Teams of youth and adults, on the annual mission trip sponsored by the First Congregational Church, participate in a range of work, from painting buildings to rebuilding homes.
For 24 summers the First Congregational Church has sent a youth service team to work at H.O.M.E. in Orland, Maine.
This year’s trip, which included 81 high school students from Ridgefield and 28 adult and young-adult leaders, took place in late June when participants helped spread the mission of H.O.M.E., “Serving first those who suffer most.”
This year’s trip was especially significant, as a new group of organizers succeeded Dan and Barbara Reidy, who had headed up the effort for many years. Mike and Suzanne Pommer, Jim Soyak, Becky Burdumy, and the church’s associate minister Karen Halac were among the key volunteers who directed and led the successful trip.
Directed by Sister Lucy Poulin, H.O.M.E. is a cooperative community dedicated to economic and social ministry with those in need. Through this organization and the help of volunteers such as the Ridgefield group, food, shelter and work has been provided to this impoverished rural area.
This year’s projects included shingling roofs, sheet-rocking rooms, building porches, re-stocking a food pantry, and many other repair/construction/improvement jobs. Months of prior planning and fundraising ensured that food and supplies were collected to bring assistance to a community in need. The church appreciates the material and financial support of all those who made the trip possible.
Rain and wind did not deter the spirit of the young people, even when it impacted the tents in which participants slept. H.O.M.E. trip participants helped one another while helping the community and representing Ridgefield well.
Leaders and students felt honored when receiving visits from the families they were building homes for, and enjoyed interacting with the community at a community supper.
The home trip remembers fondly Sister Marie, who passed away in January. Sister Marie worked with the H.O.M.E. community for 35 years and will be dearly missed.
For more information on H.O.M.E., visit the church website at www.firstcongregational.com or call the church office at 203-438-8077.