By Alyssa Parker

On Tuesday, September 13, 2016, more than 300 volunteers joined together for the second annual Love Matters Most day of community service throughout south Denver and Castle Rock. The goal of the event was to promote awareness and cultivate resources for mental health in our community through a variety of community service projects.

Love Matters Most is a day-long volunteer opportunity to serve those most in need within our community. This partnership between local hospitals, schools, faith-based and community organizations promotes love as the foundation of how we all work together. We believe that through the principles of CREATION Health, a lifestyle improvement program, we can successfully bring health, wellness, and love to our community.

Led by Centura Health hospitals in South Denver (Castle Rock, Littleton, Parker, and Porter Adventist Hospitals), the day’s projects included painting and retrofitting homes for low-income and low-mobility seniors through Brothers Redevelopment, painting and stocking a local food bank with Southeast Community Outreach (SECOR), preparing baskets of food and personal care items, and assembling kits to reduce stress for area students.

In addition to the community service projects, this year featured a mental health awareness fair comprised of local organizations and businesses focused on providing education and information regarding mental health services for the volunteers and the community as a whole. “As a vendor, this was a very valuable and exciting event to be a part of— but as a participant/community member, etc., I was truly touched,” Bridget Lovett of Lovett Family Chiropractic commented. She adds, “I would love to participate again and will definitely be painting next year.”

An obvious complement to our CREATION Health program, Love Matters Most supports virtually all of the CREATION Health principles. Eric Shadle, manager of CREATION Health throughout south Denver, highlights the importance of interpersonal relationships. “I was over-whelmed by the enthusiasm of the volunteers meeting together in the morning before going to do service in the community,” he states.

The day began with the mental health awareness fair and kickoff event held at Mile High Academy, where volunteers heard from a variety of presenters on the importance of the day and of serving others. After receiving final instructions, volunteers assembled into predetermined teams and left for their projects. Although the day’s events wrapped up by mid- afternoon, the affect continued well after volunteers returned home.

“In my experience,” Shadle affirms, “this event was much more than a simple service project. It inspired me to look for ways to love and serve people around me every day. And then when I visited some of the sites, I saw volunteers having fun painting homes. The spirit among the volunteers was contagious.” Catch the spirit when the event takes place again next fall.

For more information, visit www.centura.org/lovemattersmost.

Alyssa Parker is community outreach coordinator at Littleton Adventist Hospital.