Reach the Beach 2008
The kids arrived in town on July 6th and unpacked their buses and vans and moved into Ashley High School and split into crews and traveled all over Wilmington to meet their residents on Monday July 7th as they began 64 different projects to renovate and revitalize homes from Castle Hayne, to Rocky Point. In downtown Wilmington on Nun Street to Allen Street near Wrightsville Beach paint brushes were flying and hammers were banging as the youth from across the country dedicated themselves to "Loving Out Loud", the theme of the week. As the partnership with the Volunteer Center, Group Work Camps, Wrightsville Beach United Methodist church, and WARM (Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry) and many other partner churches from around the area came to life after 18 months of planning. This gigantic project that impacted the lives of thousands of volunteers from those that baked and delivered cookies, to the volunteer photographers, to the Mayor, from Port City Community Church Overflow volunteers that made goodie bags and delivered popcicles, to Wrightsboro Methodist Church volunteers that donated 200 dozen cookies, to the Rescue Mission that came to pick up the leftover paint, the partners on this project included more than 100 people who loaned ladders, and the 400+ teens and adults who did the actual work on the sites. This year's project was financed by Wrightsville Beach United Methodist Church, without their participation this program would not have happened, they assisted in so many other ways with goodie bags, ladders, cookies, pre and post site support, they are a true community partner and good neigher.
Reach the Beach came in 2006. and now in 2008, the phone has been ringing with those in need of help all throughout the week seeking help. We would like to bring the program back in 2010, but we need community partners to step forward to offer their financial commitment for the program. If you would like to be that partner please let us know. Wilmington has so many waiting for us to help them we know how to do it, let us know if you would like to be part of the solution.
Thank you to all of those that participated in Reach the Beach 2008, we hope you will be with us the next time this incredible Blessing comes our way again.
Annie