This week almost 100 teens are repairing homes around the county during the annual Salkehatchie camp.

The local group selected two homes in Newberry, one in Pomaria and five in Whitmire for its week-long projects.

At a home on Benedict Street, workers are repairing the roof, remodeling the bathroom with a handicap-accessible shower and painting both the interior and exterior of the home.

“I don’t mind the noise,“ said the homeowner.

Site Leader Chris Johnson says the homeowner prayed and prayed for help to repair her home, and the youth are answering those prayers.

“It is nice to be able to give something back when I work with thugs day-in and day-out,“ said the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division agent.

He adds it is also good to see the teens working to help others in addition to paying to do so.

As an added, bonus he says the work could lead any of the 11 teens on his team to becoming a Christian.

Salkehatchie began in the area of Beaufort and Hampton counties 30 years ago with 35 volunteers. The first site was the burned-out home of a sharecropper whose three children had died in the fire, and because the family was so poor they were buried in the same casket. The mission was to rebuild the home.

Today, the group’s mission has extended to 47 sites in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

Salkehatchie has gone from being non-funded to have a yearly budget of more than $1 million.

To volunteer for the rebuilding project a person must be at least 14 years old. But come for many years after that, like Johnson who has worked the camp every year since 1992.

To be selected to have work done on a home the person must own the home. Also, the Methodist-sponsored group does not work on mobile homes.

“It is hard to tell people that they were not selected, but it is a privilege to be a part of their joy when they are,“ said Joyce Barrow, co-director of the Newberry County camp. “It is an amazing feeling. The kids come here thinking they are the ones doing for someone else, and they go home realizing they are the ones that have been blessed.“

The youth are being housed at Central United Methodist Church and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in downtown Newberry. Workers are fed three hot meals a day by the combined efforts of a number of congregations across the county.

The workers gather nightly at Central for a meal and devotions.

Each student attending must pay $200. The fee goes to help purchase supplies for the home. Some of the fee is donated through fundraisers, individuals and churches.

Local businesses also chip in by giving discounts and donating materials.

Barrow encourages anyone thinking they may qualify for work, or wishing to volunteer, to contact her at 276-0976.