By Mary Frances McCarthy
Herald Staff Writer
(From the issue of 7/3/03)

School’s out and summer’s begun. For many youths, it’s time for summer camp: horseback riding, swimming pools, canoeing.

Not for WorkCampers. For WorkCampers, summer camp means circular saws, hammers, drills, and daily devotionals.

For one week, 210 youths from the Arlington Diocese left behind swimming pools, soccer practice and air conditioning to camp out on the floor of Montross Middle School in the Northern Neck of Virginia, and spend their days repairing the homes of the less fortunate. Dividing up into 40 work crews, the teens built wheelchair ramps, repaired roofs and refinished kitchens and bathrooms.

WorkCamp began on June 21, the first day of summer, and lasted through June 27. Following two months of almost constant rainy weather, everyone involved with WorkCamp was happy to see the sun come out just in time for construction to begin on Monday.

Tuesday night added additional opportunities for the teens to reflect. Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde arrived in Montross just in time for dinner. After serving ice cream sandwiches to the campers, the bishop delivered a brief speech in the gymnasium before heading outside for adoration and confessions. Several volunteers stood guard at the doors leading outside to douse everyone from head-to-toe with much needed bug spray.

The WorkCampers’ week was not only spent healing the homes of their neighbors, but it was spent sharing and enriching their faith.

Bishop Loverde, arriving at WorkCamp on the birth day of St. John the Baptist, told the teens, "St. John the Baptist was sent to prepare people to receive the Lord. You and I are supposed to be like St. John the Baptist. As you go forth to help all these residents, you are really preparing them to receive the love that is Jesus."

Steve Angrisano, the "entertainment guy," told the teens, "While you’re working with sheetrock and roofing material, you’re reaching out and touching people."

The homeowners were full of words of appreciation and spoke fondly of how touched they were by the work of the teens.

Louise Adams needed her roof repaired, her bathroom tub replaced, and her kitchen sink and cabinet replaced. She felt truly blessed to have a group of teens arrive at her home to do the repairs and spend time with her and her family.

"I think they are all beautiful," she said. "I just fell in love with them when I shook hands with them and gave them a hug."

Adams’ daughter, Debora Brooks, said, "I think this is a blessing, a wonderful and beautiful thing that there are youth out there helping to build better homes for people who have lived here. This was my grandparents’ home when I was little. They were such loving and caring Christians, real soldiers for the Lord. God only gives back what you give out. This is a blessing God is giving back."

Wayne Williams, who injured his leg in a hunting accident, needed a ramp built to access his house more easily. He, too, saw the WorkCampers as a blessing.

"I tell you it’s God sent to be able to have young kids these days to do something that’s really wonderful," he said. They’re just wonderful kids. They ‘yes sir’ and ‘no sir.’ It’s really a blessing." Williams, who provides foster care for King George Social Services, said his only problem with the ramp will be keeping kids from skateboarding on it.

Father David Whitestone worked with the teens on Williams’ ramp. "It’s amazing, the kids who’ve never met each other, and by Monday morning, they work together as they’ve known each other for years," he said.

Gaby Miller, a parishioner at St. John Neumann in Reston, worked at Nettie Thomas’ home repairing drywall and painting several rooms. Not only did Thomas enjoy the teens, the WorkCampers enjoyed getting to know Thomas.

"I really like Ms. Thomas," said Miller. "I’ll remember her reactions to things we’ve done. She showed us her high school diploma that she got last year. That is such an inspiration." Thomas will soon turn 75.

Christine Vance, a parishioner at St. William of York Parish in Stafford worked on Adams’ roof. While taking a break to re-hydrate and play with Adams’ grandchildren, she said, "I wish everything was like this because everyone is so involved and they want to be here."

Residents’ homes are chosen each year after representatives from the youth office talk to Social Services in the area where WorkCamp will take place. The suggested residents are visited to determine who will benefit the most from a WorkCamp group.

All of the lumber and supplies needed were purchased locally. "Not only do we help the homeowners, we help the businesses," said Kevin Bohli, diocesan youth director.

The teens would have a difficult time figuring out what to do with all the lumber and supplies if it wasn’t for the 80 volunteer contractors who assist them at their sites.

"The contractors are the ones that have shocked me," said Bohli. "In a year of a blizzard and rainy spring, many haven’t been able to work, but are sticking to their commitment here although they may have obligations at home. It’s that kind of commitment that shows we have something special here."

Although the group only spends one week at WorkCamp, they change the lives of the homeowners for a much longer period of time. While waiting for supplies to paint Thomas’ kitchen, the WorkCampers decided to keep busy cleaning the counters. Thomas’ face lit up and her eyes shone as she proudly showed off her bright white countertops, cleaned by "her children."