School’s out, and the Belmont Religious Council is hoping people take the time to spread some seasonal joy with its Summer of Service Community Bingo.
Bingo participants carry a card, listing a variety of positive activities that can be completed in and around Belmont. Some of the squares include volunteering at the Belmont Food Pantry, introducing yourself to a neighbor you don’t know well, or writing kind messages with sidewalk chalk. When they complete the task, they get to mark the card.
The BRC hosted a kickoff on Wednesday at Payson Park Church. Craft stations loaded with stickers, origami paper and markers helped participants get in the service spirit. At the Stewarding the Trail station, participants could grab a packet of wildflower seeds to sprinkle on their local trail. The letter writing station encouraged people to write a note to a loved one or community member.
At the end of the summer, one participant with a complete bingo card will win a grand prize.
This is the first time the BRC has hosted Summer of Service Bingo. BRC President Portia Thompson said the purpose of the event is to “unite the community and try to bring love and joy to neighbors, friends…and the community at large.”
The BRC was founded in 1954 to serve the many different faith communities in Belmont. There are currently 11 faith communities involved, according to the BRC website.
David Webster, a volunteer and representative of BRC from the Plymouth Congregational Church, said that the BRC is “a unique community of a variety of houses of worship that provides fellowship, fun, service and spiritual opportunities for…the people in Belmont [and] surrounding communities as well.”
The bingo is meant to be an intergenerational activity that brings the whole community together, said Jenny Lane, youth and community outreach minister at Payson Park Church. She hopes that the Summer of Service event will unite the community, saying “when we come together, we can create so much good [and] spread a little bit of extra joy.”
“The world has been so heavy lately,” Lane said. “But spreading a little bit of joy and a little bit of positivity, just coming together as a community, is one of my favorite things in the world.”
To participate in the Summer of Service, visit the Belmont Religious Council website.
