Polk students give their summer to do work for others

Monday, June 29, 2009

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These students are among many who will help others during the Youth Ventures summer camp.

POLK COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Some Bay area students are waking up early this summer to go work for free.

The Youth Ventures camp is a summer camp for teens that focuses on having fun by helping others.

"I'm here to help the people in Lakeland, Florida and hopefully spread the word of God and hopefully people will walk and see us and talk to us and ask us why we're here," Vanessa Derose said, "We just want to help someone."

Church youth groups from across the state will take turns working on eight houses in Lakeland's Sky View neighborhood.

They are painting, building porches and cleaning up yards for people who are physically and financially unable to do so for themselves.

The Palm Beach County youth group was among the first volunteer workers to arrive.

About 90 teens from across Florida will volunteer in the neighborhood and each group works a one-week shift.

The teens say the camp isn't just about work though. They have plenty of time for fun and games in the evenings.

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