VolunteerSquare.com guest blogger Charlotte Adinolfi returns again this week highlighting an upcoming event that seeks to bring together people of all faiths through a unique volunteer project. - Rachel
If you have volunteered before, you know the feeling. Sometimes it really doesn’t feel like you are helping the larger picture. But what is that larger impact we are hoping to make and can you really ever make a difference? This spring, find a way to make a bigger stride by helping the Tent of Abraham’s “Interfaith Spring into Action” cleanup.
On April 28 from 3 to 6 p.m. in Seaside Park in Bridgeport, an interfaith spring cleanup will be held to help improve this park. Not only will you be helping to cleanup damage from Hurricane Sandy but you will help the Tent of Abraham, a partner with the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, in their overall goal to unite people of different faiths and backgrounds.
“The goal is to bring together Jews (Reformed, Conservative, Humanistic and Orthodox), Muslims from several different mosques and community centers, Christians from several different churches, and Unitarian Universalists, Hindus and Buddhists to work together to beautify our city and plant trees, and play together, and eat together,” Reverend Sara D. Smith, Esq., senior minister of United Congregational Church of Bridgeport said.
Throughout the day, volunteers and members of the participating religious groups will work to clean up the park and plant trees. After the cleanup is completed, a cookout will be held. Smith said this will feature salmon since this a food all traditions can share.
This is not the first year the group has decided to hold such an event. Last year the event was started in an effort to bring people together of different faith backgrounds during an Earth day program. “We wanted to show the public that people of different religious traditions can also work together with respect and peace to help our earth,” Smith said. Last year’s event was a great success so they decided to hold a second cleanup.
“In the past, volunteers from all sorts of faith traditions picked up trash, raked debris, planted trees and flowers and in doing so built bridges of understanding and cooperation,” Smith said.
She continued on to say events such as these emphasize the goals of the Tent of Abraham. The organization is led by volunteers and organized by both clergy and lay leaders ranging from different spiritual and religious traditions. Smith said the Tent of Abraham is the only partnership promoting continuing Jewish-Christian-Muslim dialogue in the Greater Bridgeport area and is inclusive of Buddhist, Hindu and Unitarian Universalist traditions.
The organization holds an annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration as well as a Community Interfaith Iftar to break the fast during the Islamic tradition of Ramadan. Each event gathers hundreds of people of different backgrounds and traditions. Volunteers and participants at these events can help to emphasize these ideals.
“They can help emphasize that we can learn to work and live together in peace,” Smith said. “And as religious and spiritual people we should lead the way in doing so.”
Volunteers should come with an open and willing spirit and a commitment to getting to know people of other traditions. People should be ready to work outside so gloves for the cleanup and a lawn chair for the picnic should be brought. Smith said there are plans in the works for a second annual Community Iftar as well as other interfaith gatherings.
“We want to build hope for a better future for our children and that putting your faith into action, to better out city, and get to know others of different traditions, is important,” Smith said. “That respect for difference can bring peace.”
To learn more about the Council of Churches or to find another volunteer project in the area visit us at VolunteerSquare.com. Remember to sign up for our free e-alerts so we can keep you posted on the latest volunteer news and events!
