the students free at 11:30 am, and by 12:30 pm, the vans were full with just under 20 middle and high school youth on their way from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Waterloo, IL, to the Peace Center to start their school break with service. After a year of COVID restrictions and fewer groups able to serve during that time, the Peace Center was due for some spring cleaning.

“As the weather was warming up, we were hoping to be able to use the backyard play area during our tutoring time,” Jennifer Janssen, Tuesday Tutoring Coordinator, explained. “But the yard needed some attention to ensure it was safe.” Eleven-year-olds with rakes and some spirit cleaned up the yard, filling several bags. But the pressure washer stole the show, as mildew, which can make the wooden walkways slippery, was washed away. The pressure washers, 11- and 12-year-old cousins, and a mom who was able to join the group after work, had the hardest, and wettest, job of the day. But they said, “It was so fun being able to see the results of our efforts, to know that kids would be playing there next week and would be safer because of our effort.”

Other groups of boys brandished brooms, mops, and vacuums—under the guidance of Tuesday Tutoring volunteer Sandra Gerber—who oversaw the cleaning of much of the building. Upstairs, a transformation was taking place in the tutoring supply closet, as every table was filled with boxes from the just-emptied closet and diligent helpers sorted, sharpened, and organized materials that had been lost in the clutter that was supposed to be cleared out last March before COVID canceled those plans.

Addie Janssen, a faithful Tuesday Tutoring volunteer, led a group of friends in the effort to tackle the project. Four hours later, the transformation was complete. She shared, “I found some resources we had forgotten about and was able to use them the next week with my small group of first-grade girls. And we didn’t have to dig around for pencils!”

“Serving together was such a blessing for this group. The next week during our midweek classes, the kids were still talking about the fun and how good it made them feel to work together and help others,” offered Jennifer Janssen, also a midweek teacher at Immanuel. “Smiles were everywhere in the Peace Center that afternoon. Especially when the pizza arrived.”

By Jennifer Janssen
Immanuel Lutheran, Waterloo, IL

News Articles

Serving Up Smiles