More than 1,200 volunteers take ACTIONhelp others

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers HAPPY TO HELP-The Area Christians Taking Initiatives On Needs (ACTION) group was busy over the weekend when 500 people from 32 churches conducted 129 volunteer projects locally. Working diligently from left to right are Rick Varnier, Tim Jackson, Noah Jackson, Joshua Earl and Russell Jackson (in the background) installing a wheelchair ramp in Cori Cashier-Gagnon's home in rural Agoura. Cori's 10-year-old daughter, Sydni, has cerebral palsy and is wheelchair bound. More than 1,200 volunteers from 32 local churches participated in the annual Area Christians Taking Initiative on Needs (ACTION) community service program on Sat., June 3.

The parishioners united to paint, landscape, serve elderly and disabled residents and provide cleanup and practical help. The program was originally created to help local churches to better identify and address needs in local communities.

Volunteers worked from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Their gathering points were Calvary Community Church of Westlake Village, EVFree Church of Newbury Park, and Bible Fellowship Church of Ventura. They participated in more than 100 projects that served 30 local nonprofit agencies.

The ACTION program was founded in 2003 by leaders of these three churches as well as Vineyard Community Church.

Among the organizations that provided projects for this day were the Area Housing Authority of Ventura County, Lutheran Social Services, Ventura County Rescue Mission, Interface, Casa Pacifica, Habitat for Humanity, Senior Concerns and the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

For details on the ACTION program and its community outreach projects, call (805) 3713691 or visit www.actionvc.org.