Tuesday Services for Teens Inspire the Next Generation

The hums of an electric drill driving screws as well as the whine of a miter saw cutting deck boards can be heard in the background while the rhythmic thud of a hammer hammering a piece of 2×4 lumber fills the air on an overcast Tuesday. morning at the end of June.

“Let's get this platform in place before it really starts raining,” Teddy McComb shouts to a group of retirees and teenagers who are working to build a new ramp for a homeowner with mobility issues.

“The program is called Teen Service Tuesdays,” said Olivia Conn, development coordinator for the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Fort Wayne. “This year, we had over 40 teams participate.”

“They work alongside our Carpenter's Sons volunteers,” she said.

“In 2015, I received a letter from St. Vincent de Paul Church, where I go,” says McComb, project manager for Today’s construction. “We started a group of about 7 guys and we called ourselves the Carpenter’s Sons.”

“Now we have over 40 carpenters’ sons volunteering every Tuesday,” Conn says. “They come together and help complete projects for homeowners who can’t afford them. »

“They have been very dedicated and the work they have done is absolutely incredible!

“We build a lot of ramps in Fort Wayne,” McComb says. “On that ramp, they have to get out of their house and go down to their car, and they have a hard time doing that.”

Homeowner Diana Mossburg says she has trouble getting in and out of the house, so she stays home a lot.

Mossburg said she was thrilled when she found out the carpenter's son was going to build her a ramp.

“I just think it’s great,” she said. “And when they said kids were coming to help, I thought it was even better because when you start young, (volunteering), you keep doing it.”

Mossburg looks at the ramp built by a group of people she has never met before and a tear comes to her eye.

“I think about all the times I’ve helped others, and it’s kind of a full circle thing,” she said. “It’s really a neighbor helping neighbor.”

All of the carpenter's sons take the time to share their knowledge with the teenage volunteers. They explain the importance of a strong work ethic and the need to be precise in the work they do.

“It’s great to be able to teach these kids some skills,” McComb said as the rain began to fall. “But more importantly, it’s seeing them do something for someone in need that really matters.”

It’s clear that the kids who volunteer at Teen Service Tuesdays are hearing the message.

“I learned different skills in building a deck and a walkway,” says Collin Fischer, 14. “And I learned that helping people makes you feel really good about yourself.”

“It's a lot of fun and sometimes you get to work with your friends and help people,” said Daniel Tippman, 15. “It's really enjoyable.”

“We can say that it’s cool. We built something,” Conn explains. “But it’s a life change for her to be able to come in and out of her house whenever she wants. »

Fischer says the work is extremely satisfying. “It’s knowing that they have freedom and that you helped them,” he says with the wisdom of someone much older than a teenager. “That’s a big step for someone.”

“It’s so nice to be able to see the difference in their house and to be able to walk right up to the front door,” says 15-year-old Elizabeth Veerkamp. “It’s just nice to help someone.”

Mossburg says the little things that most take for granted are very important to someone with mobility issues. “Just go out and go to the store,” she said. “Meet people, see people,” she said with a grateful laugh. “It's normal!”

“Most people don’t realize that other people care about them,” says Scott Mcalister, who has worked with Carpenter’s Sons for a few years. “It’s a way to remind people that they can give back, and it’s a good thing. It’s a great feeling.”

Mcalister hopes that everyone who sees the story will be inspired to help others or start their own group to make our community a better place.

“It’s just the heart of neighbors helping each other,” Conn said. “Children learn to serve and make that connection. Help others. This is what projects like Teen Service Tuesdays are all about.

“Ultimately, when we get this ramp done,” McComb says with a wink. “We’re going to gather everybody up here, bring the homeowners out and take a group photo. It puts a warm, fuzzy feeling in your heart that, hey, you did something positive today. Hopefully, it’ll encourage them for the rest of their lives.”

The Carpenter's Sons group of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society meets every Tuesday morning to enjoy doughnuts and receive their chores for the day. Last year, they completed 580 home improvement projects to help those in need.

Carpenter's sons receive project referrals from Neighborlink.

The Teen Service Tuesday program was created four years ago and runs on Tuesdays in June.

Anyone interested in volunteering or registering for Teen Service Tuesdays next June should contact Lara Schreck of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Fort Wayne at (260) 456-3561, ext. 120.