West Virginia Workcamp

The Cabell-Lincoln County, West Virginia Work Camp, founded by Presbyterian Minister Bob Bondurant in 1968, is located at a Methodist church camp in the "hollers" of the Appalachian mountains, where W. VA intersects with Ohio and Kentucky. Many residents of the region still suffer the lingering effects of the control, then departure, of coal mining companies from the region, including a depressed economy, high unemployment, low literacy rates, and high disease and mortality rates. Rev. Bondurant has led the work camp for thirty-four years in a selfless, ecumenical effort to repair the homes of underprivileged families living in the region, making them warm, safe, and dry.

During one week in June for the past fourteen years, a group of youth and adults from the First Congregational Church and the Natick community have joined 200 people from churches around the country in that effort. For 2002 our Natick contingent also included participants from Christ Lutheran, St. Patrick's and Eliot Churches.

Our year of preparation includes monthly meetings and a weekend retreat for participants. We use the time to become acquainted with each other through worship, games and song. In addition, we learn about the work camp experience, the Appalachia culture, use of tools, work site safety, and health concerns.

We also organize fundraising efforts to raise the approximately $400 per person needed for materials used on job sites, camp food and supplies, providing grants to several missions at the work sites, for renting vans and motels for the trip and providing scholarships to work campers. Fundraising activities include a Boston Marathon day food booth, a bake sale, a Holiday Fair, and a spaghetti dinner.

Our trip begins with squeezing our luggage, tools and ourselves into three rented vans which depart on a Saturday morning at dawn in June from our church parking lot. It is a seventeen-hour drive to W. VA, with a motel stopover in Maryland. After we arrive at work camp, we are part of about 30 work crews who repair homes, including installation, repair or replacement and painting of roofs, floors, walls, porches, ramps, windows, doors, painting, bathrooms, plumbing, running water, septic systems, siding and underpinning. We get to personally know the families we help through working, worshiping and sharing meals together.

At the end of long workdays, we are provided meals prepared by local churches and other volunteers. Our youth are housed in the church camp while local families provide housing for the adults. There is time to clean up and relax or unwind with volleyball and swimming before dinner. After dinner, we are exposed to the region's indigenous culture through featured speakers, folk singing and clog dancing.

A spiritual element is also provided at lunch in the form of work-site devotions, and in the evening, by worship and singing followed by small group discussion at the camp. During those discussions we reflect on our experience, and how it has changed our understanding of ourselves, others and God. As we become the hands and feet of Christ by assisting families in need, we demonstrate our love and acceptance, providing the families we help with a measure of self-esteem and hope while dealing with poverty and despair. And we, in turn, are inspired by their spirituality and stoic courage in the face of adversity. Our youth are also able to experience bonding with like-minded youth from around the country who are united in a common goal of selfless love. It is a transforming, life-changing experience for us all.

For more information or if you have any questions about the West Virginia Workcamp please email Eric Carriker.