Campers help fix homes

By: Luz Lazo | Times-Dispatch
Published: July 10, 2008

PETERSBURG Before taking the first bite of their lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, the six crew members joined hands to say a prayer.

"Thank you, Lord, for Mrs. White and for letting us into her home," prayed Paige Johnston, a 17-year-old from Midlothian.

She and her crew-- all of them members of different denominational churches across Virginia -- paid $250 each to help fix the Petersburg home of 81-year-old Molly White.

The five teenagers and one adult moved equipment, installed drywall, fixed a ceiling and got rid of a bush to make way for the construction of a wheelchair ramp this week.

Along with 23 other crews, they have been working in Petersburg homes since Sunday through Tri-Cities Workcamp Inc., a group that has two one-week work camps annually and has been in the area for 21 years.

Through the program, teenagers and adults from across the state and as far away as Florida and Pennsylvania fix the homes of elderly people and people with special needs.

This week, 170 campers and 30 vol unteer staff members helped fix 24 homes. This month, another group will be fixing an additional 24 homes, said program director Connie Romaine.

The program is about people caring for people, Romaine said. Lunches are provided by area civic groups and the campers' fees are used for building materials, insurance, evening activities, other meals and lodging -- this year they are sleeping at Colonial Heights Middle School.

"The kids learn the power of giving to other people. It makes them feel good that they can help," she said.

At White's home, at 515 St. Marks St., the six campers worked with no air conditioning despite temperatures reaching 90 degrees.

"It is hard work, it is hot, not much sleep, just running around and working," said Jacob Fries, a 17-year-old from Marshall.

This is Fries' fourth year at Workcamp, and this week he is crew work director, which means that he gets to assign tasks.

Each crew member has a role.

Johnston, a first-time camper who attends Church of the Epiphany in Chesterfield County, is the group's devotional leader. She leads prayers before the meals and after lunch when they gather with the home residents for a brief devotional.

Christian Hayne, 16, from Prince George County and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic in Disputanta, makes sure the group never runs out of cold drinks. Kelsey Evans, 15, of Yorktown and who attends Yorkminster Presbyterian, makes sure the crew has all the tools they need each day. Helen Dawson, 13, of Richmond organizes the team's activities. She goes to Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

All of them did repairs, cleaned, cut wallboard and lifted equipment.

"Everybody is really friendly and the residents really appreciate it," Evans said.

"It makes us feel a lot better knowing the residents want us here," said Bill Field, 43. Field, an electrician from Virginia Beach who has participated in the program for eight years, is the crew's adult leader and he assists and teaches the youngsters how to complete their tasks.

White, who uses a wheelchair, smiles at the campers when she sees them passing through her room all sweaty and with materials.

"It is exceptional that they would take a week of their summer break to come here willing to help someone who can't help themselves," said Kim White, Molly White's daughter. "These were repairs that she could not afford to make."

The wheelchair ramp the campers plan to build will make mother's regular trips to the doctor a lot easier.

"They are such a blessing from God," she said.

Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or llazo@timesdispatch.com.