Local youth join Denver mission trip

A group of 34 youths and adults from Cross of Christ in Welch and Living Water Lutheran Church in Cameron, Wis., participated in a summer mission trip to Denver July 7-13. they provided music for a church worship service, volunteered at non-profit organizations committed to feeding hungry families and providing positive places for area youths to spend their free time, in addition to working with Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Their week began at the Food Bank of the Rockies, Colorado’s largest private hunger-relief organization, which last year distributed 39.4 million pounds of food – enough to provide 84,000 meals each day to children, seniors and families in need. During their time at the center, they loaded and packaged close to 600 boxes of food.

Next, they spent time working with youths who attend one of several Boys and Girls Clubs in the Denver area. Rotating from center to center throughout the week, the group organized and participated in a variety of activities in the core areas of the club - learning center, technology lab, creative art, music, social/recreation and sports/fitness.

The remainder of their service time was dedicated to helping fix up a Habitat for Humanity ReStore facility. Walls were sanded and painted to make the building more presentable to prospective customers. ReStores in Denver do more than $6 million worth of business annually.

Once their work was completed, the youths then took some time to explore some of the places that make Colorado such a unique and beautiful place to visit. They climbed the Flatirons at Chautauqua Park in Boulder, sang in the Air Force Academy Chapel, walked across the almost 1,000-foot high bridge at Royal Gorge and completed a whitewater rafting trip on the Arkansas River.

Tags: religion