RADFORD, Va. — The patrons of a Radford laundromat thought the seven women wearing red T-shirts and handing out quarters Saturday, April 20, were pranksters or a crew from a reality television show, but they soon learned that they were among more than 140 volunteers in Operation Inasmuch, a day of service by members of Radford’s First Baptist Church.
The youngest of the volunteers was age 4; the eldest was 100.
First Baptist Church in Radford held a commissioning service as more than 140 volunteers for Operation Inasmuch were dispersed to their worksites.
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Across Radford other teams wearing the T-shirts with the Operation Inasmuch logo were performing acts of service without any pay other than the joy of serving. There were window-washing volunteers on Main Street, children and adults washing cars at the corner of Wadsworth and Main, family groups doing cleanup work along the Riverway, a walking and biking trail along the New River. Other volunteers were painting the gazebo in Bissett Park and the shelter in Riverview Park.
The day of service began at 8 a.m.with a commissioning service in First Baptist’s sanctuary led by pastor Paul Lane. The volunteers then dispersed to their work sites around the city.
The scope of the day of service was broad, encompassing not only publicly visible projects but acts of service to individual homeowners, doing minor repairs and yard work for elderly citizens. One team cut and removed several truckloads of brush from the yard of a World War II veteran who is legally blind. Other crews did interior and exterior repairs for persons referred by the local Agency on Aging.
At both I-81 rest stops near Radford, travelers were greeted warmly by volunteers handing out hot coffee and donuts. When many of the travelers saw “FREE coffee and donuts” signs on a cold morning, they began reaching for their wallets, thinking there must be a catch, but were assured it was a genuine expression of kindness. One traveler inquired, “What is the Inasmuch about?” and a volunteer turned so the man could read on the back of her shirt the words of Jesus from Matthew 25:40: “Inasmuch as you have done it for others, you have done it unto me.”
Tourism promotion was not a purpose of Operation Inasmuch, but the goodwill generated by the volunteers from First Baptist will likely pay off. One couple was looking to relocate to Virginia and after free coffee and snacks the man was heard to say, “See, I told you that’s how the folks in this area are!” Another traveler insisted on making a contribution and a volunteer said, “Very well, this 20 dollar bill will go into the offering plate tomorrow in your name!”
Local businesses contributed to the rest stop project and the city of Radford donated paint for the park projects. Radford city manager David Ridpath, a member of First Baptist, worked with a crew cleaning out the flower beds at entrances to the city.
At the Radford Police Department a morning brunch was made available to first responders and during the day a team of adults and children entertained and visited with residents of a local nursing home and a rehab center. That team also distributed gifts and wheelchair bags which were sewn by another team.
Altogether, there were 20 projects in Operation Inasmuch, including lunch preparation and delivery to the work sites, a prayer group and a work crew of families who did yard work and mulching at Cornerstone, a transition facility operated by the Women’s Resource Center of Radford.
First Baptist plans to repeat Operation Inasmuch in the future, perhaps engaging other churches in the effort.
Charles Millsaps is associate professor emeritus of journalism at Radford University and a member of First Baptist Church in Radford.