PARKERSBURG - About 450 teens from 14 states are gathered in Parkersburg this week to paint the homes of people in need of assistance during the 11th annual Mid-Ohio Valley Work Camp organized by the local Churches of Christ.
Seth Miller, youth minister of Lynn Street Church of Christ, said the teens were split into groups Sunday and will work through Friday at 36 homes in Parkersburg, Vienna, Belpre, Marietta and other locations in the area.
The program helps people who are unable to paint their homes due to age or physical infirmity or lack of financial resources. Some contact the churches for assistance, others are recommended by other residents, by churches and the local cities have made a few referrals, Miller said.
The Work Camp is open to boys and girls from ages 12 to 18, along with adults who serve as supervisors and crew leaders. During the week, they are primarily working to strip and paint homes while some will also do yard work or similar activities in cases where it is needed, Miller said.
Carly Cox, of Cocoa, Fla., participated in the Work Camp program as a teen for several years and returned this year as a crew leader and supervisor.
"I just love that it's a bunch of Christians that can come together and show our love for Christ through serving people in the community that need help, that can't do it on their own. It's just a cool way to help others," she said.
Zach Bissell, of Nashville, Tenn., is participating in his second year in the Work Camp program. He got involved due to recommendations from friends and older siblings.
"They said it was a good place to go," he said.
"We paint houses for people who are in need and we have a great time doing it," Bissell said.
After working in the morning and afternoon, the teens are being housed through the week at Ohio Valley University where additional activities, programs and worship services are held in the evenings.
Jake Kaufman, director of student ministry at Belpre Church of Christ, said he works on managing the spiritual aspect of the program, including arranging speakers and worship leaders for the activities at OVU.
"One of the best things about Work Camp are the relationships that happen during the work week," Kaufman said. "You're working with people, you're sweating alongside of them and you're also hanging out with them in the evenings. You develop these relationships that echo past this year's experience. One of the big draws, especially for our local kids, is you get to see people that you haven't seen in a year or two and hang out with them," he said.
"You get to learn about some people that are different from you, from different backgrounds," Kaufman said.
