Volunteer signups are now underway for Change The World Allen, a three-day weekend of service projects, scheduled for May 15-17, 2015, in Allen, Fairview, and Lucas. This three-day volunteer effort is hosted by 3C Allen and more than 40 churches, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses from Collin County.
The goal of Change the World Allen is to make an impact in the local community through projects that range from home improvement, yard work, collections of food, shoes, clothing, books, and personal care items, sorting and packaging collected items, and supporting numerous Collin County non-profit agencies with labor and other services. Allen, Lucas, and Fairview citizens and their friends can visit http://changetheworldallen.org/ to choose volunteer opportunities from a list of more than 90 community projects.
The weekend kicks off on Friday, May 15, from 6:00pm-9:00pm, with a family friendly musical celebration at the City of Allen’s Joe Farmer Amphitheater. This evening of entertainment includes food trucks, bounce houses, and planned activities for children. The highlight of the evening is a 7:00pm concert by the Connections Band http://connectionsband.com well known for their excellent covers of 70s favorites. This kick-off event features the Connections Band’s popular Chicago/Eagles tribute performance. Traditionally, the band collects a love offering for a worthy cause, and at this May 15 event, all proceeds collected benefit Change The World Allen.
In 2012, First United Methodist Church of Allen joined a national event called Change The World Weekend, an initiative designed for the local church to take on service projects in their communities and get others involved in volunteer activities. That first year, FUMC Allen hosted and funded a three-day weekend of service projects led by a group of laity who planned, organized, and filled more than 600 volunteer opportunities. After the final tally was taken, volunteers from the church and the community had completed more than 2,500 service hours supporting local non-profit organizations with labor, food, clothing, and home repairs.
Since that time, the movement caught on in the communities of Allen, Fairview and Lucas, and this year’s annual weekend of service has been adopted by the Allen Ministerial Alliance, an ecumenical organization of pastors and lay leaders whose goal is to care, coordinate, and connect with those in need. This group, now known to the community as 3C Allen http://www.3callen.com/ includes representatives from FUMC Allen, Creekwood UMC, Suncreek UMC, Living Life Church, Good Shepherd UMC, First Baptist Church of Allen, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, First Presbyterian Church of Allen, Greenville Oaks Church of Christ, The Harvest, and others. 3C Allen has set 2015 Change The World Allen goal at 8,000 volunteer service hours.