Local organization helps improve homes in the community

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – More than 1,900 students are learning the value of helping others.

“When I get older and I get my own house, I’ll be able to paint it because I’ll know how,” says seventh grader Abby Pollock.

School may be out for summer but that isn’t stopping kids from learning. Forest Hill United Methodist Church is hosting its 14th Annual River of Life mission project.

“I just want to help people. I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time and this is my first year and I enjoy it,” eighth grader Clay Bowie adds.

It’s a project where youth and adults repair homes for the needy and elderly. The homes are selected through a partnership with rebuilding Macon. Some work includes painting, roofing and carpentry.

“I did it last year and it was really fun and when you see the homeowners they’re always so grateful and happy and it makes me feel good about what I’m doing,” says eighth grader Janie Wilson.

The kids say they enjoy helping others which motivates them to continue their mission.

“It feels really good because like when they see the finished thing, they’re always, like, happy and it just, like, I painted it and it makes me really happy because I helped them,” Abby Pollock adds.

Participants will spend three days working in neighborhoods throughout Macon. Crew leader, Steve Peavy, says if people in the community help each other more, less problems will occur.

“In the scripture, it says do unto others as you have them do unto you. And it says the greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as you love yourself. And I feel like that is what we do here,” Peavy continues.

He adds the learning continues on this journey.

“Some of these kids never held a paint brush before, some of them never held a hammer or sawed a board. And they learn these skills while they’re here. I think the most important skill they learned is to love others around them,” he says.

Forest Hill United Methodist church has sponsored this mission project since 2003. Some of the neighborhoods that have been served are Bloomfield, East Macon, Montpelier, Tindall Heights and Unionville.