Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting

PC's Notebook
By Pamm Yarbrough

It was my privilege to represent our group at the Little Rock Board of Directors meeting yesterday. Below are my remarks. Thanks for your prayers! Our students are awesome!

Remarks to the City of Little Rock Board of Directors Meeting
Pamm Yarbrough – July 14, 2009

I’ve have done World Changers for nearly 20 years with my husband who helped start the program in Memphis, Tennessee. North Little Rock is my hometown, so I am always exited to come to Central Arkansas!

I bring greetings on behalf of World Changers, the North American Mission Board, which administers the program, and Southern Baptist churches that participate in projects like in Little Rock, throughout the United States and around the world.

The lives of students are impacted significantly as they serve others…they are our future leaders! You may not know that these students actually pay to work during the week! What a testimony to their Lord!

World Changers is grateful for its 4-year partnership with the great City of Little Rock!

Since 2006, World Changers and the City of Little Rock have been instrumental in renovating 75 homes of low income, elderly and other needy Little Rock citizens.

This year, there are 275 youth and adults volunteers from 14 churches and 9 states (Kansas, Louisiana, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Kentucky) are participating in the project.”

In real-world terms, efforts of these 1,000-plus participants since 2006 have accounted for 36,000+ volunteer hours, which at the estimated $20.25 per hour in volunteer labor, has saved the City of Little Rock and estimated $729,000.” (NOTE: the Independent Sector website estimates volunteer labor to be worth $20.25 per hour). What’s more, when this year’s project is completed, the number of volunteer hours will rise to an estimated 45,720 and nearly a million dollars in volunteer labor at $925,830!

What’s perhaps most important, however, is the “life renovation” this work has provided to these citizens of Little Rock by providing them hope for a brighter future.

Thanks again for this opportunity to serve your city!