In a ninth annual Change the World project, 40 volunteers from Aurora’s Wesley United Methodist Church spent Sunday afternoon, May 15, pitching in at five community sites.

Wendy Connell, project coordinator, said teams stocked shelves at Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry, weeded a community garden across from the pantry, picked litter at Greene Field and May Street parks and sewed school bags and made greeting cards at the church.

Rev. John Bell, WUMC pastor, sent forth volunteers after a 10 a.m. worship service and lunch in fellowship hall.

He said, “In Change the World, we challenge church members and friends to step outside the church walls and get out into our community.

“We joined thousands of Methodist nationwide in service during the Change the World celebration.”

The church’s outreach committee sponsored the event.

Al Benson

Freelance Photo-Journalist

Al Benson is an Aurora-based freelance photo-journalist. He is currently an archives research specialist at Aurora University. His work has appeared in The Voice, The Daily Herald, The Beacon-News, and the Chicago Tribune.