Work Camp helps Willingboro widower

WILLINGBORO, N.J. - July 31, 2012

Homeowner Janet Reed has been beside herself with excitement.

The 74-year-old widow has not been able to afford to make any improvements to her Wilingboro home.

Now that has all changed.

"It's a blessing; it's really a blessing because I never expected to be included in this. I was at the right place at the right time," Reed said.

Reed was among a few dozen homeowners chosen to get improvements and repairs by a missionary group called Work Camp, young people with a few adult leaders from all over the country and the world who want to give back in some way.

"When they told me everything was free, I said, 'you're kidding. The paint? All the labor?" Reed said.

"I really like work camp because, adding to the fact that you get to meet so many new people, you get to help them, you get to see how they live. You get to connect with them, share your faith and God's love with them," volunteer Allen Chin said.

Joining Work Camp is a group that came all the way from Japan.

"The kids come back with a valuable experience and they are able to make use of that when they come back and hopefully, they will be able to spread that type of volunteerism in Japan, as well," Paul Hoshzaki of Work Camp said.

For one week, they'll work on homes during the day and head back to Tabernacle Baptist Church in Burlington at night, which is hosting them.

For those like Reed, to see young people putting in so much effort and doing such great work it's truly refreshing.

"The students are so enthusiastic and they do a better job than some of the painters you pay," Reed said.

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