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Hands on Kirkwood
All of us have heard the statement, "It is better to give than to receive."
Hands On Kirkwood provides a simple way - as a group or individual - to serve others in need.
Many are driven by their faith and desire to help others. But no matter the reason, as we serve,
Hands on Kirkwood hopes to cultivate a spirit of community, cooperation, and unity.
How it works
The service day is held each year on the first Saturday of October. Churches, local organizations, and individuals work together to connect volunteers with various projects and community needs. The HOK leadership team secures projects, enlists project leaders, promotes the event, and registers volunteers. Volunteers are recruited through partner churches and organizations, but any individual can sing-up to serve.
History
Hands on Kirkwood (HOK) began as a local mission initiative of Kirkwood Baptist Church (KBC) in 2007. KBC wanted to move outside the safe walls of their sanctuaries and into the community to serve their neighbors, much as Jesus did. KBC began with the question, “In our community, when people say Kirkwood Baptist Church, what comes to mind.” Whatever the answers, we knew there was more we could do and more we were called to do.
KBC began with a goal of 150 volunteers in 2007 and was amazed when 250 KBCers gathered in the sanctuary in October 2007 for our HOK opening rally. Since that time, KBC has been joined by Harrison Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, St Louis Community College at Meramec, Grace Episcopal Church, Kirkwood United Methodist Church, Concordia Lutheran Church, the City of Kirkwood, Kirkwood Police Department, Kirkwood Rotary, Kirkwood City Library, Geyer Road Baptist Church, Greentree Community Church, and by many other churches, organizations, institutions, individuals, elected officials and people from all walks. Although projects have changed, adapted, been added and dropped, the heart of the mission has always remained the same: to engage ALL in a one-day mission blitz of our community, to equip ALL to follow the command to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to inspire ALL to make serving others more than a one-day event but instead a daily occurrence.
In 2018, HOK celebrated their 12th annual event. In those 12 years, we have moved beyond our own walls including those of the city limits. HOK events and volunteer opportunities are open to anyone – not just Kirkwood residents.