Gloria Dei Church and Bryn Athyn High School/College Welcomes Youth and Adults Doing Service

As many as 11 local residents in need of assistance benefited from the work of almost 100 adult and teenage volunteers at the Liberty Bell Workcamp July 31 to August 6. The Workcamp provided free home repairs through the Group Cares (formerly Group Workcamps Foundation) program, and was co-'sponsored locally by Gloria Dei Church, Huntingdon Valley, PA..

Group Cares (formerly Group Workcamps Foundation) is a non-profit, interdenominational Christian volunteer home-repair organization headquartered in Loveland, Colorado. This summer, almost 25,000 young people and adults will participate in 36 Workcamps in communities across the United States. The idea behind the Workcamps started in Colorado in 1977 when residents suffered from the Big Thompson River flood in which hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed and over 140 people lost their lives. Church youth groups of many different denominations came from across the country the next summer to help. In 1978, the program went nationwide to include other disadvantaged areas throughout the country. This summer’s 36 Workcamps will take place in many different states, including but not limited to Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania. Now in its 38th year of service, Group Cares has hosted over a quarter of a million participants who have provided more than 6 million hours of volunteer service directly to people in need.

At each Workcamp, teenagers and adults—all members of church youth groups—volunteer a week of their time to repair homes throughout the community. “These really are remarkable young people,” said Jeff Thompson, of Group Cares. “Each one is actually paying for the privilege of working in your community. Workcamp registration fees are used to cover our costs for food, insurance, and building materials.” The volunteers will be housed in residence halls at the Academy of the New Church Secondary School in Bryn Athyn. This service to the community would be impossible without the wonderful cooperation of the Bryn Athyn High School and College,” remarked Gwyn Duffy, member of Gloria Dei Church. Group Cares will reimburse all costs to the lodging facility. Repairs offered through the Workcamp include interior and exterior painting, weatherization, porch and wheelchair ramp construction, and other work.

For more information, contact Gloria Dei Church – Workcamp 2016, 570 Welsh Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 at 267-961-2250.