Published: July 09, 2009 01:46 pm      

Local teens give up cell phones for community service in Floyd County

Participants in New Albany Deanery’s Faith in Action Camp volunteering in New Albany this week

Local teenagers are giving up their cell phones, television and other electronics so that they can grow closer in their faith, while giving back to the community.

It’s all a part of Faith in Action, a weeklong camp put on by the New Albany Deanery Catholic Youth Ministries.

Students stay at Mount St. Francis Retreat Center and spend their days volunteering in the community, such as by working at the Floyd County Youth Shelter, Griffin Street Recreation Center and spending time with the elderly at Lincoln Hills Health Center.

But unplugging from the world proved difficult for some of the teenagers.

“Sometimes I fall asleep while talking on the phone,” 17-year-old Catherine Aubrey admitted. “It’s kind of weird [without them]. It’s nice to have a break from it for a while, but I do miss it. I don’t know if I could go more than a week without it.”

Sadie Powell, one of the volunteer leaders with the deanery, said that’s all part of the lesson of giving of one’s self she hopes students get out of the camp.

“They’re coming into a simple Christian center for a week and they come to understand how to serve others, and ultimately, that’s what Jesus wants us to do,” Powell said. “They’re walking in the footsteps of Jesus basically, because that’s what he did — serve others.”

Powell, who also works at Lincoln Hills, helped out while the students, who are split up into groups, took turns visiting the facility during the week — one day making ice cream, another dancing in the facility’s dining room.

“We’re just as happy as we can be!” said resident Dorothy Clerici, who, with her perfectly styled gray hair peaking out from under her straw hat, sat dancing in her wheelchair as students did karaoke. “We like entertainment, music and dancing and it makes us feel young all over again.”

“It’s different, because most of the time it’s not young people. It’s the older ones,” 83-year-old Elizabeth Wheatley said, chuckling as she pointed to the residents gathered around tables. “I’m taking it all in because sometimes you have a whole lot of nothing [to do].”

“You don’t see youth that interested in us old people, but they are just wonderful kids,” Nancy Hogan, 84, said as she watched the teenagers dance and sing with a few of the residents.

The campers said they get a lot out of this camp, too.

“I’m just learning that God is in everything, and if you just look, you can find him somewhere, even in the simplest of things, like saying ‘Hi’ to someone,” Aubrey said.

“It’s a good way to give back to my community and be with my friends at the same time,” 17-year-old Kristin Coleman said. “It makes me more grateful for what I have.”

“It’s really nice to get away from everything and focus on strengthening my relationship with God,” said 19-year-old Jordan Miller, who is serving as a college mentor for the students.

Powell said 36 teenagers are spending the week with the Faith in Action camp, which ends today. She said the camp has been around for more than 15 years.



SO YOU KNOW

• For more information on the camp and other activities by the New Albany Deanery, go to nadyouth.org