Canonsburg United Presbyterian hosts third annual youth work camp
Hanna Pennington of Michigan uses a pressure washer on a home on Ewing Street in Chartiers Township to prepare it for painting.
From left, Reynna Nelson of Wisconsin, Dante Eannace of Canonsburg and Rachel Swanson of Wisconsin paint a home on Ewing Street in Chartiers Township.
CANONSBURG – Each morning since Sunday, a group of about 375 kids from all over the country have awakened on the floor of the Canon-McMillan High School gymnasium for prayer, dance and devotion ahead of a full day’s work repairing area homes.
The group organized by Canonsburg United Presbyterian Church is a youth work camp focused on fixing homes for the elderly, disabled and those with low incomes.
They’ll do it again each day through Saturday, tackling work at 44 sites from Midway to Washington.
“They’re painting, repairing decks, putting on steps – they’re doing it all at no cost to the residents. But each of the students paid nearly $500 of their own cash and many traveled hundreds of miles to get here. Most of them are from Wisconsin this year,” said church organizer Gary Lucas. “I’ve gone on some of these with my family, my three daughters and my wife, from Michigan to New York and Puerto Rico. It’s like a family vacation for us,” Lucas said.
The sentiment was shared by Rachel Swanson, 17, from Osceola, Wis.
“The past two years, I’ve worked mission trips. They’re the highlight of my year to just come and help residents while serving the Lord. It’s life-changing for me,” Swanson said.
Painting the siding of a home on Ewing Street in Chartiers Township, 15-year-old Dante Eannace, of Canonsburg, said the work has been made fun by meeting new people.
“A lot of different accents. It’s cool to work with kids from so far away,” Eannace said.
And that’s by design, Lucas said, as the groups are intermingled with as many different kids as possible.
“They meet up, they meet the resident and go to work. It’s a joy for everyone involved,” Lucas said.