ARLINGTON – Over 100 members of Jake’s House Church shared their love for community during a first-ever “Beautify Arlington” service project this month.

Church members fanned out in teams to complete seven projects around the city, with added focus on Smokey Point where their church is located.

“So many volunteers just got really touched by serving, honoring and giving back to the city,” pastor Nancy Johnson said.

“Our people were really surprised at how much we were able to do in just three hours.”

Wearing their Beautify Arlington T-shirts, grubbies and equipped with work party tools, the members weeded and landscaped around the Arlington Gateway sign in Smokey Point.

But that’s not all.

They also cleaned up the Haller Park Stormwater Trail and hauled out trash from abandoned homeless camps.

But there’s more.

They also pressure-washed a retaining wall and replanted shrubs at Post Middle School.

To top it off they also helped organize donations from the annual postal carriers food drive at the Arlington Food Bank.

Johnson said they also gave extra attention to the Stillaguamish Senior Center.

Volunteers weeded the grounds, painted the rose garden gazebo and repainted the front of the Stilly Thrift Shop.

“The people there were so thrilled,” Johnson said.

Volunteers ranged from children to senior citizens and families, while kids too young to pitch in were able to play in the grass at the senior center.

In the spirit of teamwork, 15 members from LifeChurch 360 also contributed time and labor.

Johnson said the church is enthusiastic about rolling up their sleeves for future beautification projects.

”We want to do this every year.”

Church volunteers pressure-washed at Post Middle School.

Church volunteers pressure-washed at Post Middle School.

Volunteers stocked food bank shelves, bountiful after another successful annual postal carriers food drive.