Volunteers from the Church of God gathered at Franklin Pasture on June 29, 2025, for a park and trail cleanup in honor of the United Nations’ World Environment Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. Members from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts chapters joined the effort, partnering with ReTreeUS and Lewiston Public Works to clear litter and prepare the space for future improvements.
Protecting Local Parks Through Volunteer Service
The event supported the Church of God’s global Forest of Hope campaign, which raises awareness about the connection between deforestation, climate change, and environmental pollution. Together, volunteers collected approximately 1,200 pounds of litter from the area, with resources and materials provided by Lewiston Public Works and ReTreeUS. Franklin Pasture was selected due to the higher concentration of litter, and the cleanup serves as an important step toward upcoming beautification projects planned by the city.
City leaders, local residents, and volunteers alike emphasized the importance of small actions that lead to big changes. Elijah Charbonnier, a volunteer, shared, “Even a small number of people, even when they just start they can make a really big difference. 50% of the battle is just the beginning and everything after that it can happen very quickly—it’s a snowball effect. A few people start and a few people catch on and we can really make the world a better place by putting our words into action.”
Public Officials Join the Conversation
Susan Longchamps, Ward 2 City Councilor of Lewiston, and owner of Webb’s Market in downtown Lewiston, also shared words of encouragement with the volunteers: “Keep doing what you’re doing. Be encouraged. Doing God’s work is way greater. I have a market in town, I have buildings, I have a lot to be grateful for, but when I sit back and think about it, I can’t take one of those things with me. Not one of them with me to heaven, and what you’re doing is God’s real work.”
Through teamwork and service, the volunteers are helping to restore and protect local spaces, setting an example for others in the community to follow.
To view more volunteer events, please visit the activities page.