Main Line Students Participate In Summer Mission Trip to Help the Needy

DEVON, Pa. - Aug. 2, 2015 - PRLog -- Although they began their summer vacation several weeks ago 15 Devon Prep students, and three adult chaperons, opted to interrupt their break to help those in need. The young men recently spent a week on a Mission Trip in Cumberland, Maryland organized by Devon Prep Teacher Mr. Joe Lewis through Catholic HEART Workcamp. Cumberland is one of the country’s poorest areas in per capita income.

They spent their evenings at Bishop Walsh School sleeping on classroom floors in sleeping bags and on air mattresses. They spent their days working with teens from around the country on a variety of projects and tasks which included painting (interior and exterior), cleaning, food distribution, helping area churches and outreach centers, landscaping, repair work, and building a wheelchair ramp.

The mayor of Cumberland even had crew of the teenagers landscaping, cleaning, and weeding some public locations.  The mayor personally issued certificates for a job well-done to members of the crew that worked for him, including Devon Prep Junior Brandon Smoot of West Chester

At one time Cumberland was the second largest city in Maryland (behind Baltimore) and was proudly nicknamed "Queen City."  Unfortunately, like many areas in the Appalachia that had always counted on such energy producing industries like coal and oil as well as steel, iron ore, glass, and other manufacturing industries, Cumberland and the people there have fallen on difficult times over the last several decades.

At the end of the week many of the residents expressed their thanks and gratitude for the work that had been done by the teens. According to Lewis, “Our students really showed what it means to be hardworking, polite and cooperative. They were courteous and showed a willingness to help,” he said. “Many of the residents were moved to tears in offering their appreciation.  It gave each of us a profound sense of accomplishment in knowing we had helped so many people in need.”

Catholic Heart Workcamp is a non-profit organization established to offer quality service projects and evangelical programs for Catholic young people and their leaders. Their mission is twofold:  first, to share the love of Jesus and serve the neglected, brokenhearted and marginalized; second, to empower participants to live as Disciples of Christ through serving others.

Devon Prep is a private, Catholic, college preparatory school for young men in grades six through 12 conducted by the Piarist Fathers and located on Philadelphia’s Main Line. For more information contact Devon Prep at 610-688-7337 or visit www.devonprep.com.