Volunteers from across the Greater Detroit District gathered at Cass Community Social Services on Saturday, April 25 for Hands with Detroit, a district-wide day of service supporting ministries throughout the Cass campus. Teams helped prepare the future site of seven new tiny homes, prepared meals, shredded documents for recycling, and cleaned overnight shelter areas. The day also included fellowship, a shared meal, and conversations around the bonfire, highlighting the spirit of connection and service that continues to unite.
By ADRIENNE TRUPIANO
Media Specialist
On Saturday, April 25, volunteers from across the Greater Detroit District gathered at Cass Community Social Services for another inspiring day of service during Hands with Detroit. Teams and individuals traveled from Roseville, Hazel Park, Grosse Pointe, Mount Clemens, Ferndale, West Bloomfield, Birmingham, Detroit, Dearborn, Erie, Rochester, South Rockwood, Westland, and many more communities, coming together with a shared purpose: to serve their neighbors and make a lasting impact in the city of Detroit.
The day began with welcoming remarks from Greater Detroit District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Darryl Totty and Rev. Faith Fowler inside a historic former Catholic church that Cass is transforming into a future community center. Plans for the site include a neighborhood grocery store, expanding Cass Community Social Services’ ongoing mission to create stability, dignity, and opportunity for Detroit residents.
Volunteers spent the morning and afternoon tackling a wide variety of projects across the Cass campus. One major focus was clearing and preparing a vacant lot where seven new tiny homes will soon be built as part of Cass Community Social Services’ “1 in a Million” campaign. The initiative seeks one million people willing to donate $10 each to help build more tiny homes, improve and expand facilities at the Drop-In Center, and establish the future community center and grocery store.
Sandra White, a Volunteer in Mission in Residence at Cass, shared plans for the tiny home community’s future rain gardens and native plant landscaping. The gardens will help reduce runoff into the water system while creating sustainable, environmentally friendly spaces for residents. “It’s good for our earth, good for the residents,” she explained, describing future plans for rain barrels and pollinator-friendly native plants surrounding the homes.
While some volunteers cleared brush and debris from the future tiny home site, others shredded confidential documents for recycling, organized donations, assembled hygiene kits, cleaned overnight shelter areas, and prepared meals in the kitchen. Throughout the day, the Cass campus buzzed with teamwork, conversation, and purpose as churches from across Southeastern Michigan worked side-by-side.
Rev. Sue Pethoud, chair of the Greater Detroit District Missions Committee and Church and Community Relations Liaison for Cass Community Social Services, reflected on the significance of the annual event. “Hands with Detroit has become an event we look forward to every year,” she shared. “Cass does food, housing, health care and jobs and on the last Saturday in April, people from all across the district can help with every aspect of that. Folks helped in the kitchen, in our Green Industries, in the Tiny Homes, assembled hygiene kits and organized some of the many donations that came our way. When people from all over Southeastern Michigan can come together to help with all of that, it is a great day.”
For many volunteers, the day represented more than physical labor. It was an opportunity to reconnect with the mission of service and with one another. Robert from Trinity Roseville United Methodist Church reflected on his longtime connection to Detroit outreach ministries and his excitement to participate in Hands with Detroit for the first time. “I was more than willing to come down,” he shared. “It’s important to help.”
Amy Heitman from St. Paul’s United Methodist Church Rochester said her family has participated since the early years of the event. “We brought our girls when they were very little,” she explained. “I just think it’s a good thing to do, to get out and help people if you can.”
At lunchtime, volunteers gathered together in the park under the shelter and around the bonfire for conversation, rest, and fellowship. The team grilled hot dogs and shared a meal together, creating space not only for service, but for connection and community. Between projects, people exchanged stories, caught up with old friends, and met new volunteers from churches across the district.
John Sarns from First United Methodist Church of Hazel Park described the event simply as “a chance to get back to the community and support the Methodist Church.”
Dave Versical from Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church added that Hands with Detroit provides “an opportunity to help guests” and support the people of Detroit and surrounding communities.
Hands with Detroit once again demonstrated the power of the church beyond sanctuary walls. Whether pulling weeds, clearing brush, preparing meals, or simply sharing conversation and encouragement, each person contributed to something larger than themselves. The day served as a reminder that mission work is not only about projects completed, but about relationships built, communities strengthened, and hope made visible through service.