Youths and adults find God in work and service

Church groups from across the country send workers

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA - People in the greater Honesdale area who are elderly or disabled and can’t do house repairs or are low-income residents, have been aided by a group of youths and adults doing odd jobs for free.

Workcamp 2007 is a mission program, which was sponsored locally by the Central United Methodist Church?and joined by 10 other churches in the area?that brought in groups of youths and adults from all over the country during the week of July 1 to 7.

“All denominations and all local churches were involved in this program that offered great opportunities for youths and adults to offer service to others,” said Reverend Beckie Sweet. “It helps the people in need also.”

The program is a part of a national program started in 1977 after a major flood hit Loveland, CO, killing over 140 people and causing millions of dollars in damage to homes.

“A call was put out to appeal to church youth groups to come to Loveland and help rebuild the homes of the flood victims,” Sweet said.

The enthusiasm was so sweeping that the effort went national.

“Our number-one goal is to help young people grow closer to God through meaningful service to others,” Sweet said.

Church groups, comprised of teenagers and adult leaders from across the country, come to a community for one week and serve at predetermined pro-

ject sites. Local program sponsors select the sites. Group staff members inspect every project site to check the safety and the appropriateness of the project.

The youths and adults, formed into teams, do things like build a wheelchair ramp for a disabled person, repair a porch, do needed painting and repair dry walls that are faulty and weatherize a house.

The groups volunteer and even pay a fee of $430 to participate. The money covers the cost of housing and food, project supplies, building materials, liability insurance and all the costs of executing a mission of this scope, Sweet said.

About 60 volunteers serviced the Honesdale area.

“The Wayne Highlands board of education allowed the volunteers to sleep on the floor of the gym and use the cafeteria and facilities,” Sweet said. “Their cooperation was very much appreciated.”

This summer the national organization, called the Group Workcamps Foundation, will operate over 180 camps across the United States, according to Kim Sawyer, camp director.

To find out more about the camp project, log onto their website at www.GroupWorkcamps.com or call 800/385-4545.