150 Volunteers Beautify Sequim in Multi-Church Service Day

When 150 volunteers descended on Sequim, Washington on a sunny Saturday in April, they brought paintbrushes, gardening gloves, and a simple mission: make their community shine.

The annual Sequim Beautiful Day drew volunteers from six churches and multiple nonprofits including Habitat for Humanity and Scouting America. They tackled projects across town, from painting the police department's dog agility course to spreading bark dust at Helen Haller Elementary.

Susan Chandler from Sequim Community Church pulled weeds near Carrie Blake Community Park's north entrance. "Sequim is the most beautiful place to live, and we need to take care of it and steward it," she said while working alongside fellow volunteers.

The projects ranged from landscaping and painting to power washing, with options designed for mobility-challenged volunteers too. Nine-year-old Myka Stewart painted the dog agility course with her mom Nikki, while the Riley family helped repaint Olympic Peninsula Academy's sign together.

First-time volunteer Patsy Lovelady from Dungeness Community Church spread bark at the elementary school. "Sequim is known for helping each other, and I'm all about that," she said.

Steve Young, volunteering at the same school, explained the deeper purpose. The event shows that church members genuinely care about their community, he said.

Associate Pastor Rick Dietzman from Sequim Community Church brought the concept from Silicon Valley to Sequim in 2017. His insight was simple: churches already have volunteers ready to serve, so why not mobilize them together for maximum impact?

The Ripple Effect

The Beautiful Day event does more than freshen up paint and pull weeds. It strengthens bonds between different faith communities and shows young volunteers like Myka the power of working together for a common cause.

Master Gardeners Jim and Marlene Lewis, who usually tend the Woodcock Demonstration Garden, saw the event as a natural extension of their community care. Brian Holden, painting near the Boys & Girls Club bathrooms, summed up the spirit simply: "Service work is great. I love to help."

Paula Huls volunteered for her second Rally in the Alley cleanup event, helping load dumpsters and assist neighbors with spring cleaning. Her motivation reflected what drove many others that day: just wanting to give back to the community and help people.

The collaboration proves that when communities unite around shared values of service and stewardship, everyone benefits from the results.