More than 200 teens from all over the Midwest are in Midland County throughout this week to repair houses for those in need. They are working on 29 houses, said Shawn Hale, superintendent of Bullock Creek School District.
Bullock Creek High School is hosting the teens for the "Call to the Creek" work camp and has selected community members whose houses the campers are working at, Hale said.
“I see the value that (this program) provides to youth,” Hale said. “It helps them mature and grow and see outside of themselves and see other people in need. But I also feel like it’s such a valuable opportunity for our community, too.”
Bullock Creek High School is partnering with Group Mission Trips, an organization from Colorado, for this program for the fifth time and the first time since 2017. Teens ages 12 to 18 sign up for volunteer work with Group Work Camps and spend a week at the host site.
Hale said 190 applicants requested to have their houses repaired. These are area residents who are elderly, have low income or have a disability, he said.
But not everyone was selected, and Hale said they had to reduce the number of work sites to 29 to suit the number of campers available. They did this by evaluating whether campers would be able to handle the workload and what materials were needed.
The program is sponsored locally by several organizations. Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, Midland Area Community Foundation and Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation each donated $15,000 to the project. Consumers Energy donated $1,000, and other donations made up an additional $5,000.
Hale said area residents get a chance to have their house painted, a wheelchair ramp constructed, a porch built or other repairs that their home needs.
Karen Ann Goethe is one of those residents participating in the program. The campers are working on her garage and deck, doing some cement work so that the house is safer.
“This home was flooded,” she said. “The garage was in need of repair ... The deck was getting wobbly. The steps were getting a bit unsafe.”
Goethe said she is grateful for the help of the campers and said she enjoys meeting students from different places and talking with them.
“It’s just wonderful to see the young people here, and being so active and working together,” Goethe said.
Henry Proffitt is working at Goethe’s site this week. He is from Oklahoma and said he enjoys Michigan’s weather.
Proffitt said he joined the program because this is an annual tradition of his church.
“I enjoy seeing the residents, how happy (they) get and also enjoy making new friends,” he said.
Hale said the campers work at the sites from about 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and then they get a chance to explore the Midland area.
In the process, the residents get to spend the whole week with about eight to 15 campers hanging out at their house, he said.
“They can interact with them, and the kids can talk with them and get to know them,” Hale said. “It’s an opportunity for them to have some visitors, too. So, it’s a win for the kids (and) it’s a win for our community, for our residents.”
Doris French has lived in the Midland area since 1965, and this week the campers are helping her replace the boards on her deck.
“It’s wonderful. I love having kids and people around,” she said. “I think (the program) is important because it gets the kids to know the different areas ... And I love talking with people. So, this is great for me, too. I think they do a good job for the community.”
Campers Sophie Muoka from Michigan and Kristin Hitchings from Illinois said they enjoy meeting the residents and seeing them excited. Muoka said serving the community makes her happy.
“I just think it's a good thing to do,” she said. “Because (there are) people who can't help themselves, but you're serving with joy and helping them.”
Muoka and Hitchings became friends through the project, and Hitchings said a lot of her other friends join the Group Mission Trips as well.
“My favorite part is meeting new people from all around,” Hitchings said. “I really liked ... helping the resident as well. I’m a people person.”
Hale said the campers are traveling and working with adult supervisors, who are volunteers.
Glen Clayton, the director of Group Mission Trips for the Midland work camp, manages the volunteer staff. She came here from Illinois. Clayton said she has loved the opportunity to work at different places throughout her years at Group Mission Trips.
“I really just enjoy watching what these kids can do for the community,” she said. “I love working with co-sponsors and seeing people’s love for their communities. ... I love seeing the kids show up and serve the communities.”
Hale agreed that it is important for kids to have a chance to serve and do good for others.
“Our lives are so busy; we get so wrapped up in what our needs are ... I don’t think we take a moment to look at what other people’s needs are and how can we help,” Hale said. “I feel like for me, that’s why we’re here. We’re here to take care of each other. I think when people go through struggles, they shouldn’t be going through it alone. I feel like people need to have people there to support them.”
