08025
January 10, 2008
It takes a village
Summer programs provide youngsters chance to help with Katrina recovery
The volunteer village in Gulfport, MS, will be one of the PDA-sponsored sites hosting young adult volunteers this summer. Photo by Joe Williams LOUISVILLE — As rebuilding continues along the hurricane-ravaged U.S. Gulf Coast, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is offering young people opportunities to help with the response.
Two programs scheduled for June will allow youth to help with the recovery effort while staying in one of six volunteer villages sponsored by PDA, the disaster response and relief agency of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Each village houses work teams from churches across the country assisting with the response.
One of the programs called “Youth Weeks” will take place June 22 - July 27.
Under the program, Hurricane Katrina volunteers ages16 and older will assist such projects as rebuilding structures, cleaning up parks or painting homes. There may also be opportunities to help local churches with Vacation Bible School or other activities.
Those participating in Youth Weeks will be housed in a PDA volunteer village in Gulfport, MS or Houma, LA. The youth-to-adult ratio will be five youth to one adult.
“We’re looking forward to an exciting summer of hosting volunteer youth teams from across the country,” said the Rev. John Robinson, PDA’s associate for disaster response in the U.S. “We think the programs are very special opportunities.”
The other program, “Father and Son Weeks,” will provide hurricane recovery work opportunities for father and son teams, June 8-14 and June 15-21.
The program is open to young males at least 14 years of age with direct family male accompaniment.
Each father and son team will stay in one of the volunteer villages: Gautier, MS; Pearlington, MS; Gulfport; Luling, LA; New Orleans, LA; or Houma.
Both programs cost $20 per person per night, which covers food and lodging. A flier with basic information about the two programs is available free of charge through Marketplace.
To register for either program, contact the PDA call center in Little Rock, AR, toll-free at (866) 732-6121 or register online. |
