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Media Advisory

More than 850 Catholic teens to help repair homes for
needy at annual Diocesan WorkCamp

For Immediate Release
June 21, 2019

ARLINGTON, Va. – More than 850 Catholic teens from 42 parishes and almost 500 volunteers, contractors and staff from the Catholic Diocese of Arlington will set up camp in central Virginia this weekend to repair homes for 110 needy residents over the course of four days next week.

Teens participating in the diocese’s 30th WorkCamp will be based at King George High School. Between Monday and Thursday the work crews of teens, volunteers and contractors will travel to seven surrounding counties to complete 200 major renovation projects to make the homes of elderly and low income residents warmer, safer and drier.

On Friday, the workcampers will welcome the residents to the high school camp for a celebration. Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington will be on hand that afternoon to offer financial assistance and household supplies.

Details of event:

When:  Monday, June 24 - Thursday, June 27, 2019

Where: Homes throughout seven counties – King George, Westmoreland, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Essex and Hanover – within the Catholic Diocese of Arlington.

Who:     Residents whose home are being repaired include:

  • Fredericksburg residents Betty Smith, 85, and her daughter, Joyce Fennell, 65. The mother and daughter and granddaughter live in the same Fredericksburg area townhouse. Both have serious health problems. Workcampers are replacing windows and a deck.
  • Donna Consil, in her 70s, has lived in the same Fredericksburg area home for more than a decade and is home-bound because she can’t use stairs. A new ramp will be built to finally allow her to leave her home.
  • Katheryn Hoffman, has lived in her Fredericksburg area home for more than 30 years and has serious health problems. She will be receiving a new deck.

 

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About

The Catholic Diocese of Arlington is home to more than 600,000 Catholics living in 21 counties and seven cities in central and northern Virginia. Parishioners celebrate their faith at 70 parishes and six missions, and more than 17,500 students attend 45 Catholic pre-schools, elementary and high schools.

MEDIA: To request an interview with participants, please contact:

Billy Atwell, Chief Communications Officer, (703) 841-2538 (o) (703) 966-5925 (c) or billy.atwell@arlingtondiocese.org;
or Diana Sims Snider, Deputy Communications Director, (703) 841-2587 (o); (703) 732-4172 (c); diana.snider@arlingtondiocese.org.