Reach the Beach

The Cape Fear Volunteer Center will help coordinate the efforts of 450 teenagers and adult volunteers coming to Wilmington to improve the homes of local residents! 

Elderly, handicapped, and lower-income residents of New Hanover County to get free home repairs! 

WILMINGTON, NC -- As many as 70 local residents will benefit from the work of a projected 450 adult and teenage volunteers at the Reach the Beach Group Workcamp, coming to Wilmington from July 6-12, 2008. 

The Workcamp will provide free home repairs through the Group Workcamps Foundation program, partnering locally with the Cape Fear Volunteer Center. The Group Workcamps Foundation is a non-profit, interdenominational Christian volunteer organization headquartered in Loveland, Colorado. 

This summer, an anticipated 30,000 young people and adults will participate in 64 Workcamps in communities across the United States and Canada. At each Workcamp, teenagers and adults—all members of church youth groups—volunteer a week of their time to repair homes throughout the community. “These really are remarkable young people,” said Joel Fay, President of the Group Workcamps Foundation. “Each one is actually paying for the privilege of working in your community. 

Workcamp registration fees are used to cover our costs for food, lodging, insurance, and building materials.” The idea behind Group Workcamps started in Colorado in 1976 when residents suffered from the Big Thompson River flood in which hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed and over 140 people lost their lives. Church youth groups of many different denominations came from across the country the next summer to help.

In 1978, the program went nationwide to include other disadvantaged areas throughout the country. This summer’s 64 Workcamps will take place in many different states, including, but not limited to: Florida, Virginia, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Tennessee, and Minnesota. Many Workcamps will also take place internationally. 

Now in its 31th year of service, Group Workcamps Foundation has hosted over 213,000 volunteers who have improved over 30,000 homes across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Repairs offered through the Workcamp include interior and exterior painting, weatherization, porch and wheelchair ramp construction, and other minor work. 

Residents interested in applying to receive assistance may contact the Cape Fear Volunteer Center at 392-8180 or their local church, and the Department of Social Services for an application we are excited to bring the program back here in 2008 for those that missed applying in 2006. 

For questions about this program please contact Cape Fear Volunteer Center Director Annie Anthony 910-392-8180