#ServeCoweta Day brings 215 volunteers to help neighbors

RiverLife’s annual #ServeCoweta Day brought more than 200 volunteers together September 20 to complete projects for local nonprofits and residents across the county.

One community, serving together

According to RiverLife organizers, 215 volunteers from nine churches, the Rotary Club, Ruth Hill Elementary’s Beta Club, and the University of West Georgia–Carrollton joined forces on Saturday. Together, they tackled projects for nine nonprofits and nine RiverLife clients, ranging from yard clean-ups to construction of ramps and deck repairs.

The day was part of RiverLife’s ongoing mission to connect willing hands with neighbors who need help. Many of the homeowners assisted were elderly, widowed, or living with disabilities. Others were single parents or individuals on fixed incomes without the means to afford repairs or maintenance.

“Many of our clients do not have family who can meet these needs,” RiverLife founder and Executive Director Melanie Reeves explained.  

RiverLife Board Chair Lorraine Burt added, “That’s why #ServeCoweta exists. We provide the project, the tools, and the materials—making it simple for volunteers to make a difference.”

Families step up to serve

For some participants, the event was a family affair. Alyssa Hale, who attended with her husband and two children, said the experience was a way to model service for her kids.

“We just really wanted to be present in the community and help others out the way that Jesus would,” Hale said. “Following that chance to serve others and do good for others was really important to us today.”

Volunteers spread out across Coweta County to complete a range of tasks for nine RiverLife clients including one ramp, one deck rebuild and extension, and five yard projects, and projects at nine more nonprofits. The variety of work made it possible for people of all ages and skill levels to participate.

Partnerships multiply the impact

#ServeCoweta also created an opportunity for local organizations to deepen their impact. Habitat for Humanity, for example, welcomed about 20 volunteers to its current build site.

“They’re making the property level and putting down pine straw so it’s safe for everyone to be out there,” said Marcie Bayne, director of community outreach for Newnan-Coweta Habitat for Humanity. “We have an ongoing build that started August 28 and runs through December 6, and we need 10 to 12 volunteers every day. Events like #ServeCoweta help us connect with new people who might want to stay involved.”

In addition to construction support, Habitat also recruits volunteers for its Restore, where 10 to 12 people are needed each day, Tuesday through Saturday. Bayne said Serve Coweta offers a vital opportunity to spread the word.

A growing movement

RiverLife leaders noted that #ServeCoweta grew out of a practical need. As more residents applied for help, weekend volunteer crews alone could not keep up. The idea of a county-wide day of service launched in 2018 and has since become a movement, uniting hundreds of people annually around the idea of “one community, serving together.”

“We learned that many of our neighbors were living in unsafe and unhealthy conditions with no means to fix them,” Burt said. “#ServeCoweta was born to rally a larger number of volunteers to help. It’s grown into a community-wide effort where everyone has a role.”

Looking ahead

As the projects wrapped up on Saturday, participants left knowing they had made a tangible difference in their community. From fresh pine straw at Habitat’s build site to new ramps that improve accessibility for elderly residents, the work carried lasting impact.

For RiverLife, the day was also a reminder of their role as a connector—linking people who want to serve with neighbors who need support. With requests for help continuing to come in, organizers say the effort doesn’t end with one day.

RiverLife encourages volunteers to #ServeCoweta to volunteer on regular projects they do. Last year, for example, RiverLife built 31 handicapped ramps at the homes of mostly elderly, disabled individuals. 

They also encourage volunteers to engage in the nonprofits that are given free tables at #ServeCoweta to recruit—groups like Bridging the Gap, that is Coweta’s largest food pantry. 

For more information about how to get involved with RiverLife or donate to their mission visit, www.livetheriverlife.com.