"Eat, Sleep, and Serve"
2010 Youth Work Camp Builds Community
by: Bobby McDonald
You might have seen the signs in front of properties across Hopkins County and a crew of youth with paintbrushes, ladders, hammers, and other tools, making repairs to homes, in the intense heat. They are local youth involved in 2010 Hopkins County WorkCamp and helping to build our community, as they aid the local elderly and handicapped with home maintenance and repair.
This year's Work Camp includes 220 youth from the area and some 60 adult leaders and volunteers. The youth are enrolled in middle school through high school and donate their time to the program, as they contribute to our community.
Churches participating in tis year's WorkCamp are: Independent Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Yantis, First Baptist Church Sulphur Springs; First United Methodist Church Como, First United Methodist Church Sulphur Springs; Changed Life Church Sulphur Springs; Shannon Oaks Church, St. James Catholic Church, Wesley United Methodist Church, Davis Street Baptist Church, and a visiting group from North Church Oklahoma City.
"The youth began the camp on Sunday afternoon, as they arrived at Shannon Oaks Church, and will be working this week to help those who are unable to do their home maintenance," explained organizers of the program. "It's a great way for our youth to develop responsibility and use their talents of some 'elbow-grease,' while reaping the benefits of the interaction with the elderly and less fortunate in our community!"
Youth attend a number of Bible based devotionals at the church, and enjoy fun and games, at night, but spend their days using their labor to enrich the lives of citizens throughout Hopkins County.
"I'm just too old to do some of the things that I once was able to do," explained one of the recipients of the youth's labor. "It just comes a point and time that you can't do what you once could and it just makes my day to visit with these young people and to see how easily they can perform the chores!"
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