REBECCA CARRASCO

DESTREHAN – The United Way of St. Charles Parish, St. Charles Council on Aging, along with Catholic HEART work camp and volunteers from industries, churches and small companies, are all working together to help seniors 60 years and more with repairs to their homes. St. Charles Council On Aging executive director Margaret Poe explained Thursday that SafeHarbor is a home repair program and is made up from the coalition between United Way and St. Charles Council on Aging. United Way provides the materials and the Council on Aging administers the program and lists the volunteer groups. Helping Everyone Attain Repairs Today workcamp mission is going to revitalize communities and beautify homes of the elderly, disabled and those who cannot afford needed repairs. Director of Youth Ministry and New Orleans HEART Camp manager Janeen C. Rodrique of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church explained, “Our goal is to inspire participants to serve in their local communities.” “We are trying to get local businesses to sponsor different work sites. There are 14 businesses participating. In New Orleans there are 50 to 60 sites and 20 sites in St. Charles Parish,” Rodrigue added. According to Rodrique, “Steve and Lisa Walker are the founders and president of the Catholic HEART Workcamp which began in 1992 with 100 participants. It has grown to encompass over 4,500 participants in the summer of 2000.” Activities and Special Project Coordinator of St. Charles Council On Aging Monica Blilie said, “Anyone who will be in the eighth grade in the fall of 2001, high school students, recent graduates, and college students are eligible to participate.” She added, “Camps fill up quickly and the capacity at most camps is 350 campers with each team consisting of six students and one adult. The teams will make repairs and improvements to homes that have been pre-selected by local community agencies Projects will include painting, outdoor yoard work, indoor cleaning, basic construction, carpentry, maintenace repairs and weatherizaton in poverty stricken areas. In St. Charles Parish 250 campers will be staying at the Hahnville High School in the Gym.” “In St. Charles Parish, we plan to accomplish at least 20 home repair projects within one week’s time, and some of these homes have been on the waiting list for a year or longer,” Blilie said. She continued, “We believe the the home that these people know as home is to be a safe place for them to live.” For additional information on this program, contact: Catholic HEART Workcamp, P.O. Box 2226 Goldenrod, FL 32733.