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Reminder Assistant Editor HAMPDEN How many adults would be willing to give up a week of their summer to perform some hard labor for zero monetary compensation? It's not an enviable task, but 35 teens and 10 adults from the Greater Springfield area did just that the week of July 20 through 26. The volunteers helped repair and paint homes for the elderly, disabled and low-income residents of Piqua, Ohio, through the Group Workcamps Foundation (GWF). According to information from the 2000 U.S. Census, about 12.2 percent of Piqua's population of 20,738 were below the poverty line, including 18 percent of those under age 18 and 7.9 percent of those age 65 or older. This was the seventh year in a row a group has come from the Bethlehem Baptist Church in Hampden to aid those who need help. The pastor for youth and young adults, Thomas Brennan, said he is "thrilled" and "just amazed" every time he sees teens volunteer their time and efforts like this. "The first year I was here, 18 volunteers went," Brennan said. "This year, we had 45." The teens travel to different locations every year, and Brennan aims to bring them to different regions with every trip. Sightseeing isn't a big part of their journey, however. "These kids live on school grounds for a full week," Brennan explained. "The conditions are less than ideal. They have to sleep on tile floors. They have to eat cafeteria food every day. They're doing things they've never done before [while working], like carpentry. It's not that appealing to young people, but to see them grow, make friends and help residents is amazing." Brennan added that volunteering for the GWF is "a wonderful growing experience, socially and spiritually" for teens. The GWF is a non-profit organization that provides dynamic, short-term mission trips both domestically and internationally. The workcamps focus on the core Christian beliefs that bring the Christian church together, according to the organization's Web site. "It's not so much about the 'service projects' (although the challenge is important), it's more about God changing the hearts of your young people ... and the people that are served," the site states. Some of the teens that took the journey to Piqua would agree. "The best part [of the trip] was seeing [the residents'] faces when we're done, to see their gratitude," Danielle Courtney of Wilbraham said. "And it's easy to go through all the hard work with friends." Courtney said she originally got into the GWF trips because her brother had volunteered in the past. Sean Cooney, who will be a senior at Minnechaug Regional High School this fall, agreed with Courtney. "Spending time with everyone in my youth group, getting to know them better and helping others [was the best part of the trip]," he said. Cooney dubbed his time in Piqua as "one of the best weeks of the year." This was Cooney's fourth workcamp trip. He's traveled to Maryland, Michigan and Ohio in the past. "It's cool helping people out," he stated. "It really makes you feel good." Making friends and helping others isn't free for the local volunteers, however. Each teen who went on the trip had to pay for transportation costs to the town in western Ohio. The church did help to offset costs by hosting an auction and a mystery dinner theater, according to Cooney. "Kids go on these trips expecting great things," Brennan said. Gina Dunn, aunt of Springfield resident Elena Lidwin, who also participated in this year's workcamp, said, "These kids' lives are never the same. They come in with a full heart, wanting to help people in need. It's dumbfounding that there are so many kids willing to help in this capacity." Although the volunteers just got back from their week of work, Brennan said he's already started planning for next year's trip. He is aiming to take a group of 40 to New Jersey. "It's not just about working," he noted. "It's about changing your life." Brennan said anyone interested in traveling to a workcamp site with the group next should get in touch with him as soon as possible. He can be reached at the Bethlehem Baptist Church at 566-5572. To learn more about the GWF, visit www.groupworkcamps.com. Local volunteers that traveled to Piqua included: Josh Abel, Elena Lidwin, Kevin Loftus and Billy St. Denis of Springfield; Myk Alexik of West Springfield; Gregory Bell, Mary Bell, Riley Brennan, Thomas Brennan, Tiffany Carhart, Zach Carhart, Sean Cooney, Danielle Courtney, Taylor (TC) Courtney, Jon Gregoire, Jessica Reimers, Karen Reimers, Shannon Reimers, Ashley Savola and Lindsey Savola of Wilbraham; Anne Caulton, Warren Caulton, Katie Feld, Evan Lavoie, Mary Lavoie, Josh Rowley and Danyelle Thorpe of East Longmeadow; Adam Coyne, Jake Coyne, Danielle Garden and Chris Twining of Hampden; Matt Holman and Adam Patenaude of Monson; Joe Wilkinson and Rachel Wilkinson of Belchertown; Lynn Jefson, Nick Jefson, Ryan Jefson, Abbie Wilson, Dan Witkowski and Susan Witkowski of Enfield, Conn.; and Victoria Links of Somers, Conn. | ||||||
