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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday August 7, 2002 - A3 Hundreds of American youths volunteer in Oakville By Lindsey Craig OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Last week, more than 300 American youths provided a refreshing change to a society greatly consumed by selfish ness and greed -- by volunteering in Oakville to help citizens in need. Called World Changers, the Georgia-based, American organization has been working in Oakville for the past week, repairing homes, beautifying the streets, running sports camps, and leading vacation Bible schools for local youth. The 331 volunteers, who each paid $295 US to make the trip, range in age from 12 to late teens, and come from V irginia, M issouri, South C arolina, K entucky, Illinois and Texas. The week-long project marks the first year World Changers, a student ini tiative of the North American Mission Board, an agency o f the Southern Baptist Convention, has come to the Oakville community. Arriving July 28, they stayed at White Oaks Secondary School for the week and left on Saturday. While in Oakville, the group worked on 24 projects throughout the commu nity, also engaging in four Burlington projects and two in Milton. Specific tasks in Oakville have included renovating a Kerr Street Ministries parking garage into storage and office space, installing new roofs, kitchen floors and decks at the homes of local residents, and building flower boxes to help beautify the community, some of which can be seen on Kerr Street. The volunteers were also busy run ning baseball, soccer and basketball camps, along with six vacation Bible schools. Cost of the week-long camps was only $10 per child. "The impact World Changers has is so effective and unique because it's the work of students. They're the ones who make the difference, serving the people around them. We're privileged to be along for the ride," said 21-year-old Alison Drennan, of Virginia, one of the five staff members accompanying the group.Forty-five adult chaperones also made the trip. Fellow staff member, Josh Irwin, 22, of Fort Worth, Texas, agreed. `T he norm of society is `what I can do for m e'. So it's amazing the example these kids are setting, that there's so Ron Kuzyk · Oakville Beaver Allison Shipp and Aaron Grant both from Louisville, Kentucky, and Heidi Schofield from World Changers. much more than that. They're doing something for others," he said. The volunteer project is in Oakville at the invitation o f local churches, including The Sanctuary. The community service options were also developed in partnership by the association and the participating churches. World Changers is also partnered with Chartwell Baptist Community Homes to select the homes where stu dents will work. The agency also provides m ateri als for the week, w hich are also partly funded by the student volun teers. The collaboration of both organi zations allows World Changers the chance to rehabilitate homes for those who either financially cannot afford to pay or physically cannot do the work. One Oakville resident who was par ticularly touched by the group's gen erosity is Ted Matthews, who has lived in Oakville for 30 years and whose older home was in much need of repair. Kerr Street Ministries, aware of his situation, recently approached him on behalf of World Changers and asked about the type of work he needed done. "I needed a new roof and have been worrying about where I would get the money for it," he said. This past week, World Changers gave him a new roof and even replaced his old deck. "It means an awful lot, really, it's like an answer to a prayer," he said. For World Changers, it's the grati tude of individuals like Matthews that makes their efforts so rewarding. "You just get that satisfied feeling that you are taking time out of your schedule to help someone else," said Zach Cole, 20, of Georgia, who had been working on renovating the parking garage. "Here, we have several people com ing down and telling us "thank you'. It feels good," he said. For 14-year-old Meghan Dallavilla, here with her church youth group, including her 16-year-old sister, being a World Changer means "getting an awe some feeling". "It's just the feeling you get and the joy of working for other people," she said. This past week, she had a hand in putting up walls in the parking garage, shampooing rugs, knocking out a wall, and more. "When you think that these kids paid $295 US to come and work during a week of their summer, it's natural to ask them why," said Drennan. "But it's because they love to serve, to see people's lives made better. It comes from their relationship with Jesus Christ and the presence of that love." Matt Martin, 27, a co-ordinator for The Sanctuary, simply said, "It's about a need and World Changers, in co-operation with CMHC (Canadian Home Mortgage Company, which helps peo ple who can't afford home repairs) fill ing that need." Formerly of Dallas, Texas, Martin said he grew up volunteering for World Changers, and that this was his first time on the planning side o f the proj ects. Glad to have been able to contin ue his involvem ent, he said, "It's incredible the difference betw een seeing som ething going on in a com m unity and being able to meet that need, there's no other feeling like it." He added that other examples of World Changers' efforts, particularly in the U.S., have been giving citizens heat in their homes and providing air conditioning for those in the southern areas who couldn't otherwise afford it. This year, more than 23,000 junior high, high school and college students will be participating in one of 98 the Ron Kuzyk · Oakville Beaver Jeff Bolton of St. Louis, Missouri at Kerr Street Ministries. World Changers volunteer projects out side of the United States, including those in Canada. Beyond North America, the organi zation has worked in Peru, East Asia, Venezuala, Spain and the Netherlands, to name a few of the nations. While in Oakville for the week, which for many, was their first time in Canada, World Changers volunteers had one evening to visit Toronto or Niagara Falls. The remainder of the evenings were filled with worship services and team building exercises. "They've enjoyed their time here," said Martin. "But the participants who come do it to work. They know it's not a vaca tion for a week. They're here to help people," Martin said. A Fun Day For A Good Cause! M o n d a y A u g u s t2 6 ,2 0 0 2 Bronte HarbourrA oi/fa/it 5k Run - 2k Family Walk Saturday, Sept. 28 7:00 p.m . Hosted by A t the BEAUTIFUL Blue Springs GolfClub! C lo se-b y in A c to n Don Daynard ofCHFI A P e r tillo L a w T o u r n a m e n t I n S u p p o r t o f Bereaved Families o f Ontario - HaltonJPeel A R o y a l C a n a d ia n L e g io n 7 9 J o n e s S t., O a k v ille Featuring; Registration Includes: Rebounders Canada A d u l t S u rv iv o rs o f C h il d h o o d C a n c e r · Golf Carts; Lunch; Refreshments; Live ·A chance to W IN A CAR or a TRIP Auction; Apres-Golf Neck & Shoulder TO CUBA With a Hole-In-One! Massage by Heritage Chiropractic; Silent (Courtesy of McMillan & Saunders Volvo Auction; great Prizes; Delicious Steak and Casablanca Cigars & Special Events) Dinner or cocktail (see below) ·A chance to W IN TICKETS Anywhere More details Available at: in the World Air Canada Flies! www.bereavedfamilies.org an o r y im /ijo r iijz /p o m A fla t 5k/2k run or w alk throug h one o f Oakville's most scenic, historic areas. An excellent event fo r beginners and com petitive runners Free T-shirt to first 150 entrants. Awards to first 3 finishers in each age group (Under 19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60+ yrs). Race w arm -u p conducted by Oakville's ow n 'Race Rockettes'. G reat d raw prizes. Free parking in im m ediate area. Registration: $900 Golfer(s) staying for Dinner Foursome(s) not staying for Dim (after golf cocktails included) Golfer(s) not staying for Dinner (after golf cocktails included) Hole Sponsor Hole Co-Sponsor Sponsor 6 Golf Carts Straight Financial Donation $ TOTAL $ $500 $300 $250 $175 $225 $700 Payment Inform ation: Name: Company: Title: Department: Address: City: Postal Code: Phone: Fax: Email: Method ot Payment: Cheque* (enclosed) QVISA Mastercard Car# ENTRY FEES: T I I I I I I I Run $25.00 to Sept. 27. $30.00 Race Day W alk $20.00 to Sept. 27. $25.00 Race Day The Running Company 118 Thomas St. Oakville, Ontario L6J 3A8. Tel. 905-815-1952 R e g is te r in p e rs o n o r b y m a il Please m ak e cheques p a y a b le to R ebou nders C anada I I REGISTRATIO N: I Name ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I Address ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Postal Code -P h on e I City -- I e-mail -W alker -Female-Runner -A ge Group I Male - I I I Exp. / I I I h Cardholder's Name: Today's date: Signature: (` Please make cheque payable to: BFO- Halton/Peel) running is our business SAUCONY I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I .J Release W aiver & Indem nity M ust Be Signed W aiver: In consideration of my being permitted to participate as an entrant in this event, ! myself, my heirs, executors, administrators, successors, assigns and personal representatives DO HEREBY REMISE, RELEASE AND FOREVER DISCHARGE, AND WILL SAVE HARMLESS, PROTECT AND KEEP INDEMNIFIED, the race organizers, the Rotary Club of Oakville West, The Running Company, The Canadian Legion (Branch 486), volunteers, race sponsors, the Town of Oakville and Rebounders Canada from and against any and all manner of actions, costs, liabilities and demands and WAIVE all claims and causes of action arising from any losses or injuries which I may suffer or incur associated with this race. By submitting this entry I acknowledge having read, understood and agreed to the above waiver and release. Bereaved Families of Ontario - Halton/Peel 6700 Century Avenue, Suite 204 Mississauga ON L5N 2V8 Ph: (905) 813-0363 Fax: (905) 813-4339 Email: bfo.haltonpeel@bereavedfamilies.org S IG N E D _____________________________________________________________ (Parent or guardian if under 18)