Church Youths Slate Yard Sale

By Rick Hiduk

Members of the Mount Pisgah Trinity United Methodist Church work camp mission team will conduct their annual yard sale at the church, 5615 Mt. Pisgah Road, Hellam Township, this Saturday, May 10, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The fundraiser will feature a large quantity of slightly used household items and food and desserts, as well as a silent auction for a queen-sized quilt made by a member of the Trinity UMC congregation. Patrons also will find a variety of flowers and landscape items just in time for Mother's Day.

Yard sale coordinator Susan DiAngelo related that there will be a number of antiques among the merchandise this year, including folding, wooden cafe chairs; wool rugs; a rocking chair; a 60-year-old Little Bo Peep cradle, donated by a church member who slept in it as a child; and a two-person glider chair.

DiAngelo joked that the latter is in great condition and would look great in her own yard. "It's really cute, and it's the perfect size. But my husband said, 'No,'" she laughed.

Gardeners will find annual flowers and ground covers, birdhouses, and garden stones. Other items available for purchase will include books, videos, and music.

Patrons of the yard sale should not go hungry. Each year, Ron Hill and his family prepare a variety of food for the event, including hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, cookies, cakes, and pies.

"Their chicken barbecue is very good," noted DiAngelo. "And they'll have chicken corn soup and funnel cakes this year."

Proceeds from the yard sale will be used to cover the costs of a weeklong youth missions trip to Mannington, W.Va. In late July, twenty youths and nine adults from eight area churches will travel together to meet at least 400 additional volunteers to do home repairs in the Mannington area. The theme of the expedition, which is coordinated by Colorado-based Group Workcamps, is "Love Out Loud."

DiAngelo explained that this is the eighth or ninth year that Mt. Pisgah Trinity UMC has sponsored a missions trip. Most of this year's volunteers have participated in at least three previous trips, which have included locations like Valdosta, Ga., and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

"We have a group of kids that come back year after year because it's such a great experience," said DiAngelo, adding that several parents have been regularly involved in the work camps.

In South Dakota last year, the Hellam area youths joined about 200 volunteers from across the nation to do home maintenance and other repairs on a Native American reservation inhabited by the Lakota Sioux.

"All of our kids had a great experience," DiAngelo recalled. "The people there are wonderful. Even though they are incredibly poor, they were so happy to have us. Their culture is so different. It was very eye opening for the kids."

Churches may choose from a long list of potential Group Workcamps sites, which are posted online at www.groupworkcamps.com. The size of the group depends on the available accommodations, DiAngelo noted. "So far, we've always slept in schools, where we can use their locker rooms and cafeteria." She added that the youths look forward to unwinding and sharing the experiences of the day at evening devotionals conducted by representatives of Group Workcamps.

Mt. Pisgah Trinity United Methodist Church youth group members (bottom, right) Brad Hill, Josh Lewis, (center) Mark Bailey, Jessse Snyder, Cody DiAngelo, Jackie Hill, (top) Megan Snyder, Caitlynn McCormick, Olivia Caldwell, Kylie Pooler, and Becca Stickler invite the public to a yard sale and bake sale at the church on Mt. Pisgah Road in Hellam Township on Saturday, May 10.

CWM front

CCE #2c

5/7 only

1-72998