Project: R.A.K.E.

New London, PA – May 5, 2004 –- Saturday, May 22, and Sunday, May 23rd, Project: R.A.K.E. will be taking 60-70 students into Nottingham, Oxford, Lincoln University, West Grove, Avondale, Kennett Square, Atlgen, Coatesville, and West Chester to help several senior citizens & low income families with free repairs to their homes.  An outreach of the Ground Zero Youth Ministry, this team of students and adults, through the generous donations of local businesses and individuals, will provide free labor to re-shingle a roof, tear down & rebuild a front porch, build a wheelchair ramp for a homebound woman, seal a leaking skylight, tear up and replace a trailer floor, repaint an entire house for a woman dieing of cancer, replumb a leaking bathroom, paint a porch, sure up some concrete steps for an elderly woman, install a downstairs’ bathroom for a needy family, and carry out many other much needed repairs at various homes throughout our area.  The goal is to get teenagers involved in the needs of their community and spread Jesus’ love through Random Acts of Kindness Everywhere.  Twenty-four different projects have been lined up for this weekend. 

The actual inception of the program grew out of one student’s desire to take a summer mission experience she’d had through Ground Zero, into her own community.  Atkins explains, “Two years ago, while we were on our summer mission trip to Rock Hill, SC, Sarah Abel came and told me that she would love to do something like this (helping the community) where we live.  I asked her to call some agencies when we got back home and told her we would see what we could do.  A few days later she had called 8 different agencies and had an interview already set up!” The program’s name is based on a concept that Columbine victim, Rachel Scott, wrote about in her diary a few weeks before she was tragically killed.  Rachel believed that if one person would perform an act of kindness, it would begin a chain reaction of others doing random acts of kindness.  Now, 3 years later, over 250 teenagers have worked together with Ground Zero leaders to make a tangible difference in their communities.  Acts of kindness performed have included construction work such as roof replacements, wheel chair ramps, replacement flooring, correcting leaks, & painting, as well as smaller tasks such as yard work, washing windows, free car washes, and helping A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital with their community day.  Atkins said, “We want students to take an active role in their community, but if nothing else, we want those who do not participate [in Project: RAKE] to, at the very least, let this “Project” inspire them to get involved in their community and help someone in a real, tangible way.”

Ground Zero is the Youth Ministry of New London Church located in historic New London, PA.  Ground Zero meets weekly on Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00 pm for middle school age students and on Fridays from 7:00 to 10:00 pm for senior high & young adults.  All 6th-12th grade students & young adults are invited to attend.  New London Church is located at 1986 Newark Road/Rte. 896, 20 minutes north of Newark, DE just minutes south of State Rd. in the heart of New London.  For safety purposes, please drop off and pick up your teens in the rear of the church.  For more information about Ground Zero or Project RAKE, please call the GZ Office at 610/869-7332 or visit www.GZYouth.com & www.ProjectRake.com

# # #