Methodist Youths Renovate Homes of the Poor
▲ Photos courtesy of Yvonne Paris.
This summer, dozens of United Methodist youth groups of middle school and high school students from across the nation journeyed to San Marcos, Texas for a week-long mission trip to renovate 17 homes belonging to families or individuals living in poverty as part of San Marcos River Work Camp.
About 500 Methodists came from 25 churches in Illinois, New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Arizona and Kansas for the camp, which lasts 8 weeks total. The camp is a program of Southside Community Center, a United Methodist Women-funded social service agency.
The campers worked under the supervision of professionals replacing rotten walls and floors, roof repair or replacement, new plumbing and electrical, new bathroom and kitchen appliances, handicap accessibility and ramps, painting, and building porches, decks and house extensions.
Summer Work Camp Director Yvonne Paris said witnessing the transformation of the homes and the hard work of the campers was a life-changing experience.
“I was amazed at some of these kids and their adult leaders. They would come through a house like a tornado, ripping out old fixtures, tearing up rotten floors and walls, moving so quickly. As fast as they’d tear down the old, they’d put up the new. All the while, they were so happy to be there. Some of them had construction experience but most of them were just learning as they went,” Paris said.
Tim Dewitt of First United Methodist Church in Elk City Oklahoma was the leader for one of the largest groups that came to camp, with 42 people.
“The kids grow so much through the work they do here. For some of them, it might take time to sink in, the impact they made, and say ‘Hey, I helped a stranger a million miles away have a better place to live,’ Dewitt said.
Paris explained that many of the youth had never seen such poor living conditions.
“San Marcos is a beautiful town with a lot of rich history, but there is also a lot of poverty here. We worked on a home this summer of a 72-year-old man who’d lived alone in the house for 10 years without running water or electricity. Some of the kids were in shock at his house, but were so excited to help make the house livable for him.”
Paris said Southside puts fun activities in the camp schedule to reward the youth and adults for their hard work in the triple-digit Texas heat. They float down the San Marcos River, spend a day at Schlitterbahn Waterpark, and have singing and devotionals at the local First United Methodist Church and Southside Community Center.
For 19-year-old camper Taylor Allen from Kansas, the best part of camp was seeing the smiles on the homeowners’ faces when the job was done. Allen and the other campers got to meet the homeowners at the end of the week, where they all watched video clips of themselves at work, and before-and-after pictures of the homes.
Ruben Garza, Executive Director of Southside Community Center, says San Marcos River Work Camp has played a big part in revitalizing the poorest neighborhoods in the community over the last 20 years.
“We’ve been able to help so many families because the church leaders and the youth are so enthusiastic and willing to give a week of their summer in service. Our motto at Southside is God’s love in action, and the campers really embody that. It’s not easy working on those homes. It gets super hot and the work is hard. The kids really step out of their comfort zones, but it’s worth it because the homeowners are so grateful,” Garza said.
Hays County residents submit applications every year beginning as early as December to have their homes chosen for camp. All applicants meet federal poverty guidelines, and Southside chooses homes based on the condition of the home, funds available, and the needs of the homeowners. Money for the repairs comes from camper fees, Community Development Block Grants, and Hays County.
Southside Community Center operates other assistance programs for the poor year-round that include a family homeless shelter with nightly meals served, clothing vouchers, and financial assistance for families struggling to pay rent, utilities or buy medicines. Southside has been in operation since 1927. For more information visit www.southsidecommunitycenter.org.