In many neighborhoods of Goyang City, there are people quietly doing the work that someone has to do. They do not seek attention. They simply show up.
Throughout 2025, more than 500 volunteers from the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Goyang Branch carried out 20 community service activities, focusing on safety, care for veterans, and everyday environmental issues.
Rather than one-time events, their work followed a simple principle:
serve what is needed, when it is needed, where it matters most.
Preventing Fires Before They Start
One of the most recognized activities this year was the wildfire prevention campaign held along the hiking trails of Mt. Gobong.
Instead of reacting after disasters, the volunteers focused on prevention.
They shared real examples of wildfire damage, explained simple safety actions, and invited citizens to join hands-on experiences related to fire response.
Many hikers stopped to say things like, “Prevention is more important than response,” and added participation stickers as a sign of commitment.
The campaign turned safety into a shared responsibility, not just a warning sign.
Honoring Korean War Veterans Through Consistent Care
From July to September, volunteers regularly visited the Goyang branch of the Korean War Veterans Association.
They offered haircuts, hand massages, snacks, and—most importantly—conversation.
What made this meaningful was consistency.
The visits were not symbolic. They were repeated.
Some veterans shared that their views had changed after seeing the volunteers return again and again. Eventually, the veterans’ association asked first:
“Can you come every month?”
A single visit became a long-term relationship built on trust and gratitude.
Cleaning Streets, Drains, and Overlooked Spaces
Environmental service was another steady focus.
Around Hwajeong Rodeo Street, volunteers carried out monthly cleanups—collecting general waste, recyclables, and especially cigarette butts. In many cases, nearly 1,000 cigarette butts were removed in a single session.
During the summer rainy season, they expanded their work to include storm drain cleaning, removing 3,192 cigarette butts to help prevent flooding and water pollution.
These were small actions, but they directly reduced daily inconvenience for residents.
Making Environmental Care Easy to Join
Service was not limited to cleaning.
Volunteers also ran citizen participation booths, offering:
They shared one clear message in everyday language:
“What we throw away always comes back to us—often through our water.”
At Changneungcheon Stream, they combined water-quality education with hands-on activities like making and throwing EM mud balls, helping citizens understand pollution in a simple, memorable way.
Serving Without Noise, Staying With Purpose
A local volunteer leader explained that the goal in 2025 was not big slogans, but careful attention to real-life problems—from safety and environment to gratitude and daily comfort.
What stood out this year was not how loudly the work was announced, but how steadily it continued.
Little by little, those quiet efforts changed streets, trails, and relationships.
And in doing so, they also changed how people saw service itself.
Sometimes, the most meaningful work is done without applause—
by hands that simply keep showing up.
Source: https://vo.la/lULb2pu
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