At Larchmont Avenue Church, we believe in the importance of serving both in our community and around the world. Every February the youth and congregation travel to the Dominican Republic with Bridges to Community. Founded in 1992, Bridges to Community develops poverty alleviation strategies with local communities in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Within selected rural regions of the two countries, Bridges works closely with community leaders to help mitigate poverty, historically in four distinct, but overlapping, program areas: health, education, housing, and economic development. Learn more about Bridges to Community

In 2025, a group of 15 volunteers (youth & adult chaperones) headed to the Dominican Republic for the second year. Associate Pastor Rev. Claunch spoke about the unique honor and privileged it was to work with the youth in our LAC congregation to watch them push past their comfort zones and grow in ways right before her eyes. We want to echo that sentiment, celebrate and congratulate each of them for their commitment to faith, fellowship, and service. She began the trip asking each of them to think about “Where they saw God throughout the week.” On the last day and down from the mountains this is what she heard…

“I saw God in the masons. They work so hard to provide safe homes and were so patient in teaching us… “I saw God in the faces of the many kids in La Guama…“I saw God in the beauty that surrounded us; from the mountains to the river…“I saw God in the Ramirez family…they were so grateful to have a home where they feel safe…”

There is no denying that the experience was life-changing for the adult volunteers (without whom this trip would not have been possible) and the youth as well.

Here’s what we heard from a few of them …

Tristan Boyd (10th grade): Being in the village made me realize how happiness is not rooted in having flashy things and money. When building the house, we would have kids come back from school and play near where we were building, with the limited things they could do, you would never see them not smiling. From throwing rocks that the dogs would chase, to playing with toys that they made, they didn’t think about who had the better clothes or more money, they just had fun.

Griffin Moore (11th grade): I had heard about the Bridges to Community trip to the Dominican Republic from those who had gone in years past and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to serve others and experience a new way of life. This trip did exactly that, and so much more, providing me with the opportunity to get my hands dirty, do some manual labor, and return home with a new found gratitude and appreciation for the many things that I take for granted.

I know that my peers on the trip, whom I am thankful to get to know better, feel the same way and that this trip has affected them for the better as well. This trip also helped me to grow stronger in my faith, as places like La Guama provided reminders of the many things I take for granted in my life, and it was powerful to see how strong the community members were in their faith, always thanking God and blessing others. The people’s gratitude and the children’s joy were reminders of God’s work and I am very thankful for the opportunity to help this community and make an impact in these people’s lives

To learn more about the February 2026 service trip, contact Rev. Anna Grace Claunch at agclaunch@lacny.org.