Volunteers brave stifling heat to give back to the community

The annual weeklong Service Over Self project are underway this week as adult and teen volunteers spend hundreds of hours painting, sawing, hammering and tackling any repair project that comes their way.

The work is part of a weeklong, faith-based community service program that is in its 23rd year of helping Vicksburg residents who are unable to help themselves.

Bob Moss, one of the program coordinators, said the work performed by the volunteers assisted by AmeriCorps volunteers can range from washing dishes and cleaning homes, to repairing roofs and replacing windows and boards.

“We try to keep the air from coming in and stop the water from leaking,” he said. “Anything to make the homeowner’s life better. We don’t just work on low-income homes; we’ll help anyone who needs assistance to make their lives better. If we have to do any plumbing or electrical work, we get licensed contractors to do that.”

Moss estimated about 80 teenagers are volunteering their time this year.

This is not the first time volunteering for a lot of the participants.

“We have a lot of kids come back every year,” Moss said. “Some of the volunteers graduate from college and come back to help out. Once you do this, it’s hard to do it just one time and walk away.”

Andrew Jackson and Joseph Jabour, both of Vicksburg, said the work was hard, but fun.

“It keeps you busy,” Joseph said.

“You get home, you go straight to sleep,” Andrew added.

Service over Self began at Crawford Street UMC after Moss and several other church members visited Memphis in 1992 with the church’s youth group to take part in a week of service.

The physical changes to the homes are obvious, but the emotional changes for the homeowners and the volunteers run much deeper.

Laboring in stifling heat isn’t easy and homeowners appreciate the sacrifice.

“Homeowner Mattie Brown came out during the day and said ‘You all must be men of God to be working in this heat,’” volunteer Derrick Adams said. “It’s a way to give back to the local community”

The work is not the way most people would imagine teens spending their summer vacations. Yet, each year the program draws between 40 and 100 young volunteers who scrape boards, paint walls, put on roofs, fix plumbing and perform plenty of other repairs for homeowners who need a little help getting their houses in shape.

Our community needs more volunteers willing to sacrifice their summer vacation to help others.