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Summer Communities of Service (SCOS), a program designed for young adults to engage in faith-based community service and justice advocacy, is relaunching in May 2026. The program offers participants the chance to serve full-time in various communities from May to August, focusing on personal growth, leadership development, and hands-on service.
Hazel Stone, a SCOS volunteer and education major at Heidelberg University, shared her experiences working with Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Mississippi. Back Bay Mission provides services such as housing rehabilitation, a food pantry, empowerment programs, and advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening neighborhoods and supporting those in need.
Stone described the challenges faced by staff and volunteers when demand for assistance exceeds available resources. "This morning, we’ve had over 75 calls come in since 9 AM. We missed 79 calls and received 15 voicemails because of the influx. Repeating the words, 'I’m so sorry, but we have unfortunately run out of funds,' and hearing the phones go silent—or hearing crying or yelling—has made my heart heavy," Stone said.
She continued: "Most of the time, I hear a thank you. But I can’t help but think about what might happen to them. Their life as they know it might be forever changed because we couldn’t help."
Reflecting on her experience at Back Bay Mission, Stone noted: "I may not be able to help someone keep their lights on tomorrow, but I can do good in other ways. I can answer the phone with kindness. I can offer respect. I can listen."
Stone emphasized that these lessons are central to both Back Bay Mission’s work and the SCOS program itself: "That’s what I’ve learned here. That’s what Back Bay Mission teaches. That’s what SCOS gives us space to discover."
The SCOS program is sponsored by the United Church of Christ and began through a partnership with the Alliance of Baptists. Early participants trained at Fernbrook Center—a facility built by volunteers—and today’s program continues that tradition by placing young adults directly into communities where they learn from local residents while exploring how faith informs their commitment to justice.
Stone concluded: "I’m grateful for this summer. I’m learning to serve with honesty. I’m growing in ways I didn’t expect. And even on the hardest days, I know that what I’m doing matters."
For more information about participating in SCOS or organizing mission groups at Back Bay Mission, interested individuals are encouraged to visit https://thebackbaymission.org or contact Volunteer Ministries at the United Church of Christ.
