Yakima Valley Partners- 2007 Workcamps

About Us

SEASON SUMMARY...

The 2007 workcamp season is now behind us. This year brought one the more energetic and productive crop of workcamps we have seen in a number of years. All of our workcamps returned from years past and most of the workcampers have been here before. For those who returned and those who were here for the first time we thank you so very much for taking a week of your time to partner with us.

The season began in March with the arrival of a crew from Seattle University on Spring Break. Construction supervisor Kris Wilsey suffered an accident and was hospitalized requiring some creative juggling. The first two days they were out in the wind painting a house in Yakima. Then, at the eleventh hour, Tom Bracewell stepped in to supervise the laying of the foundation of a house in Toppenish. We are grateful for Kris’ speedy recovery and wish to extend our deepest thanks for Tom Bracewell for stepping in as he did and keeping us on schedule.

In late April St. Matthew’s Church from Beaverton Oregon arrived. This is the 20^th year the folks from St. Matthew have come to Yakima to partner with us in building a home. They take great pride in their speed and efficiency and this year was no different. Monday morning they set to work on the foundation Seattle University had laid; by week’s end the house was substantially finished. It was an amazing job as always. We would like to extend special thanks for the people at St. Matthew’s for the outstanding job they did this year and for all the years they coming here. The work they do is a corner stone of our construction season.

The last week in May brought the start of the workcamp season proper with the arrival of St. Madeline’s Church. The following weeks brought teams of people from Northwest Disciples, Des Moines, United Church of Christ, LYONS Our Redeemer, St. Therese, St. Christopher, First Congregational, and Wooden Cross. The workcamps put finishing touches on houses in Yakima, Sunnyside and Toppenish. A house in Granger was substantially finished and another in Yakima had the foundation laid. (Click on each link to see the project's page!)

When in Yakima workcamps needed a place to stay and this is made possible by the generosity of a number of churches. This year’s workcampers stayed at Central Lutheran Church, Wesley United Methodist Church, Westminster Presbyterian, White Swan Mission, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church and Sunnyside United Methodist Church. We thank you one and all for your continued support in providing a place for our workcampers to stay.

Final thanks go to the good people at the YMCA for allowing the workcampers to use their shower facilities free of charge. Year in and year out when we’ve called to ask permission of them they give it without question. A big thanks go to them for their generosity.