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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 65 local residents will benefit from the work of a
projected 350 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 at least $100,000-to the community
here," said Lou Havenar, co-chair of the Great Miami River
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 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 Workcamps 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 Workcamps, 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 .
Repairs offered through the Great
Miami River 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 350 plus
youths that come. These kids pay $400 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. |
