ForColumbia 2025: Serving the City, Loving Our Neighbors

Above: Approximately 50 ForColumbia volunteers served at the City of Refuge Shalom Center, a property gifted to this non-profit in 2024. The property includes a home used for transitional housing for refugees. These volunteers scraped and repainted the front door of the home, and installed an awning.

ForColumbia is gearing up for its 11th annual citywide day of serving our city on Saturday, April 26, bringing together an anticipated 2,000 volunteers to serve at 97 locations throughout Columbia.

This initiative, led by 55 partnering churches, is a powerful expression of Christian love in action — demonstrating what it means to serve others selflessly, just as Christ calls His followers to do.

Mount Celestial Pavilion: Over 75 volunteers worked at the historic original site of the Mount Celestial Baptist Church, building a pavilion (shown here, completed) over the original foundation of the church.

“Christians are called to seek the good of the city where they live and to love their neighbors,” said Executive Director Shelly Mayer. “This kind of outward-facing lifestyle honors Jesus and helps our community flourish. Our goal is simple — improve life for everyone.”

What might serving look like in 2025?

This year, volunteers will work with homeowners, nonprofits and public spaces across Columbia, with locations including:

• Mt. Celestial Historic Site: Volunteers will continue restoration efforts as part of a phased project to return this historic property to a usable space for its congregation and the greater community.
• Camp Hickory Hill: A camp dedicated to children with diabetes, providing a safe environment where medical care is available, enabling children to experience summer camp.
• Columbia Housing Authority (CHA) Residences: Teams will serve at five locations managed by CHA, assisting hundreds of residents in low-income housing.
• Woodhaven Homes: Volunteers will assist at 28 homes providing safe, supportive housing for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Private Residences: Efforts will aid 20 homeowners facing challenges in maintaining their homes due to financial or physical hardships.

ForColumbia volunteers spreading mulch onto trails at the City of Refuge Shalom Center, a property gifted to this non-profit in 2024.

“The individuals we serve are often people who are struggling with many layers of hardship — financial issues, health concerns, physical limitations,” Mayer said. “Almost always, they lack the circle of community support that many of us take for granted. So, obviously, those we serve benefit from the practical help we provide. But, those who do the serving benefit, too.”

ForColumbia volunteers routinely say they benefit most.

The impact of ForColumbia reaches beyond the work itself. Volunteers find joy in serving, and many make it a family tradition.

“My family looks forward to serving every year,” returning volunteer Miranda Giger shared. “My 7-year-old already asked me back in January when we could sign up for ForColumbia. She loves being given a job to do, and my husband and I love raising our girls to serve others.”

Each year, dozens of volunteers serve residents of Paquin Tower. Here, skilled volunteers provide free hair cuts to residents.

Mayer emphasized that serving others is transformative not just for those receiving help, but also for those giving it.

“The phrase ‘It is better to give than to receive’ is not just a pithy statement,” she said. “When we serve others, everyone is better off.”

For those on the receiving end, the impact is often life-changing.

Faced with several expensive maintenance issues and personal hardships simultaneously, First Ward resident Omari was in danger of losing the home his family owned. He and his family were living in an apartment and paying rent, which only made those needed home repairs that much further out of reach. But then, one ForColumbia team of year-round volunteers stepped in.

ForColumbia 2024 volunteers enjoy visiting with a Paquin Tower resident.

“What ForColumbia does saves lives,” Omari said.

While ForColumbia is organized by Christian churches, anyone is welcome to join in and serve alongside their neighbors. The mission is simple: to love and serve the city as an expression of God’s love.

Literally, anyone can enjoy serving.

If you’re interested in serving, please consider volunteering at the ForColumbia Registration page.

• As you fill out the simple form, be forthcoming about your skills and physical abilities/limitations.
• Anyone can serve, young or old, highly skilled…or at the opposite end of that spectrum.

The more accurate your completed registration, the better our team will be able to match you with the perfect serving opportunity.