By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@verizon.net

Swinging hammers, cutting boards, prying off old shingles, 120 teens from around the state and their adult leaders are in Caroline this week to fix up low income homes. They are Baptists and their mission program is called "Impact Virginia" – with projects also in Bluefield, Staunton and Culpeper.

Jennifer Dockum, who heads the Hermon Baptist Association located in Bowling Green, said the participants are camping out dormitory-style at Caroline High School. They sleep on air mattresses and rise to a morning devotion service and breakfast.

Then off to work and good deeds they go. In Caroline, nine homes are being renovated. Roofs are being replaced, porches and ramps built, new siding put up, new kitchen floors laid down, and paint lathered on.

On Baylor Road in Dawn, Larry Simmons' house was getting a new roof, new siding, a porch and new back steps. "It's nice!" he said.

The Department of Social Services and word-of-mouth are how Impact Virginia came up with a list of homes.

While the teens toil, brown bag lunches are being prepared at County Line Baptist Church, Bowling Green Baptist, Calvary Baptist, Salem, Concord, Living Proof, Mt. Hermon and Enon.

The teens come home to the high school for dinner, a worship service, entertainment and free time. They pay a fee of $225 to cover costs. Area churches provide the construction materials.

Adult supervisor Todd Pierpoint of Mount Ararat Baptist in Stafford said it was great to see the teens turn out.

"I sure wasn't doing anything like this when I was their age."

Next week, The Caroline Progress talks with the teens involved.