A group of 10 adults and 24 youth from the Harlingen Reformed Church spent the week of July 1-7 working for residents of Monson, Massachusetts.
An annual summer event for the church, the “work camp,” as it is affectionately called, is organized by Group Cares, a Colorado-based organization. Group work camps are week-long, home-repair Christian camps for youth that combine a summer camp and mission trip.
Each summer, members of the Harlingen youth group along with adults who volunteer as chaperones travel to a part of country where residents are in need of assistance. The Harlingen group has participated in work camps as far away as South Dakota and as close as Keansburg. This year the group made its way to Monson, which was hit by a tornado in the summer of 2011 and still dealing with the aftermath of that devastation.
Each member gives their time and pays to join 350 other volunteers at a location. Accommodations are in public schools. On the day of arrival, it is a common sight to see air mattress, fans and suitcases being rolled down the hallways to a classroom.
This year the members joined participants from around the country in the western mountains of Massachusetts to help residents who homes were damaged by the tornado as well as those residents who do not have the finances or ability to do simple home maintenance. The work completed during the week involved scraping and painting the interior or exterior of a home, building a wheelchair ramp, repairing a roof top, rebuilding interior walls and ceilings.
A crew of one adult and four or five youth, is assigned a resident and each member of the crew takes on a role for the week.
Work camps allow youngsters an opportunity to learn about helping and doing for others with no expectations for reciprocation. They talk and get to know their resident but learn about themselves and their faith.
Participants look forward to the trip in 2013. For information contact the church at 908-359-3556 or online at www.harlingenchurch.org.

