In this file photo, teens from World Changers work on an East Chattanooga house Tuesday. Crew chief Rodney Dalton assists as the youth put new siding on the residence.World Changers, a Southern Baptist home repair ministry, returns to Chattanooga to take on three dozen projects around the city next week.
Chattanooga's Department of Economic and Community Development has announced more than 300 volunteers are expected to arrive this weekend in preparation for tasks such as replacing floors, building wheelchair ramps and painting siding, porches and trim.
The work, which launches July 10 and ends July 21, is part of the city's Summer Home Repair Program, a partnership between the department and the home repair ministry.
"A lot of times, when we talk about affordable housing in Chattanooga, we discuss creation of new units, but there are other important ways we can preserve existing homes for low-income families," Donna C. Williams, department administrator, said. "Through our partnership with World Changers, we are protecting 35 owner-occupied homes in our community to ensure these families are able to continue living in their homes more safely and comfortably without severe code violations."
The program, which assists low-income, disabled, and elderly families, received 64 applications this year, spokeswoman Marissa Bell said. The city provides all construction and repair materials used in the 35 approved projects, including lumber, paint and tools.
This marks the 13th year World Changers, a ministry of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist and Lifeway Student Ministries, has come to Chattanooga. Volunteers, primarily students of middle-school age and older, come from across the country.
Jordie Skinner, World Changers' missions and communications specialist, said Thursday it has been a blessing to her to watch the young volunteers give their time, work and love. She had just arrived in town to prepare for the incoming volunteers with other ministry leaders.
It costs a volunteer $340 to participate, she said.
"They are paying to come here and stay on cots, air mattresses and even floors and to make other sacrifices," Skinner said. "They volunteer to help the needy and show their service to God by serving people in this community - people they have never met."
Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke praised the home repair program partnership.
"Part of what makes Chattanooga such a great place to live is our willingness to lend a helping hand," Berke said. "Through the leadership of ECD and the volunteers from World Changers, we are helping our neighbors and ensuring dozens of Chattanooga families can live in their homes for years to come."
Brainerd Baptist Church will continue its long tradition of providing lodging and meals for the volunteers.
"We provide a place to sleep in our Sunday School classrooms and feed them breakfast and dinner," Bob Rann, the church's facilities manager, said. "During the day, they do public service work around the city."
In the evening, the World Changers use the church for worship and meetings, he said.
World Changers usually brings in two sets of volunteer groups averaging around 340 people each over a two-week period, Rann said. That's about 300 youth and their leaders.
Four churches across the state provide emergency shower trailers for the home repair ministry to use, Rann said.
While the Summer Home Repair Program deadline has passed, the Department of Economic and Community Development accepts applications throughout the year for its Minor Home Repair Program, Bell said.
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @pleach_tfp.