Jamestown youth host Speed The Light banquet, community dinner planned

Jamestown First Assembly will welcome the public to a Speed The Light banquet at 6 p.m. Sunday, December 14, at 1720 8th Avenue Southwest. The youth group is hosting a community dinner at no charge and will accept a freewill offering for Speed The Light, a student led program that raises money and equipment for missionaries overseas. The event is open to residents of Stutsman County and the wider Jamestown area.

Organizers emphasize the dual purpose of the evening, combining fellowship with fundraising. For local families and individuals the no charge meal lowers barriers to participation and encourages attendance across income levels. The freewill offering model allows donors to give according to their means, directing proceeds to missionary support and material needs that church sponsored mission teams often report.

This banquet also serves as a practical learning opportunity for youth volunteers. Student involvement in organizing the dinner, managing contributions, and explaining the program to attendees builds civic skills and experience in charitable fundraising. Those community benefits extend beyond the funds collected, strengthening social ties and volunteer networks that local nonprofits and faith organizations rely on during the holiday season.

From an economic and community perspective small fundraisers like this one contribute to the local social economy by mobilizing volunteer time and by channeling donations toward mission projects. While the immediate fiscal effect on the county budget is limited, the event supports charitable flows that can fund equipment shipments, program costs, and volunteer travel associated with missionary work.

Residents interested in attending or learning more can contact Jamestown First Assembly at the church office on 1720 8th Avenue Southwest. The banquet begins at 6 p.m. Sunday and organizers invite anyone in the community to come for the meal and to participate in the freewill offering for Speed The Light.