FARMINGTON — Shaun Davis from Newark, Del., had never visited Maine. He had never applied vinyl siding to a home either — but this week he’s had an opportunity to do both for the first time.

“I’m glad to help people out,” Davis said.

Davis is part of a group of 95 youths and adults representing three churches from Delaware and Rhode Island who are here this week to work on home projects, and have a little fun too.

Nate Phillips, the associate pastor of Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church in Delaware, and who grew up in Industry, has organized and brought a group here for the past three years.

Phillips graduated from Mt. Blue High School in 1995 and then from the University of Maine at Farmington. He coordinates the trip with the Rev. Scott Planting from Fairbanks Union Church.

“Planting was my mentor and helped me go through seminary,” Phillips said Thursday.

Phillips brings people to work on area homes for one week each summer as part of the Mission at the Eastward. Part of his crew is working at Camp at the Eastward and others are tackling projects on ten area homes.

The group is staying in a dorm at the University of Maine at Farmington and brought their own cooks who furnish meals for the group. They arrived last Saturday and will leave this Saturday.

It’s not all work. The youth had an opportunity to go river rafting or to a state park yesterday. They’ve also gone to the movies, bowling, held a scavenger hunt around Farmington and had special time for fellowship in the evenings, said a supervisor, Christine Fischer.

Phillips and his team, the Design Team, work all year to make sure every detail is taken care of before the group arrives, she said. The year also involves fund raising for the ten hour journey and accommodations for nearly 100 people, she said.

“It takes a lot of flexibility and support but each student signs a covenant before coming. It’s a code of behavior and they are held to it,” she said.

Davis was one of a “pod” of youth and adults helping to side a Farmington home. The group has developed a special bond with the homeowner who is most grateful but wished to not be identified.

He’s already thinking of plans to come back next year and finish the other sides.

“It’s been a new experience and pretty fun,” he said.

abryant@sunjournal.com

An intergenerational group from three churches in Delaware and Rhode Island help a Farmington homeowner this week by applying new vinyl siding.

An intergenerational group from three churches in Delaware and Rhode
Island help a Farmington homeowner this week by applying new vinyl
siding.

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