| 112th Year, 45th Issue | Thursday, June 21, 2001 | Sparta, North Carolina |
A local Christian youth group has a problem....They want to help people in need, but need to find enough people to help.
Carolina Cross Connection, which sets up six different camps in North Carolina, offers help for people with needs they can't meet themselves. One such camp is located in Elk Schoals near West Jefferson in Ashe County, and camp director Jennifer Fuzy says they're having trouble locating enough individuals to lend their helping hands to.
"We need help finding people who can use our help," Fuzy, a college student from Augusta, Ga., said. "I'm going around to the local newspapers to try and get the word out."
The summer of 2001 will be the 14th for Carolina Cross Connection, which began in 1987. The district camps like the one in Elk Schoals are camps of the United Methodist Church. There will be four camp weeks at each location: June 17-23, July 1-7, July 15-21 and July 29-Aug. 4. The other North Carolina camps are located at McCall, Patton Springs, Loy White, Carolwood and Pfieffer University.
The campers, who bring their own tools, are mostly high school kids from Christian churches and the staff is made up of college-age kids. The churches are requested to send adults who serve as supervisors and drivers for the campers.
"We (the staff) get paid a salary," Fuzy said, "half of which we raise ourselves through donations. It's a very rewarding experience for everyone involved."
Each group of campers stays a week, arriving on Sunday. Beginning on Monday, they split into groups, with each group drawing a different assignment in one of the nearby communities. The Elk Schoals' campers will be assisting people in Alleghany, Ashe and Wilkes counties. They work throughout the week before leaving for home on Saturday. Along with the work the campers perform, they get a chance to enjoy recreation, singing, skits, campfires and worship programs led by the camp staff.
"Being in camp and going out to help someone in need is a very spiritual
experience," Fuzy pointed out. "It gives all of us a chance to get
closer to the Lord."
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