Bend church members set aside Bibles for rakes

Sundays for churches are usually meant for worship services — but this Sunday was a little different for one church in Bend.

For the fifth straight year, Foundry Church, formerly First Baptist Church, closed its morning service, so members could help out their community with several activities.

NewsChannel 21 caught up with a group of 20 high school youth working at the Ronald McDonald House, a home for pediatric patients and their families who travel to Bend for medical treatment.

The youth did gardening and restoration work at the house.

“We get a chance to be in the community, love on the community,” said Bryon Mengle, youth pastor at Foundry Church. “(To) show that we see the community as an important part of who we are, and we just want to love and embrace them.”

Volunteers didn’t just help out at the Ronald McDonald house, but also throughout downtown Bend.

Volunteers helped with projects at the Tower Theatre with some spring cleaning.

They also helped out at City Hall, radio station KPOV, the Boys and Girls Club, the Shepherrd’s House, the Downtown Bend Association and the Franklin Crossing Community Garden.