CAMDEN COUNTY, Nc (WAVY) — The buzz of saws, the swirl of screws and the soundtrack of youth envelope a 20-year-old trailer on Bourbon Street in Camden County, North Carolina. With supervision, teens from Group Mission Trips, are building a new porch and a ramp for 64-year-old Margaret Brown. Brown has what she calls extremely high blood pressure, blood clots in her legs and she has suffered at least 6 strokes.
“I have chronic diseases and it is a good thing that they are able to help people like myself and help others,” Brown said.
The local conduit is Dr. Lenora Jarvis-Mackey, CEO of River City Community Development Corporation. Her organization’s pipeline has been in operation since 1996.
“We have over 400 youth and adults here from all over the country. We have 13 states represented and they have driven 23 days to get here from our we have people here from Shreveport, Louisiana. They have driven 21 hours. And it’s just so awesome to see them come in and the work that they do for the week,” Dr. Jarvis-Mackey said.
Their services are unpaid. In fact, each teen’s family pays $500 for the experience, which Katie Frohm says is invaluable.
“I love my youth group, and I love meeting other youth groups. And my favorite thing about this is meeting all the new people and just having a week away and building. It’s awesome giving back,” Frohm said.
The homeowner did not want to appear on camera but she didn’t hesitate to share her gratitude.
“I’m very thankful for these people and everything that they do, and I hope a lot of people call and thank them and participate in the program so they can keep happening. I’m really emotional. I’m I’m really emotional. I’m trying not to cry, “Brown said.
It’s the summer teens like Dylan Koepnick say they will never forget.
“I love the appreciation from the homeowner. Just the look on their face. After that, you’re done. And just the feeling that you get with that. It’s just it just means the world,” Koepnick said.
Organizers say this program, which served some 50 families this year, would not survive without sponsors such as Sentara Health. For more information, contact River City CDC at 252-339-4991
