"In March, we held a Block Party to thank our neighbors for being so gracious with our weekend traffic! On that cool rainy day, volunteers grilled hamburgers, did crafts, and hung out with the neighbors. It was a great day!"   Kim Villa, Volunteer Coordinator

On Saturday, May 26, the Block Party is back with an all-American backyard barbecue featuring burgers, a homemade pie-baking contest, and even horseshoes! If you love meeting new people and understand the importance of our relationship with our neighbors, the Block Party is a great place for for you to volunteer!

There are many ways to help out, even if you are going to be out of town for Memorial Day weekend:

• Bake a pie (and win a blue-ribbon) - We are going to have a pie-baking contest and YOU could be a blue-ribbon winner and a $25 gift card! Our neighbors will be the judge!
• Donate dessert - You don’t do pies?  Well, we need to have some yummy sweets: bring your homemade cookies, brownies or other treats to be enjoyed.
• Paint a face (or two) - What kid doesn’t like to have their face painted? And you don’t have to be an artist or have your own supplies - we’ve got it all on hand for you, just sign up.
• Oversee crafts -We have the supplies on hand and crafts picked out, we just need a few people to oversee this area.
• Server food - Set up, restock food serving tables as needed.
• Greet our neighbors - Make sure that every person who shows up feels like they belong.
• Support the activities - While this event is designed for families in the neighborhood, it’s easier to show up to an event that appears to be busy and exciting. If you would like to participate in the event, while making our guests feel welcome, we could use you.
• Distribute flyers - We advertise the event by handing out postcards to every home and apartment in the blocks around the church campus. These are distributed on Wednesday, May 23, at 6:00 p.m. and with many hands it takes only about 30 minutes.

Keep in mind that this is not an event to preach a message or market the church - it is simply an opportunity to be present right here in Montrose and to meet the people who live right next door.

The Block Party is just one way that Montrose Church is expanding our community impact in 2012 by bringing it home to say thank you to our own neighbors, schools, and local organizations. In addition, we will continue to serve the greater LA area through ministries like Because You Matter (serving the homeless in Pasadena), Summer Night Lights, and Breakfast with Santa (serving the at-risk gang population in Pacoima).

- Location: Grass triangle above the church campus on Orangedale Avenue
- Contact: Kim Villa, communityimpact@montrosechurch.org