The Way to take part in community outreach

The Newton Church of The Way will begin and annual outreach program this weekend called Sound the Alarm.

This program consists of providing free replacement batteries and/or smoke alarms. It coincides with National Fire Prevention Week, which will be Oct. 7-13 this year.

In future years, the church hopes to reach all of Newton. This year, however, the focus will be on the Aurora Heights neighborhood in the immediate area near the church. Church leaders estimate some 550 homes will be served in that area.

Statistically, more than 60 percent of fires resulting in deaths have occurred due to a lack of smoke alarms or alarms with discharged batteries. The Way sees this as a tangible project to reach out to the community with the love of Christ.

Not only will it better equip residents in case of fire, but The Way has several members who are firefighters. Though they are more than willing to put their lives on the line to rescue those trapped in a house fire, if residents are warned and can exit the building, this is not a risk firefighters have to take.

Houses and materials can be replaced, but loved ones cannot.

Volunteers will be going house-to-house, handing out free batteries, along with fire prevention safety information, and installing new smoke alarms for housholds that currently do not have them, or where existing smoke alarms are not functioning. For more information about the project, contact the church office at (641) 792-7300 or 792-1886.

The Newton Church of The Way is located at 2306 S. Third Ave. E.