Youths on mission to New Mexico help needy people fix up their houses

Published: 2004-07-06

GALLUP, N.M. (CNS) -- They came, they scraped, they painted and they cleaned, but 66 teens on a volunteer mission to the Gallup area said they received more than they gave in helping needy people spruce up their houses. The teens -- many of whom were from upper-middle class parishes in Massachusetts, New Mexico, Texas and New Jersey -- spent June 27-July 3 in Gallup as Young Neighbors in Action, a program that ties Catholic social teaching and advocacy to serving the poor. The program is run by the Center for Ministry Development, an independent, nonprofit organization in Milwaukee. "They're great," said 80-year-old Rose Cardona about the teens. A widow, she has had the volunteer group work on her house for two summers. "They help the disabled and senior citizens who wish they could do the work but can't. They are always busy when they come here," she added.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .