Many residents in our area are unable, due to age, ability, or finances, to perform small maintenance jobs to their homes.
The 14th Annual Allport/Bigler/Woodland Workcamp will be held Sunday, June 15 through Friday, June 20.
Volunteers from the central Pennsylvania area have joined with local volunteers for one week, usually in June, to help residents in our area improve their properties. The workcamp area covers all of Bradford, Cooper, Graham and Morris Townships and the section of Boggs Township east of Route 153.
The ABW Workcamp volunteers provide those much-needed repairs. Those who can, buy their own supplies, but the workcamp pays for the materials necessary for projects in cases where the individuals are not able to pay, using donations from individuals, congregations, and businesses.
They offer not a hand out, but a hand up to those who may be unable to complete home repairs through their own resources.
Last year the group received 38 work requests. In very hot humid weather, they were able to complete 30 projects. One project was partially completed, and they were unable to do 7 projects.
Projects included power washing homes and decks, building and repairing porches, ramps and decks, indoor and outdoor staining and painting, minor house cleaning, installing hand railing, cleaning and repair of gutters, loading stacked firewood, reinforcing kitchen floors, cleaning a hand dug spring and installing a roof over it, weeding flower beds, installing mobile home skirting, and other miscellaneous home repair and maintenance projects.
The ABW work group does not do plumbing, second story exterior work (roof or painting), masonry work, signs/specialty work, large tree removal, rental properties or projects that require more than five days to complete.
The group is looking for suitable projects for their volunteers to complete this summer. Their crews dedicate a week to share their energy and enjoy staying busy.
“If you or someone you know in our coverage area who, due to age, ability or finances needs some help with property improvements, please contact Pastor Clare Pannebaker at 814-553-8001 as soon as possible for a work request form,” said Linda Wooster, local ABW Workcamp Coordinator.
Pastor Pannebaker goes to each proposed worksite prior to the beginning of work camp and comprises a list of materials which need to be purchased to do the projects. Work request forms are also available on their Facebook page.
If you are interested in volunteering to help with this work camp contact Jim and Linda Wooster at 814-577-6276 for a volunteer application form. Volunteer forms are also available on our Facebook page.
There is no obligation to support a particular church in order to qualify as a crew member or to have work done by the volunteers. The ABW group are simply looking for people who have a heart to help their neighbors in need.
