'God's Work, Our Hands' projects in Colfax, Endicott

Peace Lutheran volunteers pose in front of the Perkins log house on the Perkins House campus Sunday, Sept. 20. From left to right are Kent Miller, Myrna Morasch, Nick Cocking, Marvin Wigen, Marsha Binder, Scot Cocking, Mary Ann Wigen, Julie Teade, Steve Teade, Christine Henning, Jill Whelchel, Sara Whelchel and Dave Repp. Present but not pictured are Georgie Leinweber, Rex Rutledge, Gail Webster and Pastor Phil Misner.

Members of the Peace Lutheran Church in Colfax and Trinity Lutheran Church in Endicott have participated in service projects to benefit the communities.

Sunday, Sept. 20, the group met in Colfax to do some work at the Perkins House.

“We had quite a large crew work at the Perkins House for several hours,” Pastor Phil Misner said.

Frank White, a volunteer with the Whitman County Historical Society, said he was grateful for the help the volunteers gave.

“It was marvelous,” he said, adding that the group removed three pickup loads of debris and weeds from the grounds. “It's wonderful. We have been plugging along, and we have barely been able to keep up, and now it is much improved. It has moved things ahead enormously.”

The historical society has been in need of volunteers to come out and help maintain the Perkins House. Misner said it was great to be able to help their need.

“At the Perkins House, they were elated. They had a good crew and some hard workers,” said Misner. “They got a lot accomplished.”

Theresa Dale, who also volunteers with the historical society, said there were not enough thank yous to go around for all the work the Lutheran volunteers did.

“With the people we had, overall they did a least 40 hours of work,” she said. “That would have taken Frank and I alone a month.”

Dale said the historical society has struggled to maintain the Perkins House because of a lack of volunteers, but she said the volunteers on Sept. 20 showed what just a few hands could accomplish.

“They have shown the community what one group of people can do in four or five hours,” she said. “Little things like that will bring back the Perkins House faster. Even if I had them one day a week or even one day a month, it would go so far in getting things done. We could have that place looking ship shape in no time at all.”

Dale said the volunteers were an answer to her prayers. White and she maintain the grounds, and though she is passionate about helping the Perkins House, it is difficult for her because of her commute from Thornton.

“Their volunteering was above and beyond what I expected,” she said. “I could not have asked for more. I was in tears.”

Dale said as more volunteers come to the Perkins House, it will be able to be open to the public more and be restored to what it was like when it was first built.

Other projects the group participated in around Colfax included moving books to the library to be sold at The Center, working at the community gardens and visiting residents at Paul's Place and at the Rehab Center. Misner said at Paul's Place they had a social hour with the residents where they played games and had cookies, bread and coffee. At the Rehab Center, they had an hour-long sing along.

“It was really well received at both places,” said Misner. “We just wanted to provide a special day for them.”

In Endicott, volunteers started a re-roofing project near the intersection of Fourth and Dean streets Thursday, Sept. 24. Misner said that project moved along quickly.

“The first day at least went really smoothly,” he said. “We got further than we expected.”

Misner said funds for the re-roofing project came through a partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

“I'm really grateful for the partnership,” he said.

He added that Pullman Building Supply provided materials at discounted rates.

“Pullman Building Supply has been really generous,” said Misner. “That was wonderful to be able to partner with them.”

The work on the roof was originally expected to take through Sunday, but the crews ended up finishing Monday.

Last Sunday, several church volunteers gathered to make handwritten cards and notes to send to people who are homebound.

“We want to make their day, too,” said Misner.

The note-writing station was set up at the Trinity Lutheran Church, and several people participated.

“It is one of those things that people always want to do, but it is hard to find the time to do it,” Misner said.

All of the service projects were part of Peace Lutheran's and Trinity Lutheran's “God's Work, Our Hands” projects. Through this, the two congregations participate in service projects two Sundays per year.