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What kind of teenager would be willing to pay $256 for the
"privilege" of painting buildings for four days in the hot
summer sun, then sleeping each night on a hard gymnasium
floor?
The answer to that question could be seen across the Charlotte
area during the past week, as about 450 Catholic teens from
across the country did community service projects at dozens of
sites as part of the national Heart Work Camp.
"This is my fifth year with the program, and it never gets old
- helping other people," said Vern Thomas, an adult chaperone
from Silver Spring, Md.
Charlotte is among 24 Heart Work Camp sites across the
country, and officials of the Florida-based organization say
the Queen City hosted the largest contingent of any U.S.
locale this summer.
Students arrived in Charlotte Sunday and spent their nights at
Charlotte Catholic High School, where they participated in
skits, prayer services and other entertainment each evening.
By day, they scattered across the area to help: at Crisis
Assistance Ministry, Room at the Inn, Holy Angels Nursery in
Belmont.
One group spent the past week in the Lincoln Heights community
of northwest Charlotte. |
Thursday, about a dozen teens painted the exterior of
Friendship Primitive Baptist Church, much to the delight of
the church's pastor, the Rev. Levi Wilson.
"These people have been jewels," Wilson said. "They've been
able to do things that we couldn't get done."
Heart Work Camp directors contacted Charlotte city officials,
who put them in touch with local neighborhood groups and
charitable organizations.
Beverly Lawson, president of the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood
Association, said, "We had no problem finding enough projects
to do in our area."
"It's been a lot of fun," said Danielle Fontaine, 15, of
Annapolis, Md. "The pastor at the church has made it clear how
much he appreciates what we're doing."
"And the people in the neighborhood have been great," added
Jessie Massey, 15, of Lexington, Ky. "They've brought food for
us to eat and have thanked us."
Camp participants pay the fee, then select the city where they
want to work. In most cases, groups of a dozen or more youths
from the same parish travel together. Once they arrive at a
camp site, the groups are split and sent to different
projects.
"That way, they get to meet kids from other places in the
country," said Jill Trail, an adult leader from Virginia
Beach, Va. |
Students and chaperones paint the outside of
Friendship Primitive Baptist Church in Charlotte's Lincoln
Heights community. Catholic students from around the country
worked in Charlotte this week on community service projects as
part of Heart Work Camp. |
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"Our group has really bonded," said Adam West, 17, of Fairfax,
Va. "It's become like a family. We've gotten to know each
other and rely on each other."
The work ended Thursday evening. Today is the campers' fun day
- trips to Carowinds, Discovery Place and Concord Mills.
"This is our third year here in Charlotte, and we'll probably
be back next year," Trail said. "We feel as if we're doing
God's work. We're trying to make a difference." |
