JW USA:More than 800 volunteers scrub Santander Arena for Jehovah's Witness convention

[Guest Indiana]

The annual event is expected to bring in more than $3 million in revenues for local businesses

WRITTEN BY HOLLY HERMAN

READING, PA — 

 

By midmorning Saturday, more than 500 volunteers checked in to the Santander Arena, scrubbing the arena to make it spotless for the 14th annual Jehovah's Witness annual conference in downtown Reading.

“We love coming to Reading,” Kelvin Wilson, convention spokesman said, walking through the arena, greeting volunteers. “It's beautiful here. We will be worshipping here for the next three weekends. We stay in the hotels and dine in the restaurants.

Wilson said members have booked more than 2,500 hotel nights for the event, bringing an estimated $3 million in revenues for downtown businesses.

“We are getting ready to worship here,” Wilson said, noting the volunteers are also cleaning the parking garage for the arena and spruced up the landscaping.

By the day's end, more than 800 volunteers from 120 congregations throughout southeastern and central Pennsylvania cleansed the stadium to prepare for three weekends of family festivities and worship.

This year's convention theme, “Love Never Fails,” focuses on loving thy neighbors.

Read more: https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/more-than-800-volunteers-scrub-santander-arena-for-jehovahs-witness-convention