‘SHINE YOUR LIGHT’

Jason Castro, the dreadhead musician from Rockwall who captured hearts across the globe during his run on Season 7 of American Idol, continues to inspire fans with more than just his music.

His deep commitment to the Lord, his dedication to serve, and his recently released song called “Shine Your Light” prompted a group of fans from across the country to descend up Rockwall and surrounding areas to offer their time during a weekend of community service.

“It was a labor of love,” Donna Michalko of King of Prussia, Pennsylvania explained.

The volunteers brought newborn care packages for PediPlace of Lewisville, ate lunch at Jason’s Deli (“we couldn’t pass up the irony of the name”), and helped sort, price and hang clothes at the Goodwill warehouse in Dallas.

Then it was on to help build a Habitat for Humanity home in RoyseCity. The rainy, muddy conditions prevented them from carrying out their mission, but they enjoyed a tour of the house under construction. That’s when a HFH volunteer told them about a nearby thrift shop called Helping Hands.

“We literally ascended upon the wonderful folks at Helping Hands,” Michalko wrote in an e-mail. “In the pouring rain, we approached the workers there and asked if they could use our help. Within a few minutes, we were all given assignments.”  

Michalko added, “Ironically, neighborsgo had ‘tweeted’ a message on Twitter a few days before, alerting the City of Rockwall that Jason’s fans were coming for community service work. The tweet listed Helping Hands Thrift Store as a location for people to help in their community. Again, we were exactly where we were supposed to be.”

The event is officially known as the “Shine Your Light” Weekend of Service, and the group is already planning to meet again for the second annual event next year.

Connect with Rockwall/Rowlett neighborsgo editor Dawn Redig at dredig@neighborsgo.com.