Shelby Township

A mission here at home

By Kristyne E. Demske
C & G Staff Writer

Church youth help Macomb County families

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — One hammer, nail and wooden board at a time, dozens of volunteers from a local church are trying to make a difference in their community.

About 70 members, parents and parishioners from the youth group at St. Kieran Catholic Church spent the week of July 26 roughing it at Camp Rotary in Ray Township and taking showers at Stony Creek Metropark, disconnected from cell phones, the Internet and other media, all for the chance to bond with each other and help fellow Macomb County residents.

Instead of taking their usual mission trip to help the needy in the Appalachian Mountains region of Kentucky, where members usually go every two years, they’ve been working with Habitat for Humanity at sites in Clinton Township, Roseville and Eastpointe.

Danielle VanderHagen of Shelby Township said when the mission to Kentucky fell through, they still wanted to help someone.

“We decided we wanted to make a difference here,” said VanderHagen, 21.

“It feels good to help people out who can’t do it on their own,” said 20-year-old Mike Donnelly of Macomb Township, on his second mission trip with the group.

The week away from home and technology is helping them build a better relationship with God, and each other, VanderHagen said.

“This is my fourth time,” with the mission trip, she said. “It gets easier as we go. It’s hard, but it’s all worth it in the end.”

The difficulty of cleaning up after a long day of construction is hard, Donnelly said.

“That’s about the worst part. I want a shower so badly,” he said just two days into the week.

But he said he had known as soon as he returned from his last mission trip with the group two years ago that he’d sign up again.

“I couldn’t wait to come back to another one,” he said.

And as tiring as the work is, “it’s worth it to see the final product,” VanderHagen said. She said Habitat officials told them they were some of the fastest volunteers they’ve ever had after they completed the interior and exterior of a home in just six hours on the first day of work.

“Habitat for Humanity recognizes that the volunteers are invaluable to us completing our task,” said Loretta Akers, volunteer coordinator for Macomb County Habitat for Humanity. “This particular group came well-trained, disciplined, (and that) made a difference. We hope to see them again in the future.”

The enthusiasm is noticeable on both sides.

“I want to work for Habitat for Humanity every year instead of every other,” VanderHagen said.

The youths — and the two dozen or more adults cooking for them, driving them to sites and working alongside them — are giving up more than just creature comforts to help others, as well.

“Every person who’s here has to pay in order to participate,” said Patricia Radacsy, a youth minister at St. Kieran. “These adult people who are here not only give up a week of work, but they also paid on top of it.”

She said the group has been fundraising for quite a while to help fund the experience, and that parishioners and the community have been very generous. VanderHagen said they raised about $10,000, and then each member also paid $100 to attend to cover their food, camping and fuel bills.

“It’s really quite an experience,” said Radacsy. “They’re just phenomenally wonderful, giving people.”

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1041.