<!--Mark Scheer--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Mark Scheer</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com">mark.scheer@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
T hey’re back
and the community looks a little better for it.
Nearly 400 volunteer members of a national Christian student group visited the city of Niagara Falls this week to lend a hand in fixing up homes belonging to senior citizens, the handicapped and low-income residents.
Another 300-plus members of Reach Workcamps are expected to arrive in the city this week to continue making house repairs some residents would not be able to do or to afford themselves. Spokesperson Annie Dodge said the volunteers expect to complete work on about 50 homes in the city during their two-week visit.
“We are a Christian organization, and we just want to show the love of Christ to those in this area,” Dodge said. “We find a lot of joy in service. For as much as the kids are giving, they are finding they are getting a lot more, too.”
Reach Workcamps is a nonprofit charitable organization based in Colorado. It attracts thousands of Christian senior high and junior high school students working under the supervision of adult leaders during week-long missions in low-income communities. The first camp was held in Madisonville, Ky., and others have been held throughout the eastern United States and New Mexico, according to its Web site.
Typically, the camp only comes to a community once but this summer will be the fourth visit to Niagara Falls. The group previously visited the city in 2002, 2004 and 2007.
Working with local agencies and churches, the camps seek to make an impact by helping residents in need and bestowing a sense of pride in the community. The volunteers will be in the city through the end of next week doing work ranging from painting to drywalling and porch repair to installing wheelchair ramps. The volunteers provide the labor and materials are included at no charge. Homes receiving help through the program were selected through an application process coordinated by the Department of Community Development.
Contact reporter
Mark Scheer
at 282-2311, ext. 2250.
