Community Relations Office
March 20th, 2003 -- Charity Begins At Home. Michael Atkins, Youth Pastor at New London Church assessed the church’s mission work, and decided that charity could indeed begin at home. “The actual inception of this program grew out of one student’s desire to take a summer mission experience back into her own community,” says Atkins. Atkins says that Sarah Abel had come to him while they were on a summer mission trip to Rock Hill, SC, and told the pastor she would love to do something like they were doing, but back home. “I asked her to call some agencies when we got back home, and I told her we would see what we could do,” he explains.
Project R.A.K.E. Helps Seniors and Low-Income Families.The result was Project R.A.K.E. (Random Acts of Kindness Every-where), and involves members of the church’s Ground Zero Youth Ministry helping local senior citizens and low-income families with the upkeep of their homes. The program’s name is based on a concept that Columbine victim Rachel Scott wrote 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,” says Atkins. Project R.A.K.E. coordinates its activities with Oxford Neighborhood Services to identify families with home repair needs. The help includes roofing, painting, plumbing, and other home improvement projects. “Our only stipulation, really,” says Atkins, “is that the family own the home we are repairing. That just helps avoid any landlord related issues.” The program involves about 30 to 40 high school age youths now, along with several adults who provide onsite supervision.
Work Empowers Teens. “We’re finding that doing construction work can be very empowering for our teens,” Atkins notes. “They get a strong sense of accomplishment and achievment.” The youth pastor also stresses that the students are not just laborers. “We want them to get to know their neighbors on a personal basis,” Atkins says. It’s a two-way street of understanding, too. The homeowners Project R.A.K.E. have helped so far are amazed that teens are giving up their Saturdays to come and do home repairs free of charge. “It’s been nothing short of invigorating for both sides,” Says Atkins. “The kids come back literally on cloud nine after finishing up a days work.” There’s some fundraising involved in order to purchase materials. Donations from local businesses also help.
Looking To Expand Program.This year, Atkins already has four new projects lined up, but is looking to expand the area of work into Newark. Any Newark based community group that have qualified families in need of home repairs are invited to contact Pastor Mike at (610) 869-7332. “We’re also looking to partner with other church groups whose youth group is to small on its own to staff a home repair project. “We’d like to invite them to join us this summer,” says Atkins.