Heavy rains and strong winds filled the forecast all week, not typical weather for April in Oklahoma. But despite the forecast, nothing was going to stop residents of Oklahoma City as they prepared for the upcoming “Litter Blitz” that weekend.

The program is hosted by the non-profit organization OKC Beautiful, which partners up annually with the City of Oklahoma City and the Great American Clean Up, and aims to enhance the image of Oklahoma City through different programs and community activities. As one of the returning participants of the “Litter Blitz” program, the INC Giving volunteers from the local congregation of Oklahoma City were given the opportunity to choose the area to help clean up.

In the past they were assigned the Oklahoma Regatta at the Boathouse District as well as a neighborhood close to the Iglesia Ni Cristo house of worship in Oklahoma City. This year they chose to return to once again clean up the latter.

Saturday morning arrived and to everyone’s surprise no rain was in sight as the group of over 30 brethren, adults and children of all ages, gathered together at the house of worship compound. The volunteers were eager to take to the streets and do their part to keep beautiful the neighborhood and city they love.

As part of the program, the city provides all the supplies and information needed to complete the task, including free trash bags, gloves, safety tips and additional information for the clean up. And so equipped with bags and an eagerness to help, the brethren meticulously made their way up and down the streets towards the nearby park, picking up any and all trash that they came across.

They were occasionally greeted by their neighbors, giving them an opportunity to introduce themselves and invite them to stop by the Church of Christ house of worship located in the neighborhood.

When asked what her favorite part of the activity was, Binhi/Secretary Sis. Rose Maricel replied, “My favorite part of today was to be able to look back at the park, which we cleaned, and see that even though it was a small thing we did today, we were there to help our community and make a difference.”

It was a great activity to give back to the community that surrounds their local, but also a perfect activity to strengthen the brotherhood and love within the local congregation.

Contributors: Roxanne Benedicto Matammu, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma