Teen Service Group Aims to Help Others and Better Themselves

 

Kate Snyder has been living in the same house in Severn, Maryland, for more than 18 years.

"I raised my son here. It was a beautiful place to raise a child. Now, I'm on my own and still enjoying it."

But as the years pass, the house needs many repairs. Snyder, who is retired¹ and still works two part-time jobs, does not have the money to pay for repairs.

Enter Group Cares, a Christian²-based aid organization.

Each year, the group sends hundreds of teenagers on service trips across the United States. The young people repair homes and provide other help. One such team of teens is spending a week repairing Snyder's house.

"They're going to put in new stairs for me," she said happily. "And it needed paint desperately³."

Blocks away, other teens are working on Ursula Brett's home. They are removing wallpaper and preparing to paint the house.

Free repairs and more

More than 400 teenagers from all over the U.S. take part in the service trips. They spend one week of their summer vacation fixing homes in the day, and sleeping on the floor of local Christian religious centers at night.

Eric Lohe, spokesperson for Group Cares, says teens work at 30 sites. He says they work in groups of five and are guided and supervised⁴ by adult volunteers.

"We provide adult leaders who are always around on the sites helping⁵ students to be able to learn skills that they wouldn't necessarily have from home."

Both young people and adult volunteers raise money for the camp. Local people provide money as well.

It pays for food, sleep sites and material costs.

Lohe says, "...When we come to a resident we can say, ‘We're here to help you, to provide the repairs, but we're going to do that at no cost.'"

Time to help and learn

The teens working in homes in Severn were part of the Chesapeake Bay Camp. Director Barry Oren says they arrive as strangers.

"We put them in crews with people they['ve] never met before. Then, they go out and work on somebody's home they not only never met before, but also probably will never see again. The idea that they are stepping out of their comfort zone is huge for them," he said. "It gives them an opportunity to be part of the team. Very quickly, almost instantly, they learn how to do projects together."

This summer, the Chesapeake Bay Camp teens put in 7,650 service hours.

"All of a sudden, it starts to make sense," Oren said.

"’Oh, there are people who don't live like I do. There are people that I can help.' They're learning about how to communicate, how to express needs and wants, how to become empathetic."

The service group also holds two Christian religious services a day.

"We're really geared⁶ toward helping students, 12- through 17-year-olds, to be able to know God's love for them," Lohe said. "And to be able to share this love, not necessarily by preaching⁸, but by showing that they care for people in the community."

Camp organizers say the free repairs help homeowners save money and provide the young people with a priceless experience.

I’m Caty Weaver⁹.

Words in This Story

comfort zone – n. a place, situation, or level where someone feels safe and at ease

opportunity – n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done; a chance

instantly – adv. without delay; immediately

empathetic – adj. involving, characterized¹⁰ by, or based on empathy: the act of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another

preach⁷ – v. to deliver a religious speech

1 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

2 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

3 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

4 supervised   

v.监督，管理( supervise的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The architect supervised the building of the house. 建筑工程师监督房子的施工。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He supervised and trained more than 400 volunteers. 他指导和培训了400多名志愿者。 来自辞典例句

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 geared   

adj.连接的

参考例句：

• The programme is geared to preparing students for the world of work. 本计划旨在为学生开始就业作准备。
• The party is all geared up for the forthcoming election campaign. 该党为即将来临的竞选活动做好了准备。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 preach   

vi.传道，宣扬；vt. 讲道，说教

参考例句：

• Don't preach me a sermon,please.请不要对我讲大道理。
• They continue to preach their gospel of self-reliance.他们继续倡导自立的信条。

8 preaching   

n.讲道，讲道法v.布道( preach的现在分词 )；劝诫；说教；宣传

参考例句：

• The man was preaching the Gospel. 此人在传布福音。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These misguided people go around preaching up violence. 这些误入歧途的人到处鼓吹暴力。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

10 characterized   

adj.[医]具有特征的v.是…的特征( characterize的过去式和过去分词 )；以…为特征；描述（人或物）的特性；使…具有特点（或最引人注目的特征）

参考例句：

• Mozart's music is characterized by its naivety and clarity. 莫扎特的音乐特色是纯朴兴清澈。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The world situation is characterized by turbulence and intranquility. 世界局势动荡不安。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》