In The News


ARTICLE ARCHIVES
(Click to view)

Feb. 2010: Missionaries planning massive neighborhood-fix up

May 2009: Volunteers bring curb appeal to Henry Avenue SW

May 2009: Faith-based project to transform southwest neighborhood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missionaries planning massive neighborhood fix-up

 
By Charita Goshay
CantonRep.com staff writer

Posted Feb 20, 2010 @ 04:00 AM
 
CANTON —

When volunteers with Community Outreach of Love set their sights on a specific    area for a neighborhood improvement project, they say God had something else    in mind.

“Basically, we got in a van and drove throughout the city to ask God to direct us  to the place to focus our efforts,” said C.O.O.L. founder Cindy Mandrell. “We had  another in mind, but it just seemed to be ‘koinonia’ (fellowship) among us; we all  just felt the same thing.”

C.O.O.L. is seeking 3,000 volunteers to undertake repairs to 300 homes in the  Summit/Newton Zone neighborhood on June 5.

Last May, 287 C.O.O.L. volunteers landscaped and repaired exteriors at 27 homes and a social club on Henry Avenue SW.

“We’ll talk to people in the neighborhood to see what they’d like to have done,”  said Bonnie Steinbach, who is helping Mandrell organize the June project, along  with Cathy Storey, Jeff Whytsell, Herb Sutter and Chuck Goldy. “A lot of times,  people just can’t afford to do repairs, or they aren’t physically able.”

There also will be a spiritual element. Prior to and during the project, teams of volunteers will walk through the neighborhood, in prayer. And there will be follow-up contact with residents.

HEINZ 57

Mandrell said the Summit area has a “Heinz 57” variety of cultures.

“There are Mexicans, single-parent families and people who have been there forever,” she said. “We also believe people have moved in to bring the light of Christ, and we’ve been an answer to their prayers ... People need to know God loves them.”

“I think people in the neighborhood are crying out for help like this,” Storey said. “This brings hope and lets them know you don’t have to be stuck.”

The C.O.O.L. project will be another component in a neighborhood that has been served by Hammer & Nails, Love Canton and various other churches and neighborhood groups.

“What’s so exciting is all these people are coming together in unity, with no desire whatsoever in highlighting their churches,” said Mandrell, who is also a missionary and director of Mission Bridge Ministries.

“It doesn’t happen that much,” Steinbach added. “A lot of churches are competitive, even though we’re all out for the same cause.”

Mandrell said she’s recruited about 45 pastors.

“I haven’t gotten a ‘no’ yet,” she said. “They’re excited. We feel the key is the pastors. If they have a heart-connection with the project, their members will, too. We hope every church and ministry will get involved in some way.”

ZERO BUDGET

“I came here from Washington, D.C., two years ago, and it seems to me that more ministries here work together,” Sutter said. “Canton is one of the most (economically) depressed areas. Who other than Christ can change that? The ultimate goal is to take Canton from last to first.”

“This is a God thing,” said Whytsell, faith outreach director at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Stark and Carroll Counties. “People like to donate to something tangible. It’s an opportunity to get on our hands and knees with our neighbors in the community.”

Mandrell said that like the Henry Avenue project, the Summit/Newton Zone project has a “zero budget.”

“We’re trusting God will provide through his people,” she said, noting that last year, volunteers also pitched in to buy materials needed for the Henry Avenue SW project.

Storey said C.O.O.L. volunteers benefit almost as much the homeowners they help.

“We like to say that what happens is, ‘People get ruined for the ordinary,’ ” she said.

“I also train missionaries,” Mandrell said. “So often, people can’t go to other countries for one reason or another. I think God has given us a strategy to do missions right in our own backyard.”

For information or to volunteer with the June 5 project, visit www.missionbridge.org/cool or call (330) 497-2660.

*Click to go back to top

 

Volunteers bring curb appeal to Henry Avenue SW

 
By Denise Sautters
CantonRep.com staff writer

Posted May 30, 2009 @ 05:43 PM
 
CANTON —

Henry Avenue SW has curb appeal today. It is something the street has lacked for sometime, but thanks to Cindy Mandrell, founder of COOL (Community Outreach   Of Love), and nearly 300 volunteers, the neighborhood has a whole new look.

“It’s been a community project,” said Mandrell of the organization’s inaugural event. “We have community service workers, families, kids from the   neighborhood. We had a lot of people just show up to help. We have volunteers   from First Christian, First Friends, Living Hope Christian Fellowship, Living Hope from East Canton, just so many churches helping us today.”

Mandrell got the idea to rehab the area during neighborhood walks with former Canton Mayor Janet Weir Creighton.

“We saw this street that had needs,” she said, explaining that the Rev. Mark Anthony, pastor of Living Hope Christian Church, and Corrine Walser, chairman of SWING (South West Involved Neighborhood Group), were very supportive.

“We are doing this because of love,” noted Mandrell, a member of First Friends Church in Canton. “We believe that because there is a transformation happening here, they will hold each other accountable. Neighbors are getting out and meeting neighbors. Everybody here loves God, and God is love. We believe that they will experience the love of God and because of that, it will transform them and hold each other accountable. It is just a flowing effect.”

