Diocese of Arlington announces 35th WorkCamp for teens helping those in need

The Diocese of Arlington Office of Youth, Campus and Young Adult Ministries is proud to announce that the 35th WorkCamp will take place June 22 - 28 in and around Winchester, Virginia.

WorkCamp brings together more than 1,200 volunteers (which include 650 teens) to perform community service projects which make homes warmer, safer and drier. The projects allow seniors to “age in place” so they don't have to leave their homes. The combined value of the work performed is estimated at more than $1.5 million.

During the week, students and staff volunteers will stay at a converted middle school, where makeshift rooms and showers are utilized. The teens are broken into small groups and work daily on more than 125 work sites in the region.

Bishop Burbidge will come out during the week to visit with the students, celebrate Mass and explore the work sites. Priests from around the diocese will also come during the week and hear confessions as well as work alongside the teens.

Project Data:

Approximately 130 crews serve nearly 100 homes.
Projects cover five Virginia jurisdictions (the city of Winchester and the counties of Frederick, Clarke, Warren and Shenandoah). Eight projects are in nearby West Virginia
There are more than 190 major projects to make homes warmer, safer, and drier. A few of the highlights:
- More than 100 windows and 10 doors will be replaced.
- 45 decks and egress stairs will be rebuilt or repaired to provide a safe exit.
- 10 ADA compliant wheelchair ramps will be constructed or repaired.
- 10 mobile home roofs will be coated to protect from deterioration and seal minor leaks.
- 10 flooring projects will be completed.
- Six shingle roofs will be replaced for protection from the elements.
- Two concrete walkways will be installed for safer wheelchair access.
- Major trash removal will occur from several sites to ensure a safe living environment for residents.

Material Data:

Over 30 smoke and carbon monoxide detectors will be delivered to residents.
Over 7,000 items of material will be purchased and delivered by Winchester City Lowe's.
20 dumpsters (30-yard containers) will be utilized.

Notable Community Involvement:

Charles H. Harbaugh, Mayor of Middletown and CEO of Access Independence
Frederick County Departments: Public Schools, Social Services, Building Inspections, Fire, Police
Clarke County Social Services
Winchester City housing
Blue Ridge Habitat for Humanity
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
San Damiano Spiritual Center
Lowe's for Pros (national and local)
6 Pastures Farm and Fr. Chris Pollard (The Holy Smoker)

Media wishing to cover the event can reach out to Mary Shaffrey, director of media relations for the Diocese of Arlington, mary.shaffrey@arlingtondiocese.org OR 703-841-2517.

The Catholic Diocese of Arlington was established on August 13, 1974, and is home to 70 parishes and six mission churches. There are more than 433,000 Catholics registered in the diocese. More than 290 priests, along with 38 seminarians in priestly formation, help serve the churches, bringing the faith to a culturally diverse region of the country with Mass celebrated in at least five languages on a weekly basis, and several others throughout the year. There are 18,284 students enrolled in more than 40 schools ranging from pre-school to high school.

Geographically, the diocese includes the seven cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fredericksburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Winchester and the 21 counties of Arlington, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun, Madison, Northumberland, Orange, Page, Prince William, Rappahannock, Richmond, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren and Westmoreland.