Volunteers to repair 70 homes

The young people are paying $399 each to participate in the camp.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Western Reserve United Methodist Church of Canfield had planned to bring 420 young people into the city next summer to help repair homes of elderly, disabled and low-income residents.

Those 420 are still expected, but the church says it now hopes to increase that number to 600 or so, enough people to repair about 70 homes in Youngstown.

The church is working in partnership with Group Workcamps Foundation, and a total of 420 have already registered with that Colorado-based, nonprofit, faith-based mission, said Carrie Boyer, co-chairwoman of Mill Creek Youth Workcamp, the local church project set for June 22-28.

There are 200 more on a waiting list, she said, adding that the program being put together here will be able to support that many additional participants.

It will be a senior high school camp, open to ninth-graders through adults.

The Youngstown school board has granted permission to house the young people at the newly renovated and expanded Chaney High School for the week. The district will be reimbursed for custodial and other costs.

What the project needs now is more homes on the application list, Boyer said.

There were 40 home applications a week ago, but the work camp wants a list of 100 to be sure that it has about 70 that qualify, she said. Applicants must own their own homes. There is no charge for their participation.

Any Youngstown resident wishing to apply can call (330) 507-8505. Applications are also available on the camp Web site at www.millcreekworkcamp.org .

The Rev. Russell Adams, pastor of Western Reserve United Methodist, said church members have been at many Group Workcamps before.

“We’re excited to bring it home,” he said.

The effort is coming together nicely, Boyer said, noting that Sherwin-Williams Co. and ACE Lumber Co. Inc. are on board with the materials, and financial support has come from Boak & Sons Inc., the Wean Foundation and various local churches.

The church has to raise about $25,000 and has collected about $11,000 thus far, the Rev. Mr. Adams said.

The “campers” themselves are paying to come here to paint, replace steps, build wheelchair ramps and do some weatherization. Roof, electrical and plumbing work are not on the list.

The cost is $399 a piece, which helps cover food, insurance and some materials costs.

The campers will come from across the United States, and each group of five must be accompanied by an adult who will work with them on the job sites.

Brian Baldwin, a member of the church and camp committee, said he’s been on 10 work-camp trips.

“What you remember from the camp is the relationships,” said the graduate student at Ohio State University. It’s the people on whose homes you work and the camaraderie and spiritual feelings of the camp, he said.

Group Workcamps is a Christian-based organizations, but the camps are ecumenical, Mr. Adams said.

The camp will be good for the participants and will enable the church to get closer to the community, allowing it to be part of the solution to problems by making a positive difference in people’s lives, he said.

gwin@vindy.com