July 25, 2009 — 700 volunteers from Service International and St. Louis Family Church set out to serve the Walnut Park community around Dwight Davis Park in St. Louis City. Some of the workers headed for the park to set up tents, fire up barbecues, pump up inflatables, and organize a water park, games and rides for the kids. During the event they also cooked and served 3400 hot dogs and made 2000 sno-cones!

Other volunteers headed out into the community, working alongside residents. At Northwest High School, they used 100 gallons of paint on the football field bleachers, equipment shed and announcer's building; replaced signs in the gym and on the field; restored the school's stone initials in the stadium; and repaired locker room showers.

And more teams of volunteers installed a total of 300 smoke detectors in 120 houses; cleaned up yards; and completed 16 other household maintenance and repair projects. One elderly resident had hired a contractor to install a bathtub, but he never completed the job. So SI workers finished the installation for her at no cost. Also, volunteer dentists and assistants provided 169 dental screenings and fluoride treatments valued at more than $18,000.

At the end of the day, 1500 pairs of shoes, 1200 pairs of socks, and 1700 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to elementary school children, and neighborhood families were treated to food, a concert, and fun!

It was a privilege to partner with the Dwight Davis Park residents to help them give their community some TLC. Lots of happy kids and smiling faces indicated that Saturday, July 25, was truly a great day in the neighborhood.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the "Love the Neighborhood" project. Your hard work and efforts changed circumstances, attitudes, and hearts in not only the Dwight Davis Park neighborhood, but also in each one of us.

SI would also like to acknowledge the following individuals and organizations for their generous contributions to this project.

• St. Louis Alderman Gregory Carter of City of St. Louis, 27th Ward
• Shoes — Private distributor
• Smoke detectors — City of St. Louis Fire Department
• Free dental care — Dr. Mark Ortinau, Dr. Norm Freiberger,
   Dr. Craig Hollander, Dr. Brian Schlueter and Dr. Suzanne Degnen
• School supplies and backpacks — The Isaac Bruce foundation,
   "Helping Hands, Healing Hearts," and the congregation of St. Louis
   Family Church

Twice each year in St. Louis, the home of our international headquarters, Service International partners with the Greater St. Louis Dental Society. "Give Kids A Smile," a fall and winter weekend program that takes place on the campus of St. Louis University, provides free dental care to inner city children. In February 2009, SI volunteers joined nearly 300 other local volunteers to help dentists provide $432,507 worth of free dental care!

No medical or dental skills are required. You're there for a few hours on the weekend to assist the dentists, encourage the kids, and give out smiles.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
Since 1997, SI has partnered with Samaritan's Purse, serving as Regional Collection Headquarters for Operation Christmas Child and collecting and helping with the distribution of shoe boxes filled with fun and practical Christmas presents for needy children at home and abroad. Every fall, schools, churches, businesses, and individuals in the St. Louis region donate thousands of these gift boxes filled with joy for boys and girls.