1,000 Christians from New Haven area coming together to build bridges, work on projects

The Rev. Todd Foster The Rev. Todd Foster Photo: Journal Register Co. Photo: Journal Register Co. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 1,000 Christians from New Haven area coming together to build bridges, work on projects 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN >> On Saturday, Christians from eight New Haven-area churches will turn their love for the gospel into action, working on more than 70 projects, ranging from cleaning parks to painting murals in schools.

It’s the second year for Bridges of Hope’s “I Love New Haven” campaign, which plans to duplicate last year’s turnout of 1,000 volunteers. So far, almost that number have signed on, and “we’re anticipating that there will be many people just showing up, as well,” said Lauren Corso, director of operations for Bridges of Hope.

The organization “is a collaboration of eight New Haven-area churches that really believe in working together and doing things together, and that’s across denominational differences … just coming together as the church with a capital C,” Corso said. “We’re very much gospel-centered and we believe this is something we can really do together and minister to our city.”

Pastor Todd Foster of Church on the Rock said, “In these days of racial, political, even religious polarization, demonstrable love that transcends our differences and calls us to common, selfless good is in my opinion our only hope.

“It’s about loving folks; that’s the agenda, to selflessly love each other,” he said.

Projects — most but not all in New Haven — include painting the underside of a bridge in Edgewood Park, offering foot-washing to the homeless on the Green and installing soccer goals at Fair Haven School. Also, “We’re doing a block party on Rosette Street with the Amistad House that’s going to be a really family-friendly event,” Corso said.

Bridges of Hope encourages interaction among the eight churches involved. “Every team has a few people from each church” and volunteers last year said the experience was “really profound,” Corso said. “They were able to connect and build a bond there by serving together.”

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. with a rally on the upper Green, with Mayor Toni Harp attending. Volunteers will then head off to their assigned sites, working from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The churches taking part in “I Love New Haven” are Bethel A.M.E. Church; Christ Presbyterian Church; Church on the Rock; City Church; Trinity Baptist Church; Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church; all of New Haven, and Vertical Church of West Haven and Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church of Hamden.

To volunteer, go to www.bridgesnewhaven.org and click on the “Sign Up to Serve” button. Donations are also accepted.