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Group Workcamps are intensive
one-week trips that help people grow in Christian faith through
service. Individuals and youth from around the country will
spend one week in our community performing hands-on home-repair
projects for elderly, low-income (limits on back side), and
disabled families. The work at each home will be done by 5 young
people, and at least one adult leader, representing many
Christian denominations. Eligible repair projects may include:
Porch repair/construction
Step repair
Exterior & interior painting
Minor carpentry
Weatherization
Wheelchair ramp repair/construction
Mobile home skirting repair/installation
As many as 38 local residents will benefit from the work of a
projected 263 adult and teenage volunteers at the Great Miami River Group Workcamp, coming to Piqua and the area from July 20-26,
2008. The Workcamp will provide free home repairs through the
Group Workcamps Foundation program, sponsored locally by a
collaboration of the City of Piqua and six local churches:
Family of Grace Methodist, Freedom Life Ministries, St. Boniface
Catholic Church, St. Mary Catholic Church, Upper Valley
Community Church, and the Seventh Day Adventist Church. The
Workcamp project is chaired by Thom Baker, Andy Burner and Lou
Havenar.
The 31 year old Group Workcamps Foundation is a non-profit,
interdenominational Christian volunteer home-repair organization
headquartered in Loveland, Colorado. In 1977, Workcamps program
was created as a result of massive flooding in Colorado which
required rebuilding homes. This summer's 64 workcamps with over
30,000 young people and adults will take place in many different
states, such as Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Virginia,
Oregon, Montana, North Carolina, Florida, New York, Tennessee,
Minnesota and Ohio.
At each Workcamp, teenagers and adults-all members of church
youth groups-volunteer a week of their time to repair homes
throughout the community. "This represents about 12,000
hours of volunteer labor, building materials, etc. -worth from
$120,000-$135,000 to the community here," said Lou Havenar,
co-chair of the Great Miami River/Piqua Area Workcamp.
"These really are remarkable young people," said Joel
Fay, Vice President of Group Workcamps Foundation. "Each
one is actually paying for the privilege of working in your
community. Workcamp registration fees are used to cover our
costs for food, insurance, and building materials."
The Workcampers will be housed at
Piqua High School sleeping on classroom floors, eating in the
cafeteria, and enjoying evening programs in the gym. "This
service to the community would be impossible without the
wonderful cooperation of the Piqua City School District. "
remarked Havenar. Group Workcamps Foundation will reimburse all
costs to the lodging facility, the usual arrangement in a
community hosting a Group Workcamp.
The Great Miami River / Piqua Area Group Workcamp collaboration
of the City and six co-sponsor churches is appealing to other
churches, community organizations and individuals to participate
in the Program preparing the community for the Workcampers in
July. There are many jobs that last varying periods and require
skills from communications to teaching to construction. Those
wishing to volunteer to help prepare the area for Workcamp in
July, 2008, can give Andy Burner a phone call at 778-2054 or
e-mail him at aburner@piquaoh.org.
The target area for homeowners, who wish to be considered for
assistance by Workcamp, is approximately bounded by Bradford
(both counties) and the Miami/Darke County line to the west to
Houston and Lockington to the Miami/Champaign County line to an
east-west line at about Eldean Road, including Pleasant Hill.
Some exception can be made within the parameters established by
the Group Workcamps Foundation.
Repairs offered through the Great Miami River/ Piqua Area
Workcamp include interior and exterior painting, weatherization,
porch and wheelchair ramp construction, step repair minor
carpentry, and other work. No roofing, heating/cooling,
electric, plumbing, or windows/doors will be done. This work is
done by youths, high school age and older, and their adult
leader. It is not professional, but many of the youths possess
good work-related skills. |
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Group Workcamps is a new project to
Piqua and area. Here are answers to FAQs that you might get. If
you are uncertain of the answer, please refer them to either one
of us: Andy 778-2054 and Debbie 773-1264.
Q- What makes me eligible? A-
Preferences go to elderly, disabled, single parents and lower
income homeowners. (Income for all on back of application)
Q- Who is doing sponsoring this
huge community project? A- The City of Piqua and six local
churches: Family of Grace Methodist, Freedom Life Ministries,
St. Boniface Catholic Church, St. Mary Catholic Church, Upper
Valley Community Church, and the Seventh Day Adventist Church
located in Piqua.
Q- Cost: 1) Who's paying for all
this? & 2) What will it cost me? A- 1) The Steering
Committee will be raising some money through foundation grants
and personal gifts. Part of the cost comes from the 263 plus
youths that come. These kids pay $399 each to come and work. 2)
No, any homeowner who is selected, pays NOTHING, ZERO. Anyone
receiving assistance must be at home during the week of work,
July 20-25.
Q- Where are these home projects
to be located? A- A majority will be located in Piqua yet a
number will come from an area that is bounded by Bradford and
the Miami/Darke County line to the west to Houston and
Lockington to the north to Champaign County line to the east and
to the south a line that runs along Eldean Road, including
Pleasant Hill.
Q- Can anyone apply to get help?
A- Those who own their own home (includes mobile or manufactured
homes) inside the target area may apply. The home must also
require only as much work of that which is eligible repair work
which can be done by 6 persons in 4 ½ days (average 28 hours).
Low income and elderly, disabled and single parents are eligible
in the target or service area in northern Miami, southern Shelby
and Darke (Bradford) Counties.
Q- When are applications for
Group Workcamps due ? A- BY FEBRUARY 21. Locations to return
them to are on the application.
Q- What happens after you apply?
A- Initial Program eligibility will be established and then a
site inspection will be arranged by our volunteers within weeks
of receipt of the application. Part may be done over the
telephone by our volunteers. After the visit by our team of
volunteers, you will be notified by about June by letter that
you will get help in July, your house is a backup or others are
receiving the help and your home will not.
Q- Is the money to buy paint and
lumber and other expenses staying locally? A- YES! Paint, lumber
and other expenses, including the people who are housing and
feeding the volunteers at the Piqua High School, will be local
to Piqua.
Q- Is this Renew Piqua? A- No.
Renew Piqua, strictly a City of Piqua program is expected to
continue in 2008, but many of the homes will be done through
Group Workcamps instead. The City still expects to help Piqua
homeowners for exterior painting and minor exterior repairs much
like in 2006 and 2007. |
