Sign up with EMAA by Feb. 27

By DONNA HICKMAN
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 10:25 AM CST

For the second year, work crews from around the country will converge on the Parkland in July to do home improvement projects. They are part of World Changers, a mission outreach sponsored by the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. They’ll be here July 4-11 working at homes around the county, painting, repairing and adding things like handrails and ramps.

Applications are being accepted through Feb. 27 from homeowners who would like to have the World Changers work at their homes this summer. East Missouri Action Agency is accepting the applications at its outreach office at 903 E. Chestnut. Applicants should be elderly, single parents or people with disabilities. Applicants must meet income guidelines.

To find out more, contact Kathy Poole at 573-431-5191, ext. 1127.

The kind of work to be done includes painting, simple carpentry, roofing, concrete driveway, handrails and ramps. Funding for the project comes through EMAA and financial donations are accepted. Homeowners pay nothing.

About 250 people worked on 19 homes last July. They came from Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas. They worked in Park Hills, Farmington, Knob Lick, Bonne Terre, Leadwood, Desloge and Bismarck and stayed at North County High School.

The students are in junior high through high school. They prepare for the summer mission work by taking part in similar projects in their hometowns to learn the skills they’ll need. A team of college student musicians accompanies them to lead in worship each day. Last year’s projects had a budget of about $15,000.

World Changers began in 1990 and offers mission projects for all ages. To find out more, go to www.world-changers.net.

Donna Hickman is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact her at 431-2010, ext. 138 or at dhickman@dailyjournalonline.com.

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