Serve Week Recap: Not Through I, but Through HIM

Able to Serve spent the last week of July hosting Serve Week 2026! The participants were able to stretch their comfort zones and challenge themselves to become “sacrificial servants”.

Becoming “Sacrificial Servants” means having the perspective that serving others is not for applause, but to please God only. The participants completely embraced this in their Bible Study and practiced it throughout the entire week. Their willingness and joy to serve others for God shined through. Read below to learn more about their community outings, on-campus projects, and the impact it had on their lives and in the surrounding communities.

Serve Week Projects

At the beginning of each day, participants arrived to receive a bandana based on their team color and a schedule for the day. Each day included Bible study and an on-site & off-site project. At least 4+ projects were completed throughout each morning and afternoon.

Monday started off strong with visits to Walmart, Aldi, and Trader Joe’s for supplies to stock blessing boxes and our goodie bags for Seniors. Another group visited Note in the Pocket. This ministry strives to provide quality clothing to homeless and impoverished children and families with love. The name comes from the addition of a note placed with the clothing, indicating the item for the recipient to keep. For Monday and Tuesday, the groups of participants on this project learned how to sort the clothes and then loaded items that needed to be recycled onto the truck.

Another off-campus project included a visit to Crossing ALL Borders. This nonprofit meets the needs of people in over 100 countries. Our participants helped by working in the warehouse & creating hygiene kits, including cutting the fabric for the tote bags it comes in. The bags made by ATS participants were delivered to migrant farm workers during the week!

On Tuesday, we delivered lots of food supplies to the blessing boxes of McCullers Community Baptist Church and Highland Baptist Church. Participants stocked the shelves and then prayed over those who would receive them.

Towards the end of the week, participants also visited senior resident facilities around Garner and served them snow cones, including Foundations Senior Living & Cadence Senior Living. Groups also took turns visiting the YMCA to help with cleaning and giving out refreshments. As members would come in and out, we welcomed and offered refreshments & an encouraging smile. Along with refreshments, the table had informational postcards, encouragement rocks the participants had painted, and sweet notes.

While off-campus projects were in full swing, other groups were working hard on the on-campus projects, which included making snacks and flowers for personal goodie bags, as well as writing personal notes for those who receive them. We then delivered these bags to The Laurels of Forest Glen, Lawndale Assisted Living, and Community of Hope Summer Camp Staff.

However, one of our favorite projects for Serve Week was the Car Wash ATS hosted on Thursday and Friday morning. This Car Wash was for Seniors throughout our community! We had a blast vacuuming, wiping windows, drying the car, and putting flowers in each car. While some were tired, they were able to push through and finish strong. Many participants said that was one of their favorite projects of the week.

Impact:

Overall, the week strengthened a lot of bonds between volunteers, staff, participants, and community members. One of our participants, Emma, stated that “we are all her best friends“. The participants were reminded of the love they have for God, their friends, and their community through this week. Another participant, Becky stated that her favorite part of the week was going to Note in the Pocket and sorting clothes to go to people in need. Many participants said they enjoyed working together with their fellow ATS friends and that they loved helping others. We want to continue what we learned at Serve Week and pass that kindness through our words, actions, and character here at ATS!

Impact by the Numbers:

Approximately 100 personal hygiene kits created and given to Migrant Workers at Crossing All Borders
37 trail mix bags and 15 jars of butter mints made and packed for goodie bags
Approximately 75 snow cones served to Senior Residents at surrounding facilities
14 cars washed for local Seniors during the ATS Car Wash
Hundreds of bags of clothes sorted & loaded onto truck for Note in the Pocket
35 goodie bags packed and given to Community of Hope
100 goodie bags packed and given to The Laurels of Forest Glen and Lawndale Assisted Living in Garner