Summer Work Camps 2009

On my way into the church parking lot this morning at about 8:30 am I saw the work camp group from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA) of Ankeny, Iowa, loading their coolers into their vans for a day of Work Camp. At my request they stopped and let me take their photo.

This group arrived on Wednesday and will stay through Sunday, and they are our first work camp of the season. They are off today to work with our partner, Project NOW (www.projectnow.org) on an apartment complex in Viola, Illinois. This is the first of five church groups who will assist Project NOW in keeping low cost rental units maintained for the residents. By working with us and the work camp groups Project NOW is able to leverage their efforts to keep their property in good shape, and thus aid residents.

The camp groups stay in the old parsonage here at the Church of Peace. Their needs are met by the work of our Summer Work Camps Director. Megan Elliott, a church member who will be a senior at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois, in the fall is the host this year.

Not only do work groups such as the one from Holy Trinity get a lot of good work done, but their presence and enthusiasm is a positive witness to Christ and the church.