Jun. 21—WEST MIDDLESEX — A group of youths worked quickly and efficiently throughout the DuMars household last Thursday, performing odd jobs such as cleaning wooden railings, repainting window frames and re-caulking the bathroom.

Although they've lived in their West Middlesex home for about 35 years, Cheryl and Peter DuMars are disabled and couldn't do many of these repairs themselves.

Fortunately, help came in the form of the Catholic HEART Work Camp, which brought a group of teenagers to fix the DuMars' home last week.

"They've been wonderful," Cheryl said. "They work great, they're quick and they're always friendly."

The Catholic HEART Work Camp is a national youth organization founded in 1993, and operates by sending groups of students and chaperones on work missions for about a week each summer, said Mary Blythe, a camp manager with the organization.

This summer, the Work Camp sent about 140 students and about 40 chaperones to the Mercer County area, with the organization's members staying at the West Middlesex Area School District.

During their four work days, Blythe said the students worked on various projects throughout the community, including outdoor projects like repairing a chicken coop or cleaning parks to interior projects, like repairing residents' homes.

"We tell people we can do light, handyman work," Blythe said. "It's amazing what a team of people can do in four days."

The DuMars said they discovered the Work Camp through information provided by West Middlesex borough officials. Since the Work Camp was coming to the area, the DuMars applied for their home to be one of the camp's projects in 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic sidelined the program for a couple of years, but it has resumed work and the students arrived at the DuMars' home last week.

Among the students were Kaedyn Goodrun, 14, and Julie Miguel, 13, both of Hoopeston, Ill. Although this is their first mission trip, both Goodrun and Miguel have been involved with the organization for about nine months.

Miguel wanted to join the trip because her brother passed away last year, and she was looking for some way of giving back after the community came together to help her family. Goodrun meanwhile learned about the trip while participating in a different fundraiser and likewise wanted to join the trip.

Compared to their hometown of Hoopeston, Miguel and Goodrun said the Mercer County area had "bigger buildings" and the landscape wasn't as flat.

Goodrun said it was rewarding to help and support residents like the DuMars.

"You get to help a lot of people, and you can make someone's day happier, or week, or year even," Goodrun said.

Miguel added that it was rewarding to talk and build relationships with the couple as well.

"We've met a lot of new people, and you really grow as a person," Miguel said.

If the Catholic HEART Work Camp ever returns to the area, Cheryl recommended any residents in need apply for the program based on her experience with the teens.

"I told them, 'I wish they could stay!'" Cheryl said.

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