Liz Perraud
Executive Director
GenOn Ministries
Imagine the best mission project ever that makes a huge impact, addresses hunger and malnutrition, takes a few hours, is a ton of fun, and engages nearly every age and stage of life. That would be a meal-packaging event! Organizations like Rise Against Hunger and Colorado Feeding Kids mobilize volunteers to create and store nutritious dry meal packets that are distributed locally and around the world—depending on the organization’s mission.
The efficient and orderly approach to the event is a sight to behold with stations to measure and pour rice and soy into plastic bags, to weigh, to seal, and to box. My favorite part is the shout of “Runner!” to call to the youngest volunteers that they are needed to carefully and quickly carry containers from one station to the next. Or maybe it’s the big gong that is sounded for every 1,000 meals boxed. Or maybe it’s the joy in working alongside others.
Not all service opportunities put all generations to work in a meaningful way. Everyone is given an assignment and comes home with that good kind of tired, knowing that they’ve made a difference in the world. Mission and service projects that include all ages build relationships and allow for mutual investment. They help the church move from multigenerational to intergenerational.
Intergenerational Mission? We have a whole Pinterest board of ideas! We also have a section of the LOGOS Toolkit on the “why” and the “how”!
We would love to hear what you have done that engages all generations in service to others.
P.S. Mission is also about giving of your “treasure.” GenOn Ministries is a nonprofit organization that depends on the generosity of individuals and churches to carry out our mission. Will you give today? Or sign up for our GIFT Circle (Giving In Faith Twelvefold) to give monthly? Every amount matters.
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