Over one hundred teenagers have descended on Commerce - and they're busy working.
The UM Army, a ministry of the United Methodist Church, brings high school students to communities across Texas and the nation each summer to repair and modify houses that badly need the work.
The services are available to homeowners only. To qualify, residents must be elderly, have a disability, or have a low income.
The work is dirty, the weather hot and sticky - and the sleeping accommodations on air mattresses and cots in Sunday-school rooms aren't quite as comfortable as a bunk bed at summer camp. But the friendships, skills and experiences found in the UM Army last longer than a coat of paint.
Extra: web-only audio
scott_atnip_for_web.mp3
UM Army camp leader Scott Atnip describes the hospitality and warmth his group has received at the First United Methodist Church of Commerce. (KETR)
christie_erwin_for_web.mp3
UM Army organizer Christie Erwin discusses why she enjoys spending her summers working with the students and homeowners. (KETR)
