CrossRoads Church at Westfield lead pastor Eric Lohe will finally get to direct this summer camp at home.
“I’ve served as director of home repair camps across the country for the last 15 years,” Lohe said. “I usually do one or two a summer. Our church’s adults and students have gone to these around the country in different places.”
However, Lohe said this is the first time the Westfield church has brought the camp locally to service homes in Westfield, Sheridan, Noblesville and Cicero.
Approximately 300 high school students and adult leaders from their churches will stay one week at Westfield Middle School while doing free home repairs to those in need from June 20-26 with repairs done June 21-25. Lohe said he expects most of the students will come from the Midwest. The students bring sleeping bags, air mattresses or cots.
“With COVID, we’ll make sure they are socially distanced,” Lohe said. “They will be staying there and eating there and doing work around the community. Westfield Washington Schools has been a great partner for us in allowing us to have this going on.”
This program is being offered in partnership with Group Mission Trips, a youth mission organization based in Ft. Collins, Colo.
“Group Mission Trips do all the registration and get all the students from around the country,” Lohe said.
Lohe said the main repairs are building or repairing wheelchair ramps, repair and install decks, doing mobile home skirting and painting the exterior of homes. Lohe said the students will go out in groups of five to seven to approximately 40 to 50 homes.
Lohe has been in touch with township trustees, the Good Samaritan Network and Youth Assistance Programs to get the word out to those who need such repairs.
CrossRoads is seeking applications from any who need home repairs with an emphasis on senior adults (55 and older), veterans and low-income families who own their own homes. Applications are available online at CrossRoads’ website, ForOurNeighbor.Life, and due by April 15. Applications also can be printed and emailed to [email protected].
