St. Paul youth mission group heads to North Carolina

MONROE — Twenty-three high school youth and five adult leaders from St. Paul Lutheran Church left Monroe on Sunday, July 15, for a week-long trip to Taylorsville, N.C. , where they will be involved with work projects, such as painting houses, performing minor home repair, cleaning up debris, volunteering in community gardens or other projects in the community.

Taylorsville is located in western North Carolina, in the northern Piedmont foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and has a population of 2,098. While agriculture provides much of the area’s income, manufacturing companies — particularly furniture producers — employ the majority of workers in the region.

The number of available manufacturing jobs has been shrinking in recent years, and today the unemployment rate in the area is 5.5 percent. About 21 percent of Taylorsville residents live below the poverty line, including nearly 27 percent of those under age 18.

In addition to the work projects, the St. Paul mission group also will be running a hands-on program leading area children in high-energy games, crafts, skits, songs and other activities.

“Through their efforts, our youth hope to be a blessing to people in need, and restore the homes and spirits of those who are suffering,” the Rev. Donald W. Lee, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran, said in a press release announcing the group’s efforts. “In addition, they will be making friends with youth from other parts of the country, who are also working in Taylorsville during the week.”

Attending from St. Paul are Angela Anzini, David Anzini, Ashley Christman, Austin Crossley, Brian Egan, Jacqueline Hughes, Kristina Hughes, Kari Karpowicz, Philip Kersting, Richard Kersting, Bridget LeMond, Katelyn Lieb, Alyssa LoMeli, Taina Malave, Amanda Marks, Samantha McGregor, Danielle Montagnino, Peter Montagnino, Jared Rivera, Peter Rivera, Alexandria Sweeney, Dallas Sweeney and Brendan White.

Adult leaders are David Anzini Sr., Norma Montagnino, youth director Ali Quinn, Amelia Wilson and Rev. Donald Lee.

The trip was arranged through YouthWorks, a national organization that provides life-changing, Christ-centered youth mission opportunities. This is the largest group that St. Paul has sent for this type of service opportunity in the past nine years.