FAQ: Common Questions

LOVE Wichita is a cooperative effort of Christians, representing many area churches; joining together as servants of our Savior, Jesus Christ, to be a blessing to our city. LOVE Wichita is a day a service, a day to be the hands and feet of our Lord in order to bless others and glorify his name. LOVE Wichita teams work on a variety of projects in all areas of the city. The first LOVE Wichita was 2009, an idea born out of a friendly challenge from Mayor Carl Brewer to the leadership of Eastminster Presbyterian Church.

What are the core beliefs of LOVE Wichita?

Jesus Christ is Lord, the son of God. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and bore our sins when he was crucified and died on the cross. He is risen, that we may have hope eternal. He is the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through him.

Who administers LOVE Wichita?

Initially Eastminster Presbyterian Church performed all administrative aspects of LOVE Wichita. Beginning in 2012 a Core Team representing four churches has shared the responsibilities. Members of the Core Team serve a limited term, with new members regularly joining the team. Current Core Team members are: Wilma Sanders of Tabernacle Bible Church Without Walls, Phil Smith of Countryside Christian Church, Tom Black of Central Christian Church, and Tom Berry of Pathway Church. Debbie Hilscher of Eastminster Presbyterian Church serves in an advisory role.

Who can participate in LOVE Wichita?

Anyone who has a heart to serve others may participate in LOVE Wichita.

What if I do not belong to a participating church?

All volunteers for LOVE Wichita serve on a team that is led by a participating church. You may choose to serve with any church you are familiar with, or you may call Wilma Sanders at 316-841-1764 or Karen Rogers at 316-461-8306 for assistance in choosing a church.

How do I sign up and what does it cost?

Sign up on this site by clicking the Volunteer button or call Wilma Sanders at 316-841-1764 or Karen Rogers at 316-461-8306 for registration assistance. The cost to participate varies among the participating churches. Registration fees are used to defray costs such as: T-shirts, materials/supplies needed to complete projects, and snacks for volunteers.

Why should I create an account to serve in LOVE Wichita?

While it is not necessary to create a login account to serve in LOVE Wichita, doing so will make your registration in subsequent years much easier. The site will remember certain aspects of your registration and auto fill on future registrations.

Who and why do we serve?

We serve individuals and nonprofit organizations that have needs which are not being met, sometimes for economic reasons or for reasons of disability. In the case of individuals, their home may have a safety or code violation that needs to be corrected. In the case of nonprofits, we help them maximize their mission by completing routine tasks which saves them money.

We serve in the name of our Lord Jesus, we seek to glorify his name and honor him in all we do.

How can my church be involved?

You, or someone from your church, should contact the LOVE Wichita Administrator. His/her contact information is located on the ‘Contact’ page. The LOVE Wichita Administrator will answer your questions. When your church decides to become involved, your Church Coordinator ( a member of your congregation that leads the event for your church) should contact the LOVE Wichita administrator and ‘register’ your church for participation. Your church is then officially a part of LOVE Wichita. Welcome aboard!

Who pays for LOVE Wichita?

LOVE Wichita is administered using volunteer labor at existing local church sites. So there is no salary, building, or utility costs incurred by LOVE Wichita. Production and maintenance of this website represents the largest expenditure of the LOVE Wichita organization. This cost was initially borne by four core churches. Other participating churches have also contributed to this effort on a voluntary basis. LOVE Wichita is NOT funded through requests to its registered participants. As a volunteer you will NOT be asked to help defray the expenses of this organization. Your time, energy, and a few tools and equipment are all that you will be asked to loan to LOVE Wichita. You may donate cash or supplies, if you desire. The procedure for that is explained elsewhere on this page. Project expenses (materials, supplies, and food) at a given job site are covered by the church assigned to that project.

Who is eligible to receive help from LOVE Wichita?

Home owners (not landlords or tenants), charitable or non-profit organizations, City and County entities, and public schools are approved recipients of LOVE Wichita work teams.

What types of projects are done by LOVE Wichita?

The vast majority of projects involve some type of home or building repair. That repair may be indoors, such as painting walls and cleaning or installing cabinets. The repair may be outdoors installing siding, painting, or roofing. Some projects demolish structures that the homeowner can no longer maintain. Many projects include landscaping activities: mowing, weeding, planting, and mulching. And there are other less physically demanding projects such as completing inventories for Union Rescue or sorting and stocking at World Impact’s Thrift Store.

Who can submit a potential LOVE Wichita project?

Most projects are submitted to LOVE Wichita by City or County agencies, non-profit organizations, or public schools. Projects may also be submitted by a Church Coordinator. All submitted projects, however, are reviewed and approved by the LOVE Wichita event Administrator prior to becoming a part of the larger LOVE Wichita effort. For help with Project Submission call Wilma Sanders at 316-841-1764 or Karen Rogers at 316-461-8306.

Can we serve as a family?