VOLUNTEERS

Thirty homes and three empty lots were rejuvenated during the event that started before 8 a.m. and didn’t end until the last house was completed. Some only needed their trees trimmed, yards mowed, flowers planted. Others needed their porches painted or stained. Volunteers also planted a small community garden.

By summer’s end, she hopes to gather with neighborhood associations and ministry leaders to encourage them to adopt a neighborhood.

“The key to this is we came in here three weeks ahead of time and set up prayer stations,” Mandrell said. “We prayer-walked up and down the street. People came for prayer and before we introduced ourselves, we were visual. They saw us, and they met us. We got to know the neighbors and a relationship was built.”

Anita Simes, of Canton Township, was one of the many volunteers who worked to beautify the neighborhood.

“I started about 7 a.m.,” she said while planting flowers and pulling weeds. “It’s a beautiful day. We could not have asked for a nicer one.”

Working next door, her daughter, Heidi Haddad, of North Canton, said she was there to help out her community.

“We are here to share a little bit of what God has given us, and the gift He has given us to others who might need a little extra hand,” she said, noting that her group of volunteers were painting the red brick foundation, staining the porch and planting flowers and hostas. They also painted porch furniture for the house.

Also volunteering were Rick Kohut and his son, Josh, of Louisville, who were busy doing porch repairs.

“I’m just a doer,” said Kohut. “Our job is two house for porch repair, door repair, landscaping, we pulled out an old fence, just whatever needs done. We have a miracle worker in Christ, and this is what today is about. This is a ministry, a missionary trip for all of us.”

Bruce Samblanet, of Louisville ,was a supervisor for a one-block area of Henry Avenue. The project was three blocks long.

“I’m a team leader, just in charge of these five houses,” he said. “We are doing a little bit of curb appeal today. We are focusing on the front of the houses, but in some cases, we are going deeper, cutting the yards back. The residents who are able to help, are.”

HELP

Councilman Terry Prater, who represents Ward 5 where Henry Avenue is located, was amazed at the work being done.

“It’s great,” he said. “I like to see the community involvement and the volunteerism. Everybody coming together to make a difference is great. It is just great.”

There is only so much volunteers can do, though. Without the help of Sherwin Williams which provided paint, Steinbach’s Tree Trimming and Excavating that donated the equipment and time to chip branches, or any of the other sponsors, not as much could have been accomplished. Reliable Concrete donated the concrete used for the driveway at one home, the Polish American Club provided the electricity used by all the power tools needed. Canton and the Stark Community Foundation provided financial help.

Other donors included Rice’s Nursery, Chick-Fil-A, Lowe’s, Hartville Hardware, First Friends Disaster Relief Service, Keith Williams Insurance, Dave Williams Financial Peace, and Deryl’s Lawn Service.

“This has truly been a community effort,” said Mandrell. “Many hands make light work.”

*Click to go back to top

 

Faith-based project to transform southwest neighborhood.

 

By Charita Goshay
CantonRep.com staff writer

Posted May 28, 2009 @ 08:34 PM
Last update May 29, 2009 @ 01:16 PM

CANTON —
The rusty gray hulks that house Gregory Galvanizing don’t give residents on Henry Avenue SW much to look at, but that’s about to change.


On Saturday, more than 200 volunteers will descend upon the street to landscape and rehab more than 30 homes.

It’s the brainchild of Cindy Mandrell, founder of C.O.O.L., or Community Outreach Of Love. Mandrell said she got the idea for C.O.O.L. from accompanying former Mayor Janet Weir Creighton on neighborhood walks.

“We thought if we could get people together, they could come in and transform a neighborhood,” she said.

A member of First Friends Church (Story has been corrected to fix an error.  See end of story for full correction. 1:13 p.m., May 29, 2009) and a full-time missionary with Mission Bridge Ministries, Mandrell found kindred souls in the Rev. Mark Anthony, pastor of Living Hope Christian Church, and Corrine Walser, chairman of SWING, the South West Involved Neighborhood Group.

“It fits with what we’ve been doing with SWING,” Anthony said. “Cindy’s done a great job. ... the power of the whole thing is that it took only a few people from a few groups to connect.

“We’re hoping this will cause others to see what can be done. Canton doesn’t have to be on the Forbes’ (fastest-dying cities) list. It doesn’t just depend on what the mayor does. We have a chance to transform this city.”

“I was blown away,” Walser said. “Anything we do is going to help this neighborhood and bring us closer together. I know we’re going to help somebody, touch some hearts.”

Mandrell, who set up “prayer stations” along Henry Avenue in preparation, said residents seemed genuinely appreciative of the offer, which comes with no strings attached.

“I’m still blown away by their receptivity,” she said. “I’m convinced it was the prayer that did it.”

Mandrell said the project has a “zero” budget because all the materials are donated.

Volunteer Jim Moore said people need encouragement through such efforts, which demonstrates God’s love.

“Jesus is the reason we’re here,” he said.

“People need to realize that God is intimately involved in their lives,” Mandrell added. “When they realize their value, it transforms them.”

More volunteers are welcome. For information contact Mandrell at (330) 497-2660, (330) 904-3865, or cmandrell@missionbridge.com
 

CORRECTION: The story originally stated incorrectly what church Mandrell attends.  Mandrell is a member of the First Friends Church.

*Click to go back to top