Extending our Helping Hand

By the Rev Kurt Huber

“Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”  (Deuteronomy 15:11)

Thirty-seven adults and youth from Trinity Episcopal Church left late Sunday morning to travel to Claremont, NH to meet up with another 415 youth and adults from places like Virginia, Michigan and Oklahoma.  (Another 55 youth and adults traveled with the Newtown Congregational Church, which included youth and adults from St Rose and Christ the King.)

We arrived, early in the afternoon at the local high school and the Claremont community was waiting for us with food and drinks in a nearby park.  The theme for the week was  “Never Be The Same” and we began to experience the difference in our lives.  The community was supportive of our help to them, none more so than the principal of the high school who was there everyday, even scooping out ice cream in the evening for us.

The work sites varied from the city of the Claremont to the surrounding hills.  The houses were in need of scraping and painting, roof repair, or some type of deck work.  One crew built a ramp so the owner, who was confined to a wheelchair, could get in and out of his house.  On the first day with our work crew (usually six people: one adult and five youth from different churches), we were warmly welcomed by our residents.  They provided food and drinks, some even cooked meals for their crew but most of all they provided support to us while we worked.  They laughed with us, cried with us, prayed with us and enjoyed our company.

The week flew by, but the changes that took place were amazing, certainly the homes would never be the same again.  Homes that looked tattered and worn were bright again with new coats of paint, new shingles on the roof.  They looked new!  Roofs were repaired, decks and stairs redone and many little things from plants to signs were given or fixed up so that even the smallest of details were noticeable.  Not only did the homes brighten up, so to the spirits’ of our residents.  They saw their homes renewed and their faces shown with gratitude and joy.

The week also was punctuated by moments of relaxation and fun.  On Wednesday, most groups headed to near-by lakes for some refreshment, swimming and just a place to run around and enjoy each other’s company.  The Trinity Players presented a skit called “Everybody Hurts” in the Tuesday evening program, highlighting the idea that everybody hurts sometimes and the need for us to support one another.  Each evening we gathered in the High School gym to celebrate our faith in song and devotion, to explore our faith through dramas and videos, and to prepare for the next day’s work.  A highlight of each day was taken in pictures, which were shown each night.

We left that Saturday morning with a sense of accomplishment, joy and satisfaction.  For we learned that by extending our helping hand, we would never be the same.

The Trinity Volunteers

The Trinity youth who attended included Alan Bouchard, Emmy Brancato, Hannah Brancato, Cuyler Bryant, Courtney DiBeneditto, Andrew Cruz,            Deirdre Dougherty, Geoff DiBeneditto, Allison Finn, John Ehlers, Katherine Hoolehan, Katie Lahey, Jeffrey King, Shawna King, Dan Maxwell, Greg Mayer, Rachel Romanelli, Chris Miller, Caitlin Sullivan, Matthew Miller, Tiffany Wolfe, Jay Romanelli, Kendall Zimmerman, Garrett Smith, Chris Symes, Steve Tomasiewicz, Andrew Zimmerman, Drew Kelkres.

Seven adults accompanied the Trinity youth: The Rev Kathie Adams-Shepherd, pastor; the Rev Kurt Huber, coordinator; Alan Miller, Jim Miller, Jean Bouchard, Joel Romanelli, and Arlene Urbanski.

There were two blue-shirt volunteers: Curt Symes and Larry Coleman.