Valley churches plan day of service to show ‘RealLove’

WASILLA — Valley Pastors Prayer Network wants to show the Mat-Su Valley real love through service.

After two months of serving the community, the RealLove effort culminates Saturday with a day of service throughout the Valley consisting of efforts to aid homeless, elderly, veterans, families and everyone in between.

Valley Pastors Prayer Network has in the past held a community church service, but decided this year to try a new approach. After researching ways to help the community and the responses of different programs, VPPN settled on the RealLove project of service, culminating in Saturday’s full day of events, including a barbecue and celebration church service at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center.

“We were doing research before we got going and looking at other communities and that kind of program has seen increased ownership within the community, lowered crime rates, improved support for the disadvantaged, cleaner and more beautiful cities,” said Kathy Conn of Northgate Alaska. “We’re really a great place here in the Valley.”

Among the events taking place Saturday are efforts at Colony High School, Houston Middle and Houston High schools and Knik, Goose Bay and Iditarod Elementary schools. Also, 100 backpacks full of school supplies will be given away.

Sheds are being built for Haven, a homeless relief project within the Valley. Care packages of toiletries as well as snacks and treats will be put together to give out to the homeless. A clothing giveaway also is planned in Palmer.

“Some of the events you have to come to us for the service, but many of them we bring the service to you,” Conn said.

Free services will be offered at the Menard all day. Auto safety checks will be given as well as emergency preparedness seminars at 10 a.m. and noon. Medical professionals will volunteer their expertise to provide free health screenings and school physicals.

“We want to go out and serve with no strings attached and as a group of people that is cohesive, and it’s not about denominations or your church, you just love the name of Jesus and to show people in a tangible way,” Conn said.

Wasilla Wonderland Park is going to be repainted on Saturday. Crews will wash windows in downtown Palmer. RealLove will be parked outside of grocery stores challenging shoppers to “Stuff the Truck” full of canned foods and nonperishables to fill local food banks.

RealLove has also helped senior citizens over the past two months. Crews will help with yard work for seniors in the Palmer area and at the Wasilla Senior Center.

After all the hard work takes place on Saturday, a community barbecue begins at 5:30 p.m. A celebration church service is at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit reallovealaska.com.

Contact intern Tim Rockey at 352-2252 or tim.rockey@gmail.com. Follow @trockeynews on Twitter.