By Mary Varnell
Journal intern
Organizers of this year’s Magic City Miracle said they are hoping the annual community service event will show Over the Mountain and Birmingham metro area residents, governmental officials and nonprofit organizations the strength in numbers.
The third annual Magic City Miracle event is slated for Sept. 28 and aims to bring 4,000 volunteers together for a day of service.
“This is a unique event in that it is the only day of service in the entire state of Alabama that is put together with the combined efforts of faith communities, nonprofits, governments and businesses,” said Nathan Carden, associate pastor of Trinity United Methodist in Homewood, one of the churches involved in Magic City Miracle.
Trinity UMC got involved with Magic City Miracle shortly after it was created three years ago by a group of community leaders who wanted to unify every aspect of the Birmingham community in a day of service to benefit those in need.
Wade Griffith, pastor of Liberty Crossings United Methodist Church, was instrumental in getting the project started and perpetuating it over the past few years, Carden said.
Carden said he and Griffith are ministerial colleagues and that when Griffith pitched the idea to join in on the day of service, he was immediately on board.
“We knew if we had around 1,200 to 1,500 people in worship on Sundays, even if we got one-third of the congregation to help, it’d still make a huge difference,” Carden said.
The first year, about 950 volunteers showed up for the day of service, Carden said.
The event “was really energizing for our congregations because nothing unites people like common service,” he said.
About 2,000 volunteers participated in last year’s event.
Carden said he was inspired by the diverse group of people who have participated in the last two Magic City Miracle events.
“Birmingham is known as the Magic City, but there is nothing magic except for the people who are serving in the community,” he said. “This is a concrete way that we can show the people that we love our neighbors as ourselves.”
Marie Pasco, membership assistant at Trinity UMC, said she believes the Magic City Miracle event is a perfect way to get involved and do something for a great cause.
Brian Erickson, senior pastor designate at Trinity UMC, calls the event “user-friendly” because Magic City Miracle makes it easy for businesses to serve. Event officials recruit businesses and allow their volunteers to do the work in which they specialize, he said.
“There is always some way to give back using your skills, passions and interests,” Erickson said.
Lisa Elliot, assistant to the senior pastor at Trinity UMC, said she thinks the event is user-friendly because it offers volunteer opportunities for all ages.
“My favorite part is that there is something for all ages to do. From ages 3-100, everyone can find some way to participate,” she said.
Carden said hundreds of projects are lined up for this year’s Magic City Miracle day of service, including construction and landscaping projects, organizing and painting jobs, picking up trash or bagging vegetables. Volunteers are also needed to visit with the elderly.
Event organizers said they are hoping to double the number of volunteers at Magic City Miracle this year.
“We’re expecting twice as many volunteers than last year,” said Scott Comas, this year’s event coordinator. “This is a perfect opportunity to do something good for the community and for the people here who need a helping hand. If you’re looking for something positive you can do with your family, your friends or your church group, here it is.”
Carden said he thinks the message of Magic City Miracle is something that will last beyond the one-day push for volunteers.
Carden said he’s heard several stories where volunteers were connected with community service activities that they continued to participate in all year long.
“This doesn’t have to be a one-day thing,” he said.
Volunteers are asked to gather at Linn Park at 710 20th St. N. in downtown Birmingham at 1 p.m. Sept. 28. From there, volunteers will fan out around the Birmingham metro area to complete the community service projects.
Street parking will be available near the park. T-shirts will be available to volunteers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Volunteers are asked to bring nonperishable food items to benefit Birmingham metro area food banks.
Magic City Miracle is funded in part by a special grant from the United Methodist Church and its Rethink Church initiative as a way to give citizens a chance to serve in their communities. However, volunteers do not have to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church–or any church–to participate.
Locally, the event is organized by the Liberty Crossings, Trinity and Vestavia Hills United Methodist churches.
“The real ‘magic’ in the Magic City is our people and the love we have for one another,” Griffith said. “Birmingham isn’t just another city. It’s a place where you see miracles each day as our citizens go out of their way to help and serve others. That’s the real magic of Birmingham.”
More information is available on Facebook (Magic City Miracle) and Twitter (@mcmbham). Twitter users are encouraged to use the hashtag #2014MCM.
