Community Changers apply their faith with a brush
Pictured (from left) are Community Changers volunteers Ella Watford, Hanna Lane, Garth Bonnoitt, Anna Frances Wilson, Reavis Byrd, Wilson Rangel, Sarah Mixon Eaddy, Danielle Anderson, Brianna Anderson and Heaven Barber. Photo by Samantha Lyles
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Over the past 10 years, the Welsh Neck Baptist Association’s Community Changers program has helped hundreds of Darlington County residents by taking on building, cleaning, painting and repair projects for those in need.
Last week, young volunteers from around the state joined their team leaders and invested time, skills and sweat to help their neighbors.
Kids attend the weeklong sleep-away camp, headquartered at Mechanicsville Baptist Church, and gather for morning devotionals before spending their days completing work assignments with peers and supervisors. At day’s end, they regroup for worship, dinner and fellowship. “We’re all trying to grow in our faith while we help the community,” said team leader Garth Bonnoitt.
This year, eight teams with eight to 10 members each helped build 10 wheelchair ramps, did home repairs and cleaning and applied fresh paint to homes. Bonnoitt’s team tackled several projects, including repairing and painting the American Legion Post 13 picnic shelter.
He noted several kids hailed from neighboring counties. “It’s not only churches from this community. We’ve got churches from Lancaster, Dillon, Marlboro County,” says Bonnoitt.
