Approximately 50 residents in Camden, Perquimans and Pasquotank counties will receive free home repairs next week thanks to the efforts of nearly 400 youth and adult volunteers from around the country who will be donating their labor during a weeklong visit to the area.
The repair effort is being coordinated by local nonprofit River City Community Development Corp. as part of the national Group Workcamp initiative. Workcamp, which is organized by Group Mission Trips, is a nonprofit, interdenominational Christian volunteer home-repair organization based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Group Workcamps, which are held around the country every summer, allow young people to put their skills to work for low-income residents who might not otherwise be able to afford home improvements and repairs. The types of work the workcampers undertake include interior and exterior painting, weatherization, and porch and wheelchair ramp construction.
More than 7,000 young people and adults from across the country — all members of a church groups — are expected to participate in 15 national workcamps this summer, including the one in Elizabeth City.
River City CDC President and CEO Lenora Jarvis-Mackey said the 384 volunteers participating in this year’s workcamp hail from 13 states, including New Mexico, Maine, Kentucky, Colorado and Illinois. They’ll be arriving on Sunday and leaving, once their work is done, on Saturday, July 20. While they’re here, the workcampers will be staying at Pasquotank County High School.
“These young people pay to do this work, over $500,” Jarvis-Mackey said.
Many of them will be doing types of work they’ve never done before. However, their adult supervisors are knowledgeable about construction and will be leading the repair work.
River City CDC started receiving applications from area residents for home repair projects in January, Jarvis-Mackey said. River City CDC received 115 applications in all, she said.
After reviewing the requests and visiting each home, River City CDC selected 50 to participate, Jarvis-Mackey said. The decision on which homes were selected was based on the cost of materials and the number of crews available, she said.
“We target those seniors and veterans who need these repairs,” Jarvis-Mackey said.
Jarvis-Mackey said the Elizabeth City Group Workcamp will include 50 work crews. There are 53 work projects in Pasquotank, 12 in Perquimans and 13 in Camden. Workcampers will receive their assignments on Sunday and begin work on Monday.
A set-up crew has already visited each home scheduled for repairs to make sure materials have been delivered so the work can begin promptly on Monday, Jarvis-Mackey said.
Group Mission Trips pays for all of the lodging and food costs associated with the workcamp. River City CDC is responsible for purchasing building materials for the workcampers’ repair work. According to River City CDC, those costs this year are estimated to be $25,000.
Jarvis-Mackey said she hopes everyone in the community who meets the volunteers coming to Elizabeth City will thank them for their efforts.
“Not only are they helping local residents but (they’re also) contributing to the economy because these visitors will shop while here, eat out and spend money on things they need at local stores,” she said.
She estimated the economic impact of this year’s Group Workcamp will be approximately $300,000.
While no local volunteers will be involved in the Group Workcamp, a few local churches have made donations and pledges to the effort. The cost of the camp is approximately $42,000.
It won’t be all work for the workcampers while they’re here.
Mid-Atlantic Christian University will host the campers on Wednesday afternoon. MACU will provide the workcampers with opportunities to go sailing and kayaking, play kickball, cornhole and indoor Bible trivia. MACU also will provide the workcampers with a dinner meal.
Monetary donations have been made to the workcamp by both local churches and local residents. The workcamp’s chief sponsors are Sentara Health, the NC Realtors Association and Seven Sounds Brewing Company.
River City CDC has been hosting a Group WorkCamp since 1996.
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