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Youth mission camp is now based in Wilkes
by Frances Hayes
Carolina Cross Connection, a Christian outreach ministry for youth and adults, is operating one of its five camps from West Wilkes Middle School this summer.
Each week of camp, approximately 75 adult and youth volunteer campers are helping people in Wilkes, Surry, Ashe, Alleghany and Yadkin counties by making home repairs such as painting houses, fixing porches and wheelchair ramps, repairing roofs, cutting weeds and other chores.
Typically volunteers are divided into 10 work groups of five to seven campers and complete four projects each week. Today (Monday) projects include building a ramp a residence on Fall Creek Road in Wilkes County and a project in Alleghany County. The camp will be in operation this week until July 5, July 13-19 and July 27-Aug. 2. It was also in operation June 15-21.
This is the first time the program, now in its 21st year, has been based out of a school, said Taylor Whitley camp director for the West Wilkes Middle Camp.
She said they are using four classrooms that have been equipped with 15 cots to board the campers. There are three rooms for men and one for women. The school cafeteria is being used to provide food for campers, who range in age from eighth grade to adults. Seven staff people oversee the teams.
For the past 15 years, the Carolina Cross Connection camp for the Wilkes area has been based out of Elk Shoals United Methodist Camp near West Jefferson each summer. But last fall they decided to move the camp.
Carolina Cross Connection is a Lincolnton based program started by the First United Methodist Church of Lincolnton after youths of the church participated in a similar summer missions program in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee. It has grown steadily through the years and continues to provide assistance to people in the southern Piedmont and Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
“The objectives of the program are to bring together youth and adults in a Christian community; to spread the love of Christ in the larger community through service to people in need and to provide opportunities for volunteers to practice leadership, witness their faith and grow in spiritual maturity, said Ms. Whitley.
Other camps are held at Camp Carolwood near Lenoir, Camp Loy White in Casar, Camp McCall in Bostic and Joshua Youth Camp in Albemarle. They also were in operation June 15-21, this week and will be in operation on July 13-19 and July 27-Aug. 2.
Approximately 1,300 youth and adults from North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey and Virginia are campers at one of Carolina Cross Connection’s five locations this summer. Typically participants come as members of church youth groups from various denominations.
Carolina Cross Connection learns about people needing help from department of social service and other non-profit entities in each county, as well as other means. Program staff visit potential work site to determine suitability. There is no charge for the work done by Carolina Cross Connection volunteers.
“The groups help make life more pleasant for someone in need by completing light home repair, and by sharing love with the people for whom we work,” said Ms. Whitley.
“In the evening, campers will return to West Wilkes Middle to enjoy recreation, sharing, fellowship time, singing, skits, campfires and worship programs led by the camp staff. This is my fifth year with the program and I love it,” said Ms. Whitley.
In 2007, 1,268 youth and adult volunteers from North and South Carolina, Georgia, New Jersey and Virginia improved approximately 725 homes in 21 North Carolina counties including Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davidson, Gaston, Lincoln, McDowell, Montgomery, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Union, Watauga and Wilkes.
For more information call 336-452-03025 or 704-735-4257.www.get49.net/b |
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