Traveling teens stop in Elkhart to lend a helping hand

By Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Catholic HEART Workcamp

A group of teens is in Elkhart this week as part of a program called the Catholic HEART Workcamp. They're traveling the country with other volunteers to help the needy with home projects. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Jun 16, 2009 at 3:10 PM EST

Story Updated: Jun 19, 2009 at 1:50 PM EST

ELKHART — From time to time, just about all of us could use a helping hand. And for many people struggling in Elkhart County, that help came Tuesday in the form of a group that's fixing up neighborhoods across the country.

For this group of teens, you might not call it a summer vacation. They're traveling the country with other volunteers in a program called the Catholic HEART Workcamp.

Elkhart's Sandra Williams is glad they stopped by on Tuesday.

“I'm in a wheelchair, number one, and I'm blind, so they’ve had to come in and make it so that it’s handicapped accessible for me,” she explained.

“It’s the best way in the summer to give back,” said Ansley Adams of Tennessee. “And you get to meet a bunch of new people, and that's always great, and it’s people who share the same faith as you.”

“It gives us an opportunity to do something that's needed, and something that helps them, and something that quite frankly is good for our kids,” said Larry Murtha of Minnesota.

For some it is the first time they have tried something like this. They say it is a learning experience, but a very rewarding one.

“We get to help out one lady who has a chance of getting evicted from her house, and trying to keep her [in] the house she grew up in, and just trying to keep her happy,” said Gordon Carmichael from Tennessee.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet people and I like to serve others, and just, it's a great time,” added Trisha Militello of Illinois.

“The children have found that they have something within them that is really needed,” said Don Opp, from Illinois.

“God's going to bless them just like he's blessing me,” said Williams. “They're wonderful people. I never knew anything about them until now; but they're a godsend to people like me.”

The faith-based group will be in Elkhart until Thursday. While in the area, the volunteers will help 26 clients associated with REAL Services — a group that serves the elderly and the disabled.

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