Churches unite to help needy

When Maria Kenney was a teenager, she spent many summers helping the less fortunate.

"We did all different projects. One of the really cool things is kids from different churches coming together," said Kenney, who is part of the River of Life program. This United Methodist Church outreach performs home improvements and repairs for those in need.

Kenney, a youth minister at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, said she spent six or seven summers working on projects. On Saturday, she helped a group of teens at a home on Broad Street.

Owned by the Interfaith Hospitality Network, which helps homeless families, the home was in need of many repairs, including replacing rotten latticework under the porch.

About 40 teens and 50 adults from four churches - St. Mark United Methodist Church on Washington Road, Aldersgate, Martinez United Methodist and The Quest Church - spent July 12-16 working on 10 projects in the Augusta area.

Some of the homes belonged to charitable organizations and others were privately owned.

A variety of tasks were performed, including building wheelchair ramps, organizers said.

Sarah Wise, an incoming freshman at Greenbrier High School, said she endured the hot weather to work on the homes as a demonstration of her faith.

"We all share a passion for God and want to help others," she said.

Aja Hoeller, an incoming freshman at Evans High School, said her older brothers had participated in previous River of Life endeavors.

"They talked about how much fun it was," she said. "It's hard work, but it's still fun."

On Friday, there was a concert by the band Silers Bald at St. Mark United.

"I thought it was really cool," Kenney said. "It wasn't like a concert. They tried to get us to worship. They thought it was neat - the kids reaching out."

The mission project culminated with a joint service at St. Mark on Sunday.