Yes! In fact, serving as a family is encouraged, though it is not required. In serving as a family even the younger members can be a part of the project, since parents and guardians are available to monitor the children’s activity and ensure their safety. Registration as a family is facilitated using the ‘Family Registration’ option on the Registration page. This provides for one-time entry of information that is most likely the same for all family members. Registration of all family members is therefore streamlined when compared with ‘Individual’ registration.

Can I serve with a group from my church?

Yes! Serving together with others in your Sunday School Class, Youth Group, or Bible Study is encouraged. The registration process includes a ‘Group’ selection option. This option allows you to 1) review the members of existing groups, 2) join or register with an existing group, or 3) create a new group, if you are the first in that group to register.

Why must I wear the blue T-shirt?

The LOVE Wichita blue T-shirt identifies you as a participant in the project. It enables Police/Security personnel, your work team captain, home owners, and their neighbors to easily distinguish between those who are authorized participants at a given job site and those who should not be on site. We encourage you to re-use your shirt each year, this helps your church maximize the service to project recipients.

What is the registration deadline?

March 31st is the online registration deadline. If you are interested in participating after the deadline date, please contact your Church Coordinator directly.

Can I change my registration?

Information related to your registration can be modified at any time by logging in with your username and password.

How do I resign/cancel after I have registered?

Your Church Coordinator should be able help you if you are unable to serve. Tell them to remove your registration from their database. If you do not know who your Church Coordinator is, please call Wilma Sanders at 316 841-1764 or Karen Rogers at 316 461-8306.

How long am I expected to work? More than one day?

You are only expected to work the schedule that you selected in your registration. However, it is appreciated if you remain until your project is completed. Some projects are extensive and cannot be accomplished in a single day, please consider helping as needed.

What if my project completes early?

If your team finishes their project early, you are encouraged to join with another project with one of your churches other groups. If your church no longer has active projects, you can connect with another church by calling Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 316-634-0337 on the day of serving and ask to speak with a Core Team member.

Is there work for me if I cannot do strenuous activities?

Yes, there a number of activities that you can help with that can be arranged by your Church Coordinator ranging from, helping serve lunch/snacks to prayer and intercession.

Can I serve on more than 1 project?

Yes, once you have completed your project, you can either have your Church Coordinator assign you to another project or get connected with another church if your church doesn't have any projects left.

Can I sign up with a church other than my own?

Yes, but it is encouraged that you participate with your own church community. To serve with another church community, simply update your church affiliation in your registration.

How do I submit media post-event?

You can submit pictures and video from your project post-event using the media submission tab of this site. Once you click on the tab, follow the instructions to upload your media for review prior to posting.

What if the weather is bad on the day of event?

The scheduled rain day for each yearly event is the following Saturday after the initially scheduled event.

If I get hurt, am I insured?

Each individual who volunteers to serve on a LOVE Wichita team is required to sign a liability release waiver prior to serving. If you wish to be insured, it is up to you to provide your own insurance.

What personal information must I supply to register and what do you do with it?

We require your name, address, contact phone and e-mail address (if available) for each individual or family group signed up to serve. We use the information to track and assign individuals and families to churches and various projects. We respect your privacy and will never sell, rent, or otherwise commercialize your personal information.

To whom do I give feedback concerning my LOVE Wichita experience?

Each volunteer is asked to provide their Team Captains with feedback following the completion of the event. This information is then compiled and used by LOVE Wichita to appropriately assess and plan for the following year’s event.

How do I donate materials/money to support LOVE Wichita projects?

There are many ways to help offset materials and other costs associated with the event. Contact your Church Coordinator for donation information relative to your specific church and/or project. If your church is not involved with LOVE Wichita, you can call Tom Black at 316 670-4357 for assistance.

What if my tools/equipment are damaged?

Any damages or repair costs incurred on tools used and/or provided, or rented, for a specific project are not covered by LOVE Wichita. The responsibility would fall on the individual church(s) or individuals working on the project.

Can LOVE Wichita help me setup this type of activity in another city?

Yes, one of our goals is to replicate the LOVE Wichita process in as many cities as possible throughout the U.S. and we are willing to share as much information as possible to allow this to happen.

Does LOVE Wichita happen more than once a year?

LOVE Wichita is currently one time per year, however, in the future it may be multiple times if enough projects/volunteers are available.

Can LOVE Wichita help my non-profit?

Possibly, please call Phil Smith at 316-706-7530.

My family needs assistance, can LOVE Wichita help?

Possibly, please call Tom Black at 316-670-4357.

Must I buy a new T-shirt every year?

No. You do NOT need to purchase a new T-shirt every year. You may do so if you desire, but it is not required. You may use the same T-shirt year-after-year for as long as it remains suitable for wear.

How do I get a printed registration form?

Ask your Church Coordinator, they will be able to provide you with one. If you are not a member of a participating church, call Wilma Sanders at 316 841-1764, she will also be able to get you one